CockersOnline Forum

Cocker Specific Discussion => Behaviour & Training => Topic started by: CopperKettle on December 21, 2011, 10:41:32 AM

Title: How to train fetch?
Post by: CopperKettle on December 21, 2011, 10:41:32 AM
Hi folks,

Copper is doing good with basic training at the moment, sits on command, lies down and can give paw. Still woking on the recal but it is slowly coming. I would really like to teach 'fetch', any time we have tried with a ball or any other object he jsut runs after it picks it up and then drops it.

Any advice?
Title: Re: How to train fetch?
Post by: emma_and_tilly on December 21, 2011, 10:45:22 AM
I'll be watching this thread with interest, Tilly is almost two and still won't fetch!!
Title: Re: How to train fetch?
Post by: Pudding on December 21, 2011, 10:49:46 AM
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=clicker%20train%20your%20dog%20to%20fetch&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CEIQtwIwAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DCcw1uwvbx00&ei=irjxTuuLFYK_8gOG7bzXAQ&usg=AFQjCNHmElAn6Z7f0-oGolnWjCN6kejBZg

Have a look here I did this with Bob and he will now fetch me a ball.... But only if i have the clicker
Hope that helps
Title: Re: How to train fetch?
Post by: seaangler on December 21, 2011, 11:03:59 AM
A nice little retrive to do in your garden...

As your dog will sit...Make sure your dog is on a long leader some twenty feet or so...From the sit position with your dog...throw the object..telling your dog to to wate..Stand in front and block if need be...After your dog has setteled send if of...If your dog did lose interest ....Start from the begining again....No good sending your dog hafe cocked...from the sit throw object ..hopefully he will go of and pick it up...He will at first pick it up and sniff around a bit..with the lond leader just encorage the dog to come back by gently pulling the leader untill your dog  comes back infront of you to the sit position and give...Chris

O and say in your silly dogy voice :005: well done in a high voice and treat and more praces...

This is use in the first steps  in gun dog training

P.S (Never) throw sticks for your dog to fetch...
Title: Re: How to train fetch?
Post by: SteveB on December 21, 2011, 11:08:04 AM
We started them off short in the house and garden a couple of feet and reward with a treat and praise. Then over time made it longer and longer.
Title: Re: How to train fetch?
Post by: seaangler on December 21, 2011, 11:11:44 AM
We started them off short in the house and garden a couple of feet and reward with a treat and praise. Then over time made it longer and longer.

Quite right...jumping the gun a bit :005: but i am sure she has done the basics and to start of out side... :D at a longer distents...
Title: Re: How to train fetch?
Post by: Top Barks on December 23, 2011, 03:09:02 PM
never had to teach any of mine to retrieve as they have all been naturals until Wallace. Started at 8 weeks with him using clicker training for him picking up items at my feet then having him place them into an open hand, gradually put some distance on it, then took it into different environments.
All was going well to a point then he decided he would go and get the item then sit and play with it, I found that by me turning and walking away and having another of the same item he would then start to come back.
i also found he wasn't really fussed by food, and his ultimate reward is the throw of the other toy or dummy when he brings the first one back, which he only gets now and again, but often enough to keep him gambling.
really coming on now so progressing to doing directional retrieves with him.
Title: Re: How to train fetch?
Post by: seaangler on December 23, 2011, 09:29:48 PM
You are lucky Mark...
As you well know some dogs are easy to train and can pick up tricks very quicky...And others well dont like to mention it two steps forword and ten back words..And you feel like giveing up as they will never learn...

But my all saying is dont give up giveing up... :D
Title: Re: How to train fetch?
Post by: SteveGL on December 26, 2011, 06:50:52 PM
I started using aball with a bell inside it.She found this more interesting.Also make lots of encouraging noises,and run away from her and if it helps hide.
Title: Re: How to train fetch?
Post by: supergirl on December 27, 2011, 10:16:35 PM
Both Misha & Roly seemed to retrieve automatically so teaching wasn't a problem.  However Lexi as a rescue didn't seem to retrieve.  I find that the easiest way is to start is with very small distances, ie. less than a foot.  Every time the dog picked the ball up that I placed in front of her I would say fetch and reward.  Gradually I would place the ball further away asking the dog to wait before giving the command fetch.  Don't move onto longer distances until the dog is reliably fetching at a small distance.  I would practice only a few minutes a day to avoid the dog getting bored and its important to ignore a bad retrieve and reward the good ones. 

(think I just said what TB said :lol2:)
Title: Re: How to train fetch?
Post by: seaangler on December 27, 2011, 10:23:11 PM
Gemma will retrieve as far as i can throw the dummy 100 feet or so....she will come back to me...but she does have a habit of just by passing me...I have teach her to sit in front of me ..but she pleases her self haft the time..And will sit and look whats around her...inquisitively to see if any other dogs are around...


Boooooo ;)
Title: Re: How to train fetch?
Post by: Sarah.H on December 27, 2011, 11:04:37 PM
It sounds like you need to work on encouraging her to hold things in her mouth, maybe lots of over the top praise and cuddles when she picks things up in general? I'm always encouraging Millie to fetch and carry daft things around the house, she usually carries my socks to the washing machine for me as I always drop at least one  :005:.
Title: Re: How to train fetch?
Post by: supergirl on December 28, 2011, 08:55:41 AM
 For Misha & Roly the difficulty that I've always had is getting the dogs to hold the dummy/ball and deliver it to hand as they just tend throw it at your feet.
Title: Re: How to train fetch?
Post by: Karma on December 28, 2011, 09:00:34 AM

Hand targets can help with that...   :D
Title: Re: How to train fetch?
Post by: SteveB on December 28, 2011, 09:13:24 AM
For what it is worth with the experts posting
We used to sit with the puppies give them a toy and take it back giving the dead command and lots of praise.
Title: Re: How to train fetch?
Post by: Emilyoliver on December 28, 2011, 10:00:00 AM
Taught Emily to sit in front (present position for obedience retrieve) and hold article first. Command was fetch which means 'sit in present position with article'. Then moved article further away. This way you don't get the dog running past or away from you (if that makes any sense?)