Introduction to Trained Retrieving
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Key Notes
Introduction
to Trained Retrieving
Submit (sab-mit’) - to surrender oneself to another. To surrender
Submission -
act of submitting; humility; meekness; obedient; docile;
Submissive – resignation
The only two commands given
during this training are “Fetch” and “Give.”
We
have heard of as many different ways to “force” a
dog to retrieve as is imaginable. We have tried most of them
and agree that there is more than one way to enforce the “fetch” command
when retrieving game or bumpers. We have built a lot of distrust
using negative force during previous
retrieve training. We are trying new and more positive training
methods today that help the dog learn quicker with less use
of pressure
to keep the trust between the dog and us. We use the submissive
training
to teach the dog to give into our needs followed by positive re-enforcement.
We teach the dog that they are in control and have the ability
to shut off
all negative training by submitting to our needs. It
is very important that both
the dog and the person are focused during this training. It
also
helps when the dog
in training has been worked with from an early age, and it
has been all “positive” to
this point. We hear of people that “force break” dogs
in short time periods. We think it takes eight weeks to complete
this job with positive results and
consistency.
It
is very important during this time that we only ask of our
dog what he/she can do to succeed.
We encourage everyone to be consistent with
commands and corrections!
Don’t
move to the next step until you have completed each step and
have confidence that the dog understands the commands given.
Be very positive throughout the training and especially at
the
end of each training session. Always end on a positive
note!
We use a doll at first to discourage future association
with
pain. Once the
dog understands, we move to bumpers, frozen
birds and fresh birds.
During
this time we will steady up a dog to the level of or goals
needed. If done properly, the dog will gain positive structure
and willingness to please, without losing style or focus on
training practices.
Position
the E-collar in an effective location to receive prompt response.
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Week 1
Start off with the dog on the training table building
trust and comfort.
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Week 2
Put a wooden doll
in the dog's mouth and teach them to hold with the “Fetch” command.
Teach the “Give” command at this time,
and be positive after each command is completed.
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Week 3
Apply stimulation
and let off the moment they submit in taking the doll after
the “Fetch” command has been given.
Do not confuse the dog by applying stimulation to enforce the “Give” command.
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Week
4
As you progress through repetition, start holding the doll
out to encourage the dog to reach for it to shut off the
stimulation. Once the dog has mastered this, lower the doll
to the table
for them to pick up. It is very important to complete this
before moving to
the next step! At this time the dog has learned to submit
(surrender) itself
to your training request.
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Week
5
Only after the dog and you are comfortable with the progress
you have made do we move to the ground! Make sure the dog
succeeds with each stage of this training, and follow up by
rewarding
them with positive actions.
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Week 6
Toss the doll
or bumper out an acceptable distance, and
start stimulation until the dog picks up the object thrown.
Apply stimulation only when the doll or bumper is out of the
dog’s
mouth after a “fetch” command
is given and before the “give” command is given.
Once the “give” command is given, we start praising
the dog!
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Week 7
This week should
be used to overemphasize “negative” vs. “positive” commands,
and praise after each correct response to the command.
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Week 8
Work on birds
and start converting this to the field. We start by using
kill pigeons for a reason; they stink and have sharp
feathers. Pigeons are usually plentiful and reasonably priced.
We then convert to quail, pheasant and ducks. We kill 100
birds before we call
it done!
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Key notes
Every dog we have put through this training has hit
a wall somewhere in the training period. At this the dog will
put its foot down and say, “no way!” It is very
important to stick with it, without getting frustrated and
negative.
Most importantly
DO NOT STOP until they have submitted!
If you quit at this time, you will teach the dog that you will
give up (surrender)
and create an escape door to use over time.
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