Answer: retrieving

Retrieving

Answer: Again, positive trainers use many different techniques, but they all have something in common - teaching retrieving is based on making it rewarding for your dog to do it.

There are basically two methods - the play method and the shaping method.

The play method assumes that your dog naturally likes to play retrieving games. So retrieving is its own reward. You use the opportunity to play as a way of fine-tuning how your dog retrieves, and to introduce a bit of control. So for example if your dog wants you to throw the ball, you can ask the dog to sit, and don't throw until he sits. This starts to bring a little control into the game. Similarly, if you want him to bring the ball right back to you and give it to your hand, rather than spitting it out anywhere, you can refuse to throw it until he brings it closer, or until he puts it in your hand.

Then you can gradually add other elements. For example placing the toy on the ground instead of throwing it, and rewarding him for bringing it back. If he is not so interested in a toy that doesn't move, throw the ball as a reward for him bringing it back from a placed retrieve.

If you want to teach your dog to retrieve other articles, start with easy ones, a ball, a soft toy, then gradually progress to different shapes, sizes and materials. If you are aiming to teach your dog to fetch a dumbell, start with maybe a rope, a plastic dumbell or a wooden dumbell with cloth wrapped around it. Positive trainers become inventive about breaking a hard exercise down into easy stages.

The shaping method is better for dogs that have little interest in rertrieving. The shaping method has two main aspects:

1. use something your dog likes (such as food) to reward him for retrieving

2. since he doesn't have mush natural interest in retrieving, he might not do it spontaneously, so you have to build his interest in very small steps.

The first step might be little more than just looking at the retrieving article. Then approaching it, then sniffing it or licking it, then putting his mouth on it a little bit, then a bit more, until eventually he takes it in his mouth. At each stage, reward him with food, and he will gradually do it a bit more. You have to be patient. Try not to put pressure on your dog, as this will make him shut down and not want to do it. Definitely do not force your dog to take an article, don't shove it forcefully into his mouth.

This is an example of the general problem that some dogs "do it at home" but not at dog school.

The most common reasons are that the dog is too distracted, too excited by the other dogs and the amount of movement around her. The other very common reason is that the dog is stressed and starting to shut down. This results in loss of activity and desire to play.

You could sum up these two reasons as being:

- more exciting things to play with than retrieving article (e.g. other dogs)

- too stressed or inhibited to play

In those cases you have to work on how the dog feels, to produce either greater calmness and focus, or greater confidence, which results in the dog being more outgoing and more interested in play, which is the basis of retrieving. These goals (greater calmness or greater confidence) are goals in their own right, which you have to achieve before you can work on a specific exercise such as retrieving.