Advice please xx

[Lily Pup]

We've found a gundog training club that sounds really good and we've made enquiries - saw them doing a display at a local game fair, he came over as we were watching the scurrying display and advised us to move Lily away as the loud bangs could damage her baby ears, which I thought was a really nice thing for him to do, he also took the opportunity to give us his card and we had a short chat, I emailed them and they said that they start their puppies off at 5 months old so we've got about 5 weeks to wait, they have said we can and watch beforehand though which we are going to do.  I like to check out how they train before we subject any of my dogs to it - just in case 

Anyway I digress  In the initial email, I said that she does love to retrieve, will play fetch forever  but she doesn't like to give it back, she'll come back to me proudly carrying her toy but circles us and stays just out reach    If she gets close enough I manage to get hold of the toy, she'll drop it immediatley, I never chase her just sit patiently waiting for her to 'give' it back.  We've started to swap the toy for treats which she's ok with and is getting better at bringing her toy straight back to me.    The guy said we were doing 'some things' wrong and suggested we do not play anymore retrieve games until we'd been to training    

What do you think I'm doing wrong??   

[spaniel04]

Most gun dog trainers don't like using treats when it comes to training the retrieve. The pup could get into the habit of 'spitting' out the retrieve in order to take the treat and before you know it you will have a created a problem that is not that ease to iron out.
In gun dog training you want the dog to deliver the dummy or ball gently into the handlers hand and not drop it on the floor. What you could try is to sit in a corridor or hallway with your back against one end so that the pup can't run past you. As she comes back to you with the retrieve in her mouth let her climb all over you up into your arms and make a huge fuss of her without taking the retrieve straight away, and then gently take it from her whilst you are giving her lots of verbal praise.
It is very easy to overdo the retrieving so limit yourself to just 2 or 3 little retrieves a day, the last thing you want is for your pup to get tired of the game.
There is an excellent manual called 'The Right Start' available from The Gun Dog Club that explains how to condition a puppy for future gun dog training.
Best of luck.   

[Lily Pup]

Most gun dog trainers don't like using treats when it comes to training the retrieve. The pup could get into the habit of 'spitting' out the retrieve in order to take the treat and before you know it you will have a created a problem that is not that ease to iron out.
In gun dog training you want the dog to deliver the dummy or ball gently into the handlers hand and not drop it on the floor. What you could try is to sit in a corridor or hallway with your back against one end so that the pup can't run past you. As she comes back to you with the retrieve in her mouth let her climb all over you up into your arms and make a huge fuss of her without taking the retrieve straight away, and then gently take it from her whilst you are giving her lots of verbal praise.
It is very easy to overdo the retrieving so limit yourself to just 2 or 3 little retrieves a day, the last thing you want is for your pup to get tired of the game.
There is an excellent manual called 'The Right Start' available from The Gun Dog Club that explains how to condition a puppy for future gun dog training.
Best of luck.   

Aaah suddenly it all becomes clear     Thank you 

[Wendy G]

A very good reply from SpanielO4

Also the dog should not go out to pick up the retrieve until you send it, this is known as "running in".
also not letting it get every retrieve is a good idea, make the pup wait while you retrieve.

Hope you get on O.K at the classes

[Lily Pup]

There is an excellent manual called 'The Right Start' available from The Gun Dog Club that explains how to condition a puppy for future gun dog training.
 

  It's out of stock everywhere 

[SteveB]

Most gun dog trainers don't like using treats when it comes to training the retrieve. The pup could get into the habit of 'spitting' out the retrieve in order to take the treat and before you know it you will have a created a problem that is not that ease to iron out.
 

We do not treat either just plenty of praise when they bring it back. There is a lab who is very succesful on the scurry circuit (always seems to qualify for the Mistubbushi finals and also finished 2nd in the BASC league) called Barney and his owner Roland and he always rewards. He also does very well on the shooting circuit. So there are exceptions. Not one I would follow though.
One thing we used to do with Tia because she went through the spitting out stage (not for the treat, but to go and collect a 2nd retrieve). We used to sit with her with a dummy, give it to her to hold and then take it back off her giving her plenty of praise. We did this a couple of times a day and after a few days she stopped spitting it out.