Whether you are a serious obedience competitor, training your own service dog (or someone else's), training your own bird dog, or want it for tricks (bring me a drink), the foundations of a solid hand-delivered retrieve are the same - yet very different than a play retrieve. Learn the steps to training this behavior so it is solid no matter how and where you need it. Even non-natural retrieving breeds can learn to do it happily!
Once you understand the pieces of a retrieve and how it can be back-chained, you can tease apart the pieces and retrain the parts that the dog is having challenges with, retrain those to perfection, then put the whole chain back together to get a fast, precise hand-delivered retrieve.
Whether too enthusiastic (pouncing, pawing or sliding) or disinterested (slow or distracted), chomping (chewing or throwing around in her mouth), refuses to take metal objects in her mouth, or not bringing the object close enough into your personal space is your dog's issue, your classmates and I will give it our best training ideas to solve it. We'll use a variety of different objects to train an enthusiastic retrieve from its basic foundations. Learn how to fine tune the retrieve to pick up small items like credit cards and coins.
Learn how to apply positive reinforcement training principles to create this challenging multi-step behavior. This is a problem- solving class so bring your problems and solutions and share them with other Gold and Silver students.
All handlers and dogs must have a basic understanding of how a marker sound works for shaping as we will be shaping the problem pieces of the chain. You can spend more time on fine tuning and problem solving if your dog already has a strong nose touch to your palm, can sit and lay down in front of you, sit beside you and go around behind you back to heel position. Whether you will have a basic full retrieve at the end of 6 weeks is dependent on what you are working on and how skilled a trainer you are. Most students focus on one or two problem skills.
This class is lecture heavy and video heavy with photos to show the subtleties of back chaining and using shaping. There are many tips and tricks to help with problem-solving.
Excerpt from the Introduction:
Most problems in teaching a retrieve arise due to unclear expectations of the dog during training. That is what this class is about: clarifying the unexpressed criteria for the dog at each step of the training process so she understands what is expected of her during each part of this complicated behaviour chain. In many cases, training using this approach will prevent unwanted behaviours before they ever start and certainly before they are added to the entire behaviour. Some of the unwanted behaviours are due to arousal level and equipment and we will deal with each separately.
In this course, I am going to post all of the information for all weeks at the beginning. This is to allow those who are already familiar with the chaining process to select the section your dog is having problems with and you can start work on that immediately.
For those who have not trained their dog to retrieve this way yet, you can start training from the very beginning and progress as your dog is able to. Each dog will progress through each step and criteria at a different rate in part due to previous training in that specific behavior. Fixing the challenging bits will also vary depending on how much previous practice ( and reinforcement) the dog has had in doing the unwanted behavior.
Registration
There are no scheduled sessions for this class at this time. We update our schedule frequently, so please
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Registration will begin at 12:00 Noon Pacific Time.
For answers to commonly asked questions see our FAQ page.
Silver level for this class is offered as "Working Silver". In addition to asking GENERAL clarification questions about the class lecture materials, silver students will now have the opportunity to submit two short videos, one minute each, for critique and review. You may submit two questions. Each question MUST have a one minute video attached so the instructor can actually answer a question that they can see. The question must relate to a topic in the class and the video must be a demo of the question. Please see the discussion forum for a detailed explanation - feel free to sign up at bronze, read the explanation, and then come back here to upgrade to silver if that interests you, and if space is available.
If you are interested in a bronze level subscription, you can sign up at any time during the registration period.
Syllabus
There is much material to cover in this class as not only do we cover how to train the basic retrieve, but also how to problem solve existing habits as well as issues that come up during the training. Happily, many of the problems can be prevented if you train using this methodical approach. Sprinkled throughout the text are games to play with your dog to practice the new behaviors and solve problems.
Introduction
Lecture 1
Back-chaining a Retrieve
Lecture 2
Shaping (training plan for teaching the take)
Lecture 3
Collecting Objects to Use for Training
Practical Training Part 1
6 Steps to Teaching a Take
1A. nose target
1B. nose touch different objects
1C. shaping take
1D. proper placement of object in the mouth
1E. teaching approach from different angles
1F. adding cue for take
Practical Training Part 2
6 Ways to Teach a Hold
a) Cue a stay after taking it into her mouth
b) Ask for two holds
c) Ask the dog to lift it
d) Ask dog to tug it
e) Ask the dog to carry it
f) Using a nose or chin target
g) Adding a cue
Proofing the Hold
Problem Solving 1: Dog delivers dumbbell too far away (has issues with being in your space)
Problem Solving 2: Lack of Interest in or Enthusiasm for Object
Practical Training Part 3 Changing Position with Object in Mouth
Lecture 4: Shaping How Dog Holds Object in a Specific Way
Lecture 5: Proper Fit of the Dumbbell
Problem Solving 3: Dog Doesn't Like Metal Objects
Practical Training Part 4
4A. Dog picks up object, runs towards the handler and gives it to her hand
4B. Adding Distance
4C. Adding Delivery Position into chain (using additive adduction)
4D. Adding hold time in
Problem Solving 4: Rolling, Chewing Object
Lecture 6: Starting to Generalize the Behavior to Other Locations
Practical Training Part 5
Dog Picks up Object and Turns Back to Handler
Problem Solving 5: Pawing or Stabbing the Object
Problem Solving 6: Slow Speed
a. Picking up the Object
b. Coming Back
c. Going Out
Problem Solving 7: Low Enthusiasm for Retrieve Overall
a. Technical Training Issues
b. Communication issues
c. Your General Approach
(The most common reason-Drilling the behavior)
Practical Training Part 6
Dog picks up an object in his mouth, turns towards handler and moves towards the handler with the object in his mouth. Dog delivers the object to her hand on cue.
