Grabbing the End of Bumper During FF

[graftongal]

Well after a bit of a break this weekend (no training for 3 days :emmbarassed: ) we've done a refresher of the hold and began the fetch part. For some reason, when he fetches the bumper from my hand now he's grabbing onto one end or the other, not the middle. We haven't been to training since we started force fetch, but he was not doing this with the birds or bumpers in the field before. Does this matter? Is it something I should be correcting?

Thanks!

[franklauzon]

Ideally it should be corrected as it's easier for the pup to drop birds/bumpers from the end...

Since you're starting FF, I'd make a buck using woden dowl, and two wood squares for the end, that way the pup has to grab the middle... Imagine a dumbell for a visual.

[graftongal]

Thanks Frank! Perhaps I will take a cruise over to Home Depot tonight and take a lookie see!

[sterregold]

The other thing that I've seen very experienced training mates do is to place PVC reducer connectors on the ends of the bumpers. It again makes the centre the easiest place to grab. They tuck the rope tightly down in as well so pup can't take the bumper by the rope either.