Over the summer we had attention issues due to the influx of rabbits and consequently their muck which apparently is very tasty !!! :-\ I had to make retrieves very exciting to keep S&S attention on the job. Any close training was fine it was just if they where at distance. I think I might have made it too exciting and increased scouts desire too much because now once he's tired or when we've done a certain amount he won't drop I think because he knows game over !!! I've tried all sorts of treats but he won't come near incase he's tempted. I've had to put him back on a long line and if I've had difficulty getting him to drop I don't automatically take it off him so he doesn't see it as a punishment. :-\ I'm thinking I should either take a complete break from retrieves, but I do use a retrieve as reward for some things, keep them to a minimum or do less running in and more work on steady or blind retrieves. Trouble is I don't want the desire to drop too much. :-\ Any suggestions please ?
Re: Too much desire ! How about showing him you have another retrieve article in your hand, so that if he presents the one he has, you will throw him the other. Though I can see you might be there all day swopping retrieve articles ;D However, you can suddenly say sit and take it after you have done a couple of swaps and got him to come close.
Re: Too much desire ! I do what Stacia suggests, but only when she really won't drop the retrieve. On the last retrieve I might show her I have the other item, then give her a treat and put the item away.
Re: Too much desire ! Excellent idea thank you. ;D Scouts preferred article to retrieve is a ball. I gave them new balls at the weekend as the old ones were getting tatty however they are good enough to use as a decoy. ;D I will give it a go tomorrow. Thanks.
