Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 10:05 pm Post subject: How can I encourage Zorro to LOVE fetching dummies?update
Just mulling this over, and maybe asking for something that will probably not happen but whilst Zorro is very oblidging and will fetch the dummy for me when asked to, he isn't exactly sitting on the edge of his seat begging to fetch it, in 'true gundog style' (which is probably because he never was, and never will be a true-gundog sort of a chap!)
I can't moan about his retreiving, because he'll do it, and at classes or down the playing field, he'll even do quite a good impression of prancing a little on the way out to it, and pretending he's having fun, but I know that at heart, he is wondering why I'm bothering to throw them about when there are soooo many other more interesting things we could be doing!
I've tried taking the dummy out on our more exciting walks, like in the woods, thinking that Zorro might get a little more animated fetching them from the undergrowth, or from behind a tree, or maybe even having to jump a small log on route, but he just gives me a very withering look and plods off to fetch it, stopping for a quick roll, or a good sniff on the way. He rather makes me feel like I'm spoiling a perfectly good walk!
Is it just too late in the day for him to be the kind of dog who'd sell his soul to the devil just to hear the magic word 'fetch'? Is there a way to make it more interesting for him? I do slap the dummy about a bit, and chuck it in the air and throw it and fetch it myself and wiggle it about but all I get back is a look of 'can we just get this over and done with please'? from Zozz. What if I stuck a pheasent's wing to it? Would that work? Or 1/2 lb sausages maybe?!!! Does anyone else have this problem?
Thanks, Becs and The Gang
Last edited by Becs on Fri Jan 02, 2009 8:45 am; edited 1 time in total
I definetly don't have that problem... my two would sell there souls to retrieve anything!
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.... so they say. Hows about not throwing it too often, to make it more exciting? Though I suspect he is far too level headed to get too excited about anything! A bit of exciting scent may make him more interested.... though I know not what might push his buttons! A rabbit skin or a pair of wings wrapped?
I dunno, maybe somebody more sage that I will have some advice
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Vegas has been retrieving all manner of items, but the first time we threw a dummy for him he ran over and sniffed it, but then walked away to chew on a flower!!
The next time we tried using a dummy was at a lesson with my gundog trainer. He slapped it like you do, he also held onto the toggle and swirled it around in a circle. He "teased" Vegas with it, by swinging it in front of his nose, he got Gus sniffing it and circling around following it, then he slapped it some more, made a high-pitched whirring noise (you make it by rolling an 'r' on your tongue but dragging it out and making it undulate up and down - it's a really common noise to make, so ask your trainer about it if none of that makes sense), and then he threw it, and let Vegas run after it straight away..... and he did a classic puppy pounce on it and raced over to show me his fabulous prize!
So I don't know if Zorro would get excited over it if you "teased" him with it, or if you made the noise, but there's a couple of ideas, and I'm sure others will have some more suggestions!
Feebarn- I don't throw it very often at all, maybe 3 or 4 retrieves on a 'boring walk' and then 2 at the most on an 'interesting' walk. Occassionally I get a smidgen of a wild-eyed-enthusiasm on a boring walk, but on an interesting walk then its defiantly a 'duty' for Zozz, rather than a joy!
Ness, maybe I need to ham it up even more than what I'm doing already!
Maybe I should just let him chase after it immediately rather than making him do it 'proper-like', but then maybe that would be storing up trouble for later? When I do tease him with it and try to make it very exciting, I can see Zorro glancing at his watch, wondering why I don't just get this gundoggish game over and done with so he can go and continue his search for baby dragons in the long grass!
Retreiving has always been Zorro's main job in life, prior to his retirement, and I just don't think he see's it as that much fun. He never has been one for 'playing fetch', so maybe I should just be grateful that he is a good and obedient dog. But I would LOVE to see him getting all fired up and keen about it.
Maybe I should just let him chase after it immediately rather than making him do it 'proper-like', but then maybe that would be storing up trouble for later?
