Dog return all the way during fetch

Discussion in 'Labrador Training' started by Tank the Destroyer, Sep 7, 2017.

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  1. Tank the Destroyer

    Tank the Destroyer Registered Users

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    Hi everyone. I have a bit of a twist on a common challenge. Tank, my 14 yo boxer/lab/dane loves to play fetch, particular in the water. He will return a ball most of the way, but always drops about 4 feet from me. He then immediately lays down and stares at me, waiting for me to throw the ball again. I don't mind this on land, but he will do this in the river and it's often deeper than I want to go! We have lost a few balls this way. He'll stare at me, waiting for me to throw the ball that is slowly floating down the river. Often he'll keep looking at the ball and then at me, like he's confused why I'm not getting it.

    I have tried asking him to come and/or running the other way as he's returning, but this only works a minority of the time (usually he'll just continue to stare at me). I'd also prefer not to use the "come" command in these scenarios and instead use "fetch". As it's floating away I'll tell him to "get it!" and he'll put his mouth around it and then drop it again immediately. When he does bring it back to me successfully, I always make a big deal of it and then treat him before throwing the ball again, but this hasn't increased the number of times he does so. I also say "bring it" and "yes!" (which we use instead of a physical clicker) while he's swimming back to it, but that hasn't helped either.

    Obviously, I've taught him that he doesn't have to return it all the way for me to throw it for him, but even when I try ignoring him or waiting for me to bring it back on land, he tends to get frustrated or lose interest in the game. How do I communicate this to him when all he'll do is lay on the ground, staring at me?
     
  2. Beanwood

    Beanwood Registered Users

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    Hehehe! Don't you love those moments when you are both staring at ball slowly drifting away...even more irritating is that terrier cross that gets it for you whilst the owner smiles smugly..:oops::D

    I would have a think about clicker training a retrieve and back chaining the hold first. With luck, time and patience Tank should be able to generalise to water;). You could use a large foam filled water bumper, easier for his mouth to manage, with a bit of biothane line attached. :)
     
  3. Tank the Destroyer

    Tank the Destroyer Registered Users

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    Thank you! Your suggestion to use a line prompted a bit of a "Duh! Why didn't I think of that?!"-moment for me. I've made a half-hearted attempt at back chaining, and we have both the gotten frustrated because he seems to quickly lose patience. However, I think you're right that it's time to make a better go of it. I really appreciate you taking the time to answer.

    This may be a different thread, but what have other folks done to make shaping more interesting or fun for their puppy? I usually initially train a behavior via a lure because when I've tried shaping he seems to get frustrated/not understand what he supposed to do. He starts throwing tricks/behaviors that he's already learned my way to see what works, and can work himself up quite quickly this way. I worry that it is a stressful experience for him and he really doesn't seem to enjoy it.
     
  4. snowbunny

    snowbunny Registered Users

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    I don't shape where a lure will do. Luring is far quicker and, I think, can avoid confusion for the dog, as you don't have to go through the progressive steps where what was good enough to earn a click no longer is. But, where shaping is necessary, I find using a lot of verbal praise alongside the food reward goes a long way to keeping the dog engaged and having fun. When the dog progresses a step, throw him a party. You feel like a bit of a muppet, but it really works :)
     
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