How To Fix Problems With The Fetch or Bring Command. by Adam G. Katz

How To Fix Problems With The Fetch or Bring Command. by Adam G. Katz

Hello Adam:
I have a chocolate Labrador Retriever (very active) that is being trained (in OPEN class now) and he seems to be regressing since we are working on retrieving.

He retrieves very well with the dumbbell, etc., but other dogs in the class do not. And they bring toys for their retrieval work.

My problem is that my dog is just "overcome" with these toys and isn't paying close attention to me. He goes after THEIR toy many times instead of HIS dumbbell.

He knows the command "look" or WATCH ME" but serious corrections don't even deter his disobedience on this toy-retrieval.
HELP! How should I handle this?

Thank you!
Mary

Dear Mary:

These are the type of questions that I like. Theyre interesting.
First, make absolute 100% sure that your dog DOES understand the Bring or Fetch command.

Assuming that he does, heres the next step:
Recognize that the problem youre having is one of disrespect. The reason that your dog goes for his neighbors toy AFTER youve clearly commanded him to BRING his dumbbell is that he CARES LESS about what you want. As the dog goes into play/prey drive, his sensitivity to your corrections goes WAY DOWN. In other words, youre giving him a $2 ticket and he needs a $200 ticket.

Heres the easiest way to communicate to your dog (with this exercise) that you are serious:

Buy a remote electronic training collar. I recommend Innotek or Dogtra.

Heres how to use it to fix your dog problem:

Follow the directions on matching the e-collar (remote electronic training collar) to your dogs temperament.

Next, place a dumbbell on the opposite side of the roomstraight in front of the dog-- and also place a distraction toy off to the right.

Send the dog to retrieve the dumbbell. Let him wear a long line, also.
As he starts to veer to the right to go after the toy, say, No! in a loud, forceful tone and then immediately stimulate him with the e-collar. Re-issue the Bring or Fetch command and use the long line to redirect him back on course, as he may be confused. When the dog starts to go toward the dumbbell again, immediately begin loud verbal praise, Good dog, Good dog.

There you go. Now just repeat this same exercise by altering the training location and the type of distractions. After a few times youll be able to eliminate the long line. And after a few set-ups, the problem will be fixed.
To read more of my dog training ramblings, read about my book (click below):
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About the Author
Author, Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer! which you can read more about at:
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The Right Leash and Collar for Your Dog by Adam G. Katz

The Right Leash and Collar for Your Dog by Adam G. Katz

In the past, when people spoke of training collars, they really generally were referring to choke chains. A choke chain is a metal chain with a sliding ring that is attached to your dogs nylon or leather leash.
Theres a reason its called a choke chain. Because there is no limit on how tight the training collar can pull against your dogs neck, there exists a very real possibility it can choke him, as well as cause other injuries, such as:

Severely sprained necks

Tracheal and esophageal damage

Injured ocular vessels

Cases of fainting

Transient foreleg paralysis

Laryngeal nerve paralysis

Hind leg ataxia

And if you think Im kidding about any of these injuries: Im not; theyre all well-documented cases taken from hundreds of veterinary practices who have treated the dogs injured by choke chains.
Bottom line? In the hands of an experienced trainer, a choke chain can be used appropriately, but for the most part, your average person has no idea what an appropriate use of a choke chain entails.
My own personal preference is for a flat buckle collar, either nylon or leather, which can be used for training and everyday use. It should fit snugly, but leave room enough for you to slide two fingers between the collar and your dogs neck. Any looser than that, and it may slide off over your dogs head. Any tighter and it may cause chafing and discomfort.
The choice of nylon or leather is simply a matter of personal preferencenylon comes in a variety of bright colors, and is a good choice for dogs that spend a lot of time in the water (or mud!) Leather is durable and will absorb oils from your dogs coat, making it more flexible over time.
The width of the collar should be appropriate to your dogs size. For example, a wide, heavy or thick collar just wont work on a Chihuahua, in fact, it would look ridiculous. By the same token, if you have a Rottweiler, a diamond- or rhine-stone-studded poodle collar is going to look pretty silly. And dont forget an identification tagif your dog is lost or stolen, this is a quick way for authorities to notify you when your pet is located.
Another terrific solution is a harnessa device that goes around the neck and ribcage, thus eliminating the possibility of choking. Harnesses are an excellent resolution to the problem of having a large dog that hasnt been well-trained and pulls or lunges when out for a walk. Its a great way to restrain the pulling without getting in that choking tug of war that you sometimes see. Harnesses are also good for small dogs, which can have serious problems with collars pressing on their small and fragile airways.
Now for the proper leash. As with collars, you have a choice of flat nylon or leather (or braided leather is also available), and as with collars, its largely a matter of personal preference.
I use a 6 foot nylon leash for training my dog. I find its the perfect length for walking, heeling and virtually all of my training sessions.
Many dog owners prefer a retractable leash. These are nylon leashes that are encased in a plastic casing, and vary in length up to about 25 feet or so. The best models of this type have a one-button braking system that stops your dog from going beyond a set distance, as well as a spring mechanism that allows you to adjust just how far you want to extend the lead.
Retractable leashes are a good idea if you walk your dog in a variety of settings: you can reel him in if youre on city sidewalks or in situations where there are a lot of people or other dogs around, then you can expand the distance between you when you get to the park or an open space.

For more: http://tinyurl.com/4efaq
About the Author
Author, Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer! which you can read more about at:
http://tinyurl.com/4efaq