[slishdf]

I got my puppy at about 3 months old from a respected breeder who said they used their Goldens for pheasant hunting. I started training him to retrieve a few weeks later, hoping to take him hunting with me some day. He did great for the first month or so, but then started refusing to retrieve. He'll run after the ball, pick it up, and then drop it and do something else. This coincided with the dropping of his second testacle - a dominance problem? I don't know what to do to get him back on track.

 

[BeauShel]

It takes time. They go thru stages and you have to make the training sessions fun. Do you use treats when during the training? Make it fun and him want to come back to you. My Bama didnt like retrieveing except when he was a little guy and now is a retrieving fool.

 

[AmberSunrise]

Retrieving can become painful for a puppy as he begins teething. This may be what is going on .. the age is about right.

Give him some time and restart the training in a few months keeping the sessions short and fun; always having him wanting more

 

[grrrick]

If you have a hallway at home, work with him there. Just short indoor retrieves reinforced with a treat will help get him on track. Less distractions in the hallway. Gradually move back outside. Keep'm short and rewarded before lengthening them out. Our Ruby took some time to retrieve and honestly, never really got into it in the back yard. 2 throws and on the second one, she would lay down half way back. But in the field with bumpers/wings or birds, she was a retrieving fool.

 

[sammydog]

My first thought was teething as well.

If he is teething it is a good time to go back and work on basic obedience.

Remember to keep sessions short and fun, leave him wanting more.

Here is a good article on raising/training puppies for the field.

Baby Dogs
http://www.everythinggolden.com/new_page_121.htm

Good luck!

 

[slishdf]

Retrieving

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm glad to hear that others also have this problem. I thought maybe he didn't have the breeding. I used treats and he performed well with them. Then he stopped. Maybe he's just being a contrary teen.

 

[sammydog]

With all my dogs, when they went through "puppy phases" I always went back to basic obedience. I made it fun and successful. I want my dogs to learn to work with me and have a good time doing so. Then usually when I got back to working on whatever it was, they respond better.

 

[slishdf]

Yes - he has been teething. but he still loves to tug - even when he just lost a tooth (blood all over everything!).

O.K. back to basics (which is he good at - Sit! . . . Stay!) and then shorter retrieves.

Do most peope use treats? The books I read said not to, but he responds very quickly for treats.

 

[Nicole74]

Bailey loves, loves, loves retrieving the dummy with pheasent scent. We are training her to hunt as well. We make it fun and hide the dummy for her to find it. That is her favorite game.

 

[Maggies mom]

My Cruiser didnt start really retrieving till he was almost a year old..Now hes a retrieving Fool!

 

[Rise2Shine]

Try using a hallway at home so she will have to turn and return in your direction. We had a similiar problem and started using treats and lots of praise and it really helped.

Another thought, are you keeping the ball/stick low so she can follow it?

She'll get there!