Practical Training Part 7 Adding Distance
Problem Solving 8: Over Arousal During Training
Lecture 7: Practicing Your Dumbbell Throwing Skills
Practical Training Part 8
Adding Other Parts of the Behavior Chain in
Practical Training Part 9
Carrying Objects while Jumping Over
Practical Training Part 10
Teaching Dog to Pick up Smaller and More Delicate Objects
Problem Solving 9: Head Shake
Lecture 8: Generalizing to Real Life and Trials
Lecture 9: Holding Object in a Specific Way
Prerequisites & Supplies
This is an advanced class that requires previous shaping experience on both your part and the dog's (note the 510 level). A good idea is to take Sue Ailsby's Shaping course before this one. http://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/courses/94 Make sure you have successfully shaped at least 5 different behaviors (nose touch, paw target, shutting the door, chin hold etc) including 2 where you have added duration to the behavior. This behavior is actually a complicated one that requires long term commitment to get the details correct but it needs to be balanced with fun to keep the dog motivated. Good timing is essential for shaping the hold especially. Before taking this class, you need to have basic knowledge of using marker-based training (using a clicker or other sound).
Clicker (optional but recommended as timing is key when shaping some of the behaviors)
Soft small training treats for each training session (real meat or cheese recommended, nothing crumbly or chewy)
a treat pouch is handy to keep treats on you for fast delivery
A collection of at least 20 different objects that can fit comfortably and safely (non-toxic) in your dog's mouth (make sure they are easily replaceable in case they get bitten):
made of different materials (wood, plastic, fabric, metal etc)
different sizes
shapes
textures
Some examples:
wood dowel plastic tube (piece of Hula hoop or garden hose) tightly rolled newspaper wooden long-handled spoon dumbbell plastic yogurt lid plastic DVD case old glasses case toilet paper roll old sock metal canning jar lid metal spoon
Sample Lecture
Practical Training Part 3B: Proofing the Hold with Movement
No matter how you teach the hold, it pays to play around with proofing it with you holding it and the dog holding it alone. Here are some ideas.
Once the dog is successfully holding the object in one position, you can reshape it from the beginning in a new position. In this case, the dog is laying down but practice sitting as well.
Tugging in all directions
Teaching the dog to hold on even after you take hold of it.
In this video, FDSA student Andrea Woodcock is proofing her dog Vega to not only hold for duration on her own, but also hold for duration for a shared hold afterward. This ensures the dog doesn't drop the item until she is cued to release it.
Hold while moving downwards
Hold while moving upwards while laying down
Hold while lifting while standing
Jump to take it
Jumping while holding
Holding while doing a paw target (this shows how to introduce the 'paw while hold'
Here's a different dog for comparison in confidence and enthusiasm levels
Here is FDSA student Mary Ann Eustiss and Deacon showing how they had some fun getting movement and adding the hold into their obedience behaviors. Keep the session short at first and build to longer duration and holding for multiple behaviors as they have done in this video.
Other ideas: Can your dog hold a wet object? (knotted rope) Can your dog take and hold an object underwater (such as in a creek or in a kids pool?) Can she lift an object that starts underwater?
Be creative and share your ideas for proofing with the class in the group forum!
Testimonials
A sampling of what prior students have said about this course ...
We had so much fun, and Donna's help in coming up with creative explanations for Phoebe and her encouragement to think outside the box have been invaluable! I have learned heaps in those last six weeks - not only about the retrieve, but also about training in general. Thank you, Donna! Chrissi S.
I am very happy I took this class. I feel we made a lot of very solid progress. It is so evident that Donna puts a great deal of thought, time and energy into her classes. She has broken the retrieve down into tiny steps to ensure us of success. Her lectures are filled with detail, suggestions and many helpful videos. Many students at the Gold level were enthusiastically repeating the class. She worked with each team independently right at the level where we were. Her fast response time (click) and her positive, helpful comments were very reinforcing. I hope to take the class again in the future. Sandy H
The way the course is designed allowed me to go at my own pace and stay longer in areas where we needed to. Will recommend your on line courses to my dog friends. Also, your courses are for everyone competition or family dog.
I've struggled for years on a quiet dumbbell hold, and within the first week of class I was already seeing progress. Donna splits down the behavior chain so well, and offers so many different ideas for how to train the different behaviors. Thanks Donna! Molly B
l am still working thru the class, but I have seen great improvement in my young dog on her retrieve. Glad I took this class!!
Donna's videos are very detailed and allow you to progress on any behavior. I often went back to watch them again and again to see if I got it right.
The lectures and videos have been extremely helpful. I can get a hold for several seconds with articles made from various materials. Donna gives her students plenty of ways to work each step of the hand-delivered retrieve so that if one method doesn't work, the student can try others. She responds to her students quickly and may include student work in her demos, with their permission. We are getting there, and I have complete faith that we will get there. Carol B