Becs and The Gang
We have similar problem with Inja. She will fetch things but it's very half-hearted compared to Tombi who will do anything for you to throw something for her. Inja has never liked the dummy - she's better with balls and the trainer said to concentrate on things she WILL fetch at the moment rather than worry too much about the dummy. Does Zorro fetch other stuff?
Our trainer also recommended what you said above - don't worry about making them steady at this stage, rather build up an enthusiasm if they aren't naturally really keen and let them run straight after it.
Well Becs, I think you should get your knitting needles out and fashion a sort of sock to go over the dummy, in the shape of a Baby Dragon .....Zoz wouldn't be able to get enough of the dummy then, especially if you could get it's wings to flap a bit as it flew through the air.
Ness, maybe I need to ham it up even more than what I'm doing already!
Maybe I should just let him chase after it immediately rather than making him do it 'proper-like', but then maybe that would be storing up trouble for later? When I do tease him with it and try to make it very exciting, I can see Zorro glancing at his watch, wondering why I don't just get this gundoggish game over and done with so he can go and continue his search for baby dragons in the long grass!
Oh gosh, yes definitely let him run in on it to start with - it's enthusiasm you're after at the moment. I know he's not a puppy and far more grown up than the other dogs on your course, but I think it would be fine for him to go right back to basics - and very basic puppy gundog training allows the pup to run in on everything you throw. Every time. Once the act of the retrieve is ingrained, then we start to work on steadyness but if it's the joy of the chase he's not got, then you need to give it to him. I really think you can get the "wait" before the retrieve sorted out afterwards.
Def try hamming it up, making whooping noises, tease him with the article, get him totally absorbed by it, and then let him race after it when you throw it - hopefully he won't even pay attention to you, as soon as you throw it, he should be so fixated on it that he follows.
Oh, and you don't need to stick to dummies to get the enthusiasm happening - what's he like with tennis balls? socks? Ozzie goes totally ballistic over a squeakie. For Vegas, it's his fave stuffie which drives him wild.
You could try taking a small bag out with you and have a few different things in it, and try each of them on flat open ground, and see if he prefers one of them above all others... then use that for a while, and you can slowly phase the dummy back in.
Oooooh I hope some of those ideas work... I'd love for him to get a really stylish adult version of a puppy pounce going on
what's he like with tennis balls? socks? Ozzie goes totally ballistic over a squeakie. For Vegas, it's his fave stuffie which drives him wild.
Ness
Zorro see's absolutely no point in balls or other throwy things! He would happily trot off to fetch the remote-control, the mobile phone or a set of keys I expect, but to him thats 'work' and what he's been doing for the last 7 years!
He does act a bit more enthusiatic at the gundog training class, because I think it's all sort of new to him, and he rather likes to show off to the younger pups there, but for Zorro, walks are walks and shouldn't be sullied by me mucking about with dummies and the like!
Poor lad! Just when he thinks it's safe to hang up the working jacket and get comfy with his pipe and slippers, I get the bright idea to turn him into a gundog!
Becs, am I right in thinking he IS retrieving reliably just not with as much speed and enthusiasm as you'd like?
Also what distances are you retrieving over? Basil is only 2 but as we've come to it late in the day short retrieves just dont cut it for him, he'll do them but he likes a nice challenge thrown in there to keep him motivated and thinking!
Maybe have a chat with your trainer as to how to adapt it for a more mature dog, what suits pups isn't always appropriate and you might need to move on a little ahead of the group in class.
Or what about buying a rabbit fur for your dummy (can get them online from turner richards), the aroma should release his inner gundog a bit more
Ooh, definitely try some different things to throw. As I said earlier Inja has never shown much interest before and we've used dummies, a rubber thing on a rope and a frisby.
At lunchtime, I took a tennis ball for a change, and starting throwing it for Tombi. Well, both of them ran after it and 3 times Inja got there first, picked it up, ran back to me and dropped it at my feet.
Either the change in toy worked for her, or she was listening at class yesterday, I don't know, but I didn't do anything else different from normal!
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.....Zoz wouldn't be able to get enough of the dummy then, especially if you could get it's wings to flap a bit as it flew through the air. 
