I want to do some more work on the clicker retrieve as Bella picked it up initially but now runs after something , but either won't return it or will drop it a few yards from my feet ( for a treat). Before when she did delivery into my hand, I had the green canvas dummy, but she destroyed that with her teeth, so need another. ( hence no practice) Just wondering if I should go plastic or try canvas again? Also what size would you recommend as she's 6.5months ... Thanks ;D
Re: Retriever dummy ... I wouldn't recommend a dummy at all. Do the clicker retrieve with something else apart from a dummy, and get it right first. Although, I wouldn't recommend the clicker retrieve either. I think for quite trivial problems, which are easily overcome by using a marker to separate marker and reinforcer (so avoiding the spitting for a treat) using a clicker is fine. A full blown clicker retrieve for persistent delivery problems I have honestly found to be as much use as a chocolate tea pot. Worse, for novice clicker trainers. By all means use a marker to communicate that she has to put the dummy in your hand rather than spit it out, but you might need other techniques if your problems are more significant than that. Can you describe in a bit more detail what is happening?
Re: Retriever dummy ... Ok, so if I get us all excited (so she does too) I throw something eg a tennis ball or squeaky toy, and then she chases it in excitement and starts to bring it back to me ....but now either a) drops it a few paces away ( I think in anticipation of the treat) or b) chases it, then just leaves it and runs back to me super excited ( I think again it's for a treat, which I don't give her if no retrieve). If no retrieve, I then say 'where's your toy, go get it' and she will usually go look for it and sometimes grab it and bring it back again dropping it a few paces away. I did the recommended stages of clicking for touching it, bringing it back so far , then in hand etc ... Before she would chase and bring it straight back, so I clicked and gave her a treat. ( but I haven't overdone throwing things either , just a few times). I also open out my hand to give her a visual cue. Not sure if relevant.... but she's also recently developed a thing about picking things up in her mouth when excited and not letting go, eg when she gets up on a morning she grabs the nearest toy and wags her tail , takes it outside whilst she does a wee and the same when I get home at night (it's so cute) ......but she does let me take the toy off her though. What would you recommend I try it with? Also she likes tug a lot and if I pull it off her and throw on the floor , she grabs and brings to me so I'll tug it again .....I'm guessing I'm totally confusing her and need to not throw for tug at all , as that confuses her for a retrieve game ... Maybe I need to be clear about how to teach tug and retrieve :
Re: Retriever dummy ... If you get another dummy, I would suggest only letting Bella have it when you're working together, so she can't chew it up. Molly would undoubtedly chew hers if they were available. I found teaching the clicker retrieve, with a dummy, was very successful, so I'd say have another try. We'd had a few gun dog lessons and Molly often ran off with the dummy or teased me with it and using the clicker sorted it out straight away. I started by only throwing the dummy a yard or two away. I've only used canvas ones so I don't know what the plastic ones are like. I also started with a small size - sorry don't know the weight, possibly half a pound - because this was what my trainer gave me. Good luck.
Re: Retriever dummy ... [quote author=Joy link=topic=10669.msg158115#msg158115 date=1429646360] If you get another dummy, I would suggest only letting Bella have it when you're working together, so she can't chew it up. Molly would undoubtedly chew hers if they were available. I found teaching the clicker retrieve, with a dummy, was very successful, so I'd say have another try. We'd had a few gun dog lessons and Molly often ran off with the dummy or teased me with it and using the clicker sorted it out straight away. I started by only throwing the dummy a yard or two away. I've only used canvas ones so I don't know what the plastic ones are like. I also started with a small size - sorry don't know the weight, possibly half a pound - because this was what my trainer gave me. Good luck. [/quote] Thanks joy, yes I left the dummy out like a toy before, would not do that again!!!!!! They are not cheap either and full of sand :
Re: Retriever dummy ... I play tug with Molly too (though I suppose proper gun dog people wouldn't. ) I think dogs can learn different rules for different toys / games. I sometimes throw a tug toy for Molly, but then she has to bring it back and give it to me and sit before I say 'play' which means grab it and start tugging. She also knows that plastic bottles needn't be returned and can be tossed or chewed. This doesn't seem to have affected 'proper' dummy retrieving.
