Teach Your Dog to Retrieve
The art of teaching your dog a skill of retrieving depends a lot on the breed of your dog, and the approach that you take when attempting to teach the skill to him or her. Dogs that are more likely to display the natural ability of retrieving, say for example the Labrador Retriever, will learn the skill faster than say a dog that is not apt to want to learn anything, say for example the boxer.
There are various ways to teach the retrieve. Some trainers use the “forced retrieve” approach. Broken down, this method employs the idea that the dog is to feel some sort of negative stimulous, until the desired act is performed. For example, when a trainer is teaching a dog to pick an item off the ground, he will pinch the dog’s ear hard enough to invoke a painful reaction from the dog, at the same time maneuvering the dog into a position where he can force the treat into the dog’s mouth, thus ending the pain that the dog is experiencing. The idea of this type of training, is to teach the dog that the only way to eleviate the painful stimulous is to pick up that item. A lot of people disagree with this method of training as it can break a dog’s spirit and turn a good dog into a fear aggressive one.
Other trainers will employ the less dramatic approach to teaching the retrieve. Through positive reinforcement, and the ability to use the dog’s natural desire to retrieve, teaching the skill can be a fun way to spend time with your dog, and can open up the door for other similar acts to be learned much quicker than would be possible otherwise.
When teaching the retrieve, it is important to understand that keeping training fun, will only help you keep your dog’s focus. Dogs have a very limitted attention span so keeping them interested is half the battle.
Having a dog with a good base in basic obedience will help you greatly. Too often I hear of people complaining that their dog will go get the ball, but refuse to bring it back, leading to a frantic game of “catch me if you can.” Most dog owners may view this act as an ordeal, however your dog views this as a great game.
Tip number 1, do not chase after your dog. The second your dog grabs that ball the game is on. If you simply begin following your dog in an attempt to regain possession of the ball, your dog will simply wait for you to get close, then turn and “high tail” it making you frustrated. This same sequence will go on and on until either you give up, or your dog gets tired of eluding you.
Tip number 2, when beginning to teach the retrieve do not throw the ball too far from where you are standing. Generally, the further the dog is away from the handler, the less obedient they want to be. By keeping them in close proximity to you, gaining their attention if they become otherwise distracted will be easier for you to do.
Tip number 3, praise your dog. If your dog does indeed grab the ball, coax them to return to you. If the dog is one that has been put through some sort of obedience training, then he/she should come back to you. Always praise good behavior, because this will lead to the behavior more than likely being repeated.
Tip number 4, always end the game on a good note. Dogs have good memories, and if they learn to associate the act of training with a negative experience, then you will never make progress and will only become frustrated.
Tip number 5, try to work the retrieve while your dog is on a long line. By doing this, you can coax your dog to return to you by simply giving a slight tug to your leash thus telling the dog to return to you.
If your dog has a good level of basic obedience, he/she should come to you whenever you give the come command. Part of the battle, is making your dog associate the act of returning to you with more fun. If your dog grabs that ball and simply turns and looks at you waiting for you to chase after him/her, simply don’t. Utter the come command, your dog should come to you. If the command is not obeyed simply ignore your dog. If properly socialized as puppies, dogs will have learned that the act of ignoring means the end of the game. If the dog is interested in playing which most dogs are, then he/she will indeed come to you with ball in mouth.
If your dog is not obedient, then expecting him/her to come back whenever you call it is not a fair expectation. By teaching basic obedience, then you will have the ability to have control over your dog, and as we can see from above, this can lead to fun experiences for both your dog and yourself. Having an obedient dog, does not always have to be a serious experience, it can allow for more fun, and more freedom due to your dog’s ability to listen, and obey you when you command it.