(VICT) Retrieve
- From: "Karyn and Thane" <bcpaws4me@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Vi-clicker" <vi-clicker-trainers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:42:57 -0700
It sounds like there are at least three of us caught in this area of
retrieve where we are spinning our wheels- Rox'E, Ridge, and myself
For Ridge and myself- it seems like we are just hung up on this *touching
our things* principle.
I wonder if there are some good non-food oriented aspects that might help
break this concept. I plan on communicating with Thane's co-breeder to find
out if there was a *don't touch my things* mentality that went on. Though
this is a great approach in a pet world to prevent destruction of one's
home- it seems to be a stumbling block when we want to further training to
include retrieve. Thane will carry his toys with him. The other night just
one time, he did a perfect, grab the ball, Paws, hold it until mom takes it.
It was as if he was just helping me through my rut. We have yet to get that
to happen again and I refuse to believe it was coincidence with how
methodical and paced out he did each step. It gave me that boost that it can
happen-
but how to get past this big- this is mine, that is yours aspect.
I have tried not to work just with toys because he really is a hard core,
get the toy, drop it near mom, nudge it closer type of dog and I wanted to
do something totally from scratch. It worked one time with a small dowel
with eyehooks that is a duplicate of my keychair actually. It was new and
interesting then- now its not! grin
So how does one find that item that is interesting enough with just the
right feel?
I've tried both plastic and wooden dumbells for training as well.
Maybe if people shared some of the things they used to train the retrieve,
it might help in my brain-storming for better items to work with.
I loved the post on OCAD Debi Davis made a bit ago, but if you can not even
get interest in the item- how do you even backchain through to the retrieve?
I know this will take time. It is actually the only thing I have set in my
mind to work on this winter with him. Though I am sure we will fool around
with other fun play and games that will benefit our work, this is the one
concept that is needed before I can train any of the indoor service tasks
that I need of Thane which Met did- from retrieving items, to bringing them
with us, to opening and closing doors, to helping me undress- all of these
require a good understanding of holding and retrieving along with tugging
which is another concept he does not comprehend.
Karyn and Thane
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