Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 2:34 pm Post subject: Training an older dog
Hello everyone
I shall be very grateful if anyone can help with some advice on training my lab aged 5.
He is of working stock, though has not been trained as a gun dog. He has basic training, recall/sit/stay/leave etc. However he has recently been forced to rest due to a gammy shoulder and was plainly becoming bored and almost appeared to be depressed. So.... in an effort to give him something to do, I have tried to teach him to fetch a training dummy and return it to me.
Unfortunately he was not trained to do this when younger, and I now find that he will run and grab the dummy but will not bring it back and does his utmost to rip it to pieces, and all this is done at breakneck speed. All attempts to slow him down and get him to return to me have so far failed.
Am I on a hiding to nothing trying this at his age or is there any hope of getting it to work?
Please help, I have been in danger today of losing my temper - fatal I know but I also know that BJ is brighter than this and I need to find a way to make him understand what I'm asking him to do.
Thanks
Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 5:40 pm Post subject: retrieve
Hi Fay
With a dog this age, your best bet is probably a 'clicker retrieve' which teaches the dog to first gently hold and release the dummy and then to pick it up, hold and release, and finally to retrieve, hold and release.
Thanks very much Pippa, that gives me hope. I feel I'm letting my poor dog down, I'm sure the problem is mine rather than his, so your reply is very much appreciated.
I'm following to the letter the instructions in Trained Retrieve Part 1 and the morning of day 2 - charging the clicker finds BJ as soon as he sees me pick up the clicker, sitting in front of me, staring and drooling great puddles on the floor.
The notes say to continue 'charging the clicker' for at least 2 days, but does BJ's behaviour mean that the charging is done and we can proceeed to the next stage or should we continue with this? This may seem a silly question but I wonder if the fact that he sits and stares waiting, when I click it seems like a reward for that behaviour. Any advice very welcome.
Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 3:22 pm Post subject: clicker retrieve
Hi there
You are quite right in thinking that you may be successfully conditioning your dog to sit and drool for his reward. He is obviously a quick learner
It is a good idea now for you to help the dog understand that the C&T can occur when he is behaving in different ways.
You want him to learn that trying different behaviours is a good thing, and not to be 'rooted' to the spot.
You may need to be a bit sneaky and hide the clicker, and carry it around with you so that you C&T when he is not expecting it. Just bring it out from time to time and click when he is not looking at you. Throw the treat fairly quickly as soon as he turns towards you to keep him on the move.
I would do this as many times as you can today and perhaps tomorrow as well. You want the click to have a strong 'feel good factor' before you start training for real
Thanks again Pippa. Yes of course that's a very sensible idea. BJ is a bit canny sometimes, he now watches me even when I just approach the shelf the clicker is on so I shall certainly have to be a bit more subtle. Also the rustle of the treat packet will have to be dealt with a bit more carefully !
I shall certainly continue with those trained retrieve instructions though, so thanks again its VERY useful.
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