Trained Retrieve Experiment, Week One

Today I set up a video camera to record some of the first weeks results on my three experimental subjects.  

This first one is of Leuc, (pronounced Luke) an obviously very exuberant 16 month old boy who as you will see offers all kinds of alternate behaviors. At times it is difficult not to laugh at his antics, but we only want to reward the behavior offered that we seek.

Next is Tessa, our six year old Female.


And our third student is Hank, my boy. Hank is a great dog, and making me earn every step of training.


I'll do the same format in another week. If any questions or comments, I'd love to hear them.

Is there a better way?

The retrieve is an important part of the bird dogs repertoire of skills, and essential for certain breeds to perform in order to garner a Field Champion Title or any Pointing breed dog to achieve a Senior or Master Hunt Test Title.

For those lucky dogs (and their owners) to whom the retrieve is natural, this generally avoids an essentially unpleasant training regimen for both dog and trainer.  "Force Fetch".  It is an expression that must equate to the dog as oral surgery, root canal and prostrate exam all rolled in to one would for the human.  There are many extolled virtues of this arcane method of training to which I admit I have performed and in absence of another method will continue to do so.  Short answer is with the vast majority of dogs, it works.  At the end, the dog picks things up and brings it back to you.  God love the dog, they often even seem to come to enjoy it. 

I look at the changes in training methodologies and techniques over the years since I started doing this as a boy as a great advancement.  We are better by leaps than we were 40 years ago - in everything it seems but the retrieve training.  This has been bothering me for a long time now.  I think it has finally festered to the point in my mind that I very much am open to finding another, a better way.

I am currently engaged in my own experimentation of clicker training the retrieve with three dogs,  two of which are owned by Janet and myself, the third a client dog whose owner was interested in seeing whether it would work.  At worst, I am convinced it will do no harm to their overall ability to learn the retrieve, and at best I have an option in teaching in a more positive manner.  We are about a week in and so far I'm pleased with the results.  The dogs are eager to try and gradually making improvement.  Each dog is progressing at a different rate.

Tools for the Positive Trained Retrieve

As I get further with my experiment, I'll post progress.  Wish all of us, dogs and trainers alike - good luck.

Discriminate

I find it interesting how one word can carry so many different connotations depending upon the context in which utilized.  We all understand the negative connotation of descrimination being a virtually evil treatment when used in context with race, religion and so forth yet the "discriminating buyer" is one who is associated with class and high status.  Isn't it interesting how this word has two polarly different meanings?  There is a third meaning which perhaps you might not have considered - how the word applies to bird dogs.  What in the world am I talking about, you wonder?  Well, I'm glad you asked!

Have you ever heard a person say something like... "WonderDog does it perfectly (insert location i.e. at home, in training, etc) but just (insert excuse i.e. gets too excited, goes crazy, forgets everything, etc) when we come to a trial or hunt test?"  What you are actually hearing, whether the person saying it knows it or not, is a description of the dog's wondrous, and yes - sometimes frustrating, ability to discriminate. 

In this case the use of the word means to perceive minor differences in situations, locations and even the collar a dog might wear in training vs. competition.  They can (and do) perceive differences in their handlers emotions, whether excited, nervous or confident.  Is it then any wonder that well trained dogs suddenly "blow up".  Is it really because they are stubborn, strong willed, psychotic and so on - or is it that we have not provided them with enough different training opportunities, locations, gear that enable them to do what comes so readily to humans and generalize that what they did right in the hayfield works in the desert?  I believe the vast majority of time it is truly holes in our training and or handling aspects that result in performance upsets than the dog "giving us the dewclaw".

I suggest to train as you will compete.  If at the time of competition, your dog can't wear an e-collar, then the training program needs to get to a point where WonderDog will perform reliably without one.  If the intent is to hunt a specific game bird - make certain they've trained with them.  Don't be shy about training in as many different locations as possible - but try to keep in mind there are a number of things that can stay the same.  Be consistent in how you prepare the dog, what gear he wears, how you bring him to the field.  If you as a handler are consistent with your training, it is much easier for your dog to understand that expectiations of him are the same.  Make certain the routine for a hunt or performance run is different than going for a jog on the beach or play date with other dogs.  If, as a handler, we try to stay "relaxed" and approach a performance run like a free time/playtime, then the dog might just figure it's all just for HIS fun - and when you're trying to chase him down with a bird in his mouth that he ran in and stole point from your bracemate - that's not much fun at all...

Good luck and Good Training!