pah silly silly me. What on earth was I thinking! Just back from a session and had mixed success and no wonder. Pippin was dropping his retrieves on the return. Not all, but most. Then as my husband pointed out....I was treating. So basically the moment he saw my hand go in my pocket, he dropped the ball/dummy/kong and came back for the goodies. I knew all this - we went through it last year with our other dog - I cannot believe I didn't remember. He was doing perfectly well in the garden yesterday without any food so why I went out with it
I also forgot to peep him to return to me -so there wasn't that extra incentive.
He's unsteady but I guess I'll work on that later - at least he's been enthusiatic
Moola, this is why I love the clicker - I click at the moment the dummy hits my hand - if he spits it out, no click, no treat. After he's missed out the first time, he remembers what he is meant to do to get his click. We were able to use it to build up, so at fist he was getting a click just for picking it up, then for bringing it back any old how, then I was sat on the floor so it was easy for it to go into my hand, now I'm standing and it has to go into my hand for his sweetie. We had already done target training ages ago at an obedience class so it was a matter of building on that - a bit unorthodox I think but it seems to be having the desired effect. With Henry he would run round and round waving stuff for as long as you liked, but never brought anything back
But he gets that dummies are for bringing back for a click and a sweetie (I think).
With Henry it's all about overcoming the distraction of his nose... last time we tried it outdoors he would get halfway through a retrieve and then shoot off to smell something, and forget what he was meant to be doing
SC - I should go on a shoot minus the dog, you're right! At the moment I keep reading about what the dogs are meant to do, and how high the standard is meant to be and well... eeep is the word
I'll look that book out and see if I can get out one weekend too - also I think this class will help even though I am a bit scared