Advice for Force Fetch Training

[graftongal]

I am about to start force-fetch training with Dax in the next couple of weeks. His adult teeth have just finished coming up so I want to give it a bit more time before I start. I spoke to a friend last night who is going to loan me his Lardy force-fetch program to follow, and I've also got some other information lined up.

My question is, what advice would you offer a newbie? What worked for you, what didn't? What would you have spent more time on, etc? Any info is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Sandy

[AD18]

My best advise is to take all the time you need, take all the time the dog needs, and do not rush ANY portion of it. If it takes 3 weeks fine, if it takes 3 months fine. In my opinion it is the most important part of training your retriever. I tried to rush my first dog and ended up doing FF 3 times before I got it right. Right now I'm stuck on "fetch" with my pup. He refuses to "lunge" for the bumper. Patience, patience, patience......

[Baby Duck]

Sandy

The best book on FF in My opinion is by Robert Milner, Titled Retriever Training For the Duck Hunter. It is step by step with good pics and really holds your hand through it lesson by lesson. It is published by Safari Press and can be bought through all major book stores

Mike

[Kevin Hannah]

I am about to start force-fetch training with Dax in the next couple of weeks. His adult teeth have just finished coming up so I want to give it a bit more time before I start. I spoke to a friend last night who is going to loan me his Lardy force-fetch program to follow, and I've also got some other information lined up.

My question is, what advice would you offer a newbie? What worked for you, what didn't? What would you have spent more time on, etc? Any info is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Sandy

Here is what I use. Followed it start to finish. The only thing I did any different was I did do collar fetch at the end.


http://www.oakhillkennel.com/library/force/force1.html

http://www.oakhillkennel.com/library/force/force2.html

Kevin

[waterfowler65]

I also follow the Oakhillkenel program,

Worked well for me.

Marc....

[Drew Good]

Has anyone used/seen the SmartFetch program by Evan Graham? I have been thinking of ordering it.

Drew

[Labber]

I have only heard that it is good, and that Evan was schooled by Rex Carr.
I think it is probably a safe bet. Baby Ducks advice on Milners book is good, but be advised that alot of Milners other training ideas are less than popular.
I'm just in the midst of week 2 of FF with Sam. I expect to be done after 3 to 5 wks.
If you can have an experienced trainer over your shoulder through alot of this, it's a good idea.

[graftongal]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm sure I'll have more questions in the coming weeks!

[AD18]

Intrigued to read the Oak Hill method state "It may take a few seconds or over an hour". Maybe that is why my pup and I are not making progress on the "fetch". I always go about 10 minutes tops, success or failure. I guess he won't be losing interest or getting bored with ear pressure. Will make an adjustment and see what happens.

[franklauzon]

My best advice is to really go over hold with the dog, also it doesn't hurt to associate the term fetch with putting it in their mouth, so that when you put on some pressure the pup knows what is expected.

[Kevin Hannah]

I always go about 10 minutes tops, success or failure.

I would not stop on failure, if you make good progress in a session and you have only been at it for 5 minutes stop there. If it takes you 10 or 15 to work youself and the dog over a hump then push through and then try to end with succsess.
There should not be any failure once you are into ear pinch, if you are seeing failures or too many battles then you may be progressing too fast or the dog is at the stage that they don't want to do it. That is the session to push through and in the end they will realize that not retrieving or fetching is NOT an option they have. Make the following session a little easier and don't push too hard unless they are disobedient again, they will figure out that it is easier to just grab the dowel.

Kevin

[ducksoup]

Advice given by Mike (BabyDuck) re: Milner's book and section on FF is good -- also articles by John and Amy Dahl are very good (links to provided by Kevin) -- with regards to Evan Graham's SmartFetch book and DVD are both very good; very straight forward and easy to follow -- very complete in whole process

[graftongal]

I noticed in your post Kevin that you mention a dowel. That leads me to my next question. Would you suggest using something similar to that over using a dummy? My guess would be that by doing so the dog would continue to associate the dummies with something enjoyable and not painful (ear pinch).

[trapperwill]

When I went through FF I used just about everything under the moon to stick in the dogs mouth. I started with wood dowels, bumpers etc with hold and even more objects on fetch. I tried to use a wide variety of objects the dog might see in the future such as dokens, rubber bumpers, canvas bumpers etc. Then on to feathers: pigeons, ducks, pheasant etc..

On Kevin's note of pushing through those tough sessions; couldn't agree more. I had alot of help on my ff but we hit a couple of those tough spots. Everything would go perfect in the beginning with the dog fully cooperating. Then he just seemed to say "Ok, that's enough. I don't want to do this anymore". We pushed through just to get the smallest success and end there.

[rocko]

If the dog keeps getting up from the sit position or moving around when you place the towel in his mouth, can you re-enforce the sit command with the e-collar? and then continue on with "Hold"?

[franklauzon]

My opinion, is that the dog is already in a pretty stressful situation, I personally let some go, as sooner or later you're going to make them lunge for the fetch.

I would just make sure that the dog is calm, and steady BEFORE the fetch, and hopefully the pup will stay sitting... Really the "fetch" command involves movement, so I'm not worried about that.

Also I used a table so that may be somewhat different than what you're doing.

[nimkii]

Great posts...lots of useful information.