Questions from a rookie-dropping bumpers

[winston]

Hi All, more questions from the rooke.

We have been out training and Logan seems to love the snow. I have taken the advice of a few and put black socks onto my bumpers to add contrast. The socks have been on for about a month now. In the last week two things have started happening:

1. Logan has started carrying the bumper by the knot in the end of the sock

2. He has started dropping the bumper half way back. He runs back to me with excitement still heals, but without the bumper. He goes back out without hesitation to pick it back up and brings it back to me. This doesn't happen on every retrieve, but between 25-50% depending on the day. We're keeping sessions short and he seems to be very interested throughout and out hay chewing issues have stopped.

Are these FF issues that will be worked out later?
He is just getting his adult teeth, could it be a result of the cold on his sensitive gums?

Suggestions?

Thanks

[LeeW]

Could be dirty socks try washing them before you put them on the bumper ..HAHAHA

If the dog has not been force fetched yet I would not worry about it too much. If the dog will give you 3 retrieve's without dropping and starts to drop them on the fouth retrieve I would shorten the sessions .If the dog is going out to the bumper and comming back resonaly well I would not get too excited about it .When the dog goes through Force feetch it will clear up ..Have fun do ot sweat the little things...

[winston]

Thanks Lee, I guess my socks are like bird scent to him. Could this be why he brings my dirty laundry to me in the house? Oh wait, he is a lab, nuff said.

I'm not going to worry about it too much. Actually during todays session he did it on the first two throws, dropped them half way back and came to heal. I pointed to the bumper, he ran, scooped it and returned it to hand. On the third throw he returned it to hand and I went a little over the top with praise and the next four were delivered to hand with each being highly praised. Then we called it a day on a high note.