I was talking to the trainer who runs the cancer detection work for medical detection dogs and mentioned that I'd stopped gun dog training with Rusty as I've struggled to find a trainer that will use reward based training, also really I was more interested in working his mind than ever going on a shoot. He said why not train him to find your keys? Start by tying keys to a dummy, then a gradually smaller piece of material until there's just enough for the dog to be able to pick them up. Then "find" is essentially a blind retrieve. I loved this idea but also had a vision of Rusty rummaging in my handbag for keys and finding much more exciting things I might just give it a go though when I find some time but would love to hear if anyone else decides to give it a try.
Re: A good use of the retrieve drive? I'm totally intrigued as to what's in your handbag now. Mine, when I use one, is very dull. I'm more of a stuffed pockets girl
Re: A good use of the retrieve drive? What a brilliant idea Carole , I might just pinch that My family say that my handbag is like a Tardis , its full of supermarket receipts and general garbage :
Re: A good use of the retrieve drive? I taught my GSP to find my keys and all was going well until one day I sent her to find them in some long grass, which she did, then tossed them into the air into some more grass and it took us both ages to find them again! Stacia
