I am an American and would like to know how you teach a dog to hold and get a good delivery of bumpers and birds. All American trainers like to force fetch.

How do I train him to deliver as they do in England and Ireland?   (received January 26, 2007)

Mark,

The thing with Irish and UK dogs, they will/should carry and retrieve naturally. The evolution of these dogs has developed by using dam and sire which have proven themselves in the field. Because there is no force fetching the naturalness of the Retriever comes through in their offspring. However it seems to me that because all retrievers in the States are trained to force fetch - even in many cases if they already retrieve. Then, in addition, some dam and sires are getting into the US pedigrees that actually won't retrieve naturally. And if these dogs then become successful in the field and at trials they will greatly influence the future progeny - and so a new generation of non-retrieving retrievers are born.

However with regard your dog and to address your particular issues I do need to know where your dog is up to now. Is he carrying things in his mouth, is he going out to find things which have been thrown, is he then hunting for them?

MARK REPLIES and CONTINUES HIS QUESTION WITH... Yes he will go out and find things that are thrown for him. He is just 8 months old. The problem is I am having a hard time getting him to bring the bumper back to me. I have started using a wooden dowel making him hold the dowel, he will hold while sitting, hold the dowel while we heel around, and I can leave him on sit and call him to me and he will bring me the dowel allowing me to get a grasp on the dowel and giving him the command give before he releases the dowel. I have noticed that while he holds the dowel or any dummy he has a very light grip on it. I worked with him holding the dowel for about a week and a half and then tried to give him some retrieves and he would go out retrieve the bumper but would run around like he wanted to play a game. I put a long rope on him and then would give him a retrieve and on his way back pull him to me so he couldn't run around. He did fine but dropped the bumper at my feet. I have gone back to no retrieves and having him carry the dowel hoping to clear up this delivery straight to hand.

I didn't mention... My pup is out of a Red dog you called RED that was sold to a friend of mine in the states. The pups mothers sire is Baldonian Baron of Craighorn and Ulstare Oak as the Grandsire on the mothers side. The mother delivers naturally to hand as does the father RED, which you already know.

Thanks for the help,  Mark B Turner.

PAUL ANSWERS WITH...

Mark, If that were my pup I would not have any worries as to his development at present. If you see a litter of pups playing, as soon as one picks up something in their mouth they will run and tease the others trying to get them to chase him. That is perfectly natural puppy display. I would be looking, like you, to put a rope on the dog and reel him in when he gets something in his mouth. This process will not happen overnight but over weeks. (Never get frustrated and yank him in hard. He may go off retrieving for a while or even forever). Eventually he is going to start coming in naturally.

At this point you could shorten the length of rope and/or let it trail on the floor. The pup still knows there is a physical link between you and him. You could eventually shorten it to just a foot length through stages and then take it off. The thing is *not to rush* the process. Don't think of the time it is taking but rather, think of the day's gain.

With regards dropping the dummy at your feet. Ignore everything but a delivery to hand. If he drops it, pick it up and throw it 2 or 3 metres away and send him again. This time try to get it out of his mouth before the drop even if you have to take one step forward as he comes in to you and take it. When this happens make a huge fuss of him.

Another strategy I have used is: as soon as the dog is 2 to 3 metres coming in with a retrieve, turn around and walk away and call him to heel. As soon as he comes close get the dummy from his mouth and again make a huge fuss of him.

Personally I would not get too worked up about a perfect delivery because I know from experience that as soon as a dog comes in with a live pheasant and he drops it at your feet (and it runs away).... He will only do that a few times before he kops on to what is happening. Anyway see how you get on Mark and keep in touch.

I hope this answers your question fully.

Yours faithfully,  Paul,  Altiquin Dogs  @  Tel+Fax:  (from USA: 011) +353 71 964 8355

altiquin@labradors.com