My pup won't retrieve outside

[Powerstroke]

I've got a 5mo old springer and he won't retrieve outside. I don't really know when this started. He would play fetch with the dummies early on, but then we did it less often when I focused more on obedience commands and taking walks. He still will retrieve to hand when we play inside, but all of a sudden he completely ignores the dummies when we go outside. He just runs past them barely giving them a sniff.

Any thoughts.

[kooba]

My pup has a similar problem. He goes and gets the bumber or wings but doesn't bring them back to me. I have talked to a lot of people and they want me to do more OB training. He too was retrieving like a pro for awhile and then just stopped. don't know why either. I thought it was because of the teething. He is 4months old lab. I am starting to do some choker chain while walking. That has been working really well, then plan of working with a check cord so he will know that he MUST bring it back to me. I too am green between the ears with this stuff. Just learning from what other people are telling me. KOOBA. PS, good post.

[dashhound]

my shorthair did the same thing when he was about that age. The breeder told me to be patient and take time. Also keep it a fun time like it is a treat so the dog won't get board or think it is a chore. I was not patient and I think the dog could sense this. I backed off and he came around within a month or so.

[Wade Joseph]

My lab did the same thing...too much too soon I was told. Go easy and make it fun. My Labs is coming around.

[Ufatz]

Patience, patience, patience! We all have a tendency to push young dogs. Your pal will be okay, just takes a little time. But try not to mix playing with toys and retrieving dummies. Don't toss a toy in the house and let him run around with it etc. I believe a pup picks up mixed signals from that. Keep at it an go slow and one day the light will come on between those big floppy ears and you'll have a fine dog.

Enjoy!!

[marine_man]

I agree with what's been said here... keep it simple.. start slow - only a couple of retrieves (even if it's only one to get him going) and then put him away wanting more.

One other possibility is that your dog is teething... when that happens some dogs stop retrieving all together...

Good Luck!

marine_man

[LABS4ME]

All the advice in the above posts are accurate. Guys have a tendancy to throw to many retrieves. When my pups are young, they get a couple bumpers after we are done doing our obedience training. I even throw a "fun" bumper or two in at the very end... just as posted above, keeps em' coming back for more.

Two things to add to the above, ALWAYS make sure they bring the bumper back to you every time. If you need to shorten it up to a 10' retrieve so be it. Do not let them get in the habit of not completing a retrieve. Use a check cord if need be. When they are young pups, start the retrieves in a hallway, that way they can't get by you and thus are getting the foundation set that it is your 'bird' and not theirs.

Also as mentioned, the teething process generally takes place sometime between 5-9 months. If your dog is teething, they may have an apprehension to pick up objects. This is prime time to devote to solidifying your obedience work. Really hammer it in! They are not going to lose ground over the 4 weeks or so of teething by not retreiving. Don't fight a losing battle. Shift your focus to some other training and get that good and solid, then when your dog is ready, begin to work on the retreives again. As they get older, use frozen birds more and dummies less. This too will always have them wanting more.

Good Luck!

Ken

[bergie]

One other tip on getting your pup to bring it to you is as soon as he picks it up start moving away and calling him, and like these other guys have said keep it fun if he gets bored quit.

[Powerstroke]

LIke I mentioned before, its not so much the retrieving isn't happening or that he won't return. He flat out won't touch the bumpers when we go outside. He loves them in the house. He like the fetching in the hallway. He's got the idea as far as getting the praise when he brings it back. I can make 2 tosses in the house. Then bring him outside and he wdon't want it anymore. I bring him back in and he will retrieve again.

Teething is pretty much done. He was good during that time. Still working lots on obidience.

[LovenLifeGuy]

I used a check cord early on and it worked. He is still young at 7 months old so I keep the cord on him and he just drags it around while we work. The rope is plenty long and if he does not listen the rope is right there to grab. I also use the retractable leash and it works great. I have been using it to help work on the finish work of the force fetch. I have him hold it sit and come to heel. The nice thing is I dont have to pull the cord as he comes. I think this would work nice for getting him back to you also.

just a thought

LovenLifeGuy

[JDM]

Labs and Bergie give great advice, but it doesn't address the refusal to pick it up. My guess is that he only wants to do it on his terms, not yours. I would eliminate the indoor retrieves and move to outside only. You may also want to get a different bumper to change it up. If it continues to be an issue, he may be a candidate for force fetch down the road. Make sure you let him know verbally that you dissapprove of his refusal, and when he does do it, let him know he is doing a good job. Don't do more than 2 or 3 retrieves in any session at this stage in his development. Be patient.

[marine_man]

Have you tried any other objects outside other than a bumper? Tennis ball, Duck Dummy, etc? I would try and find something that he likes to retrieve outside (if there is anything) throw that a couple of times to get him excited then switch to a bumper (quickly, so he doesn't notice it) and see what happens...

marine_man

[Powerstroke]

I don't know if people aren't seeing my question or not. My pup knows come and always comes to me, he just never touches the bumper. He can't bring it to me if he doesn't touch it.

[JDM]

My last post is directly aimed at your question. I understand that your dog won't pick up the dummy. See my last post. If it continues to be an issue, you really have two options. 1) live with it, or 2) force fetch him.

I really think you shouldn't give him anymore indoor retrieves and never give him more than three outside. Maybe even less.

[Ufatz]

P'stroke, I've been thinking about your problem and have concluded you should just sorta lay off the dummies for a while. Something is just not right here. Could be teething, but then why would he pick up a toy inside the house? Keep working the basic obedience, walking the woods etc. and then try a dummie again in a month or so. I still think the dog will come around but something is bugging him at the moment. Wait a month, then one day get a new dummy, tease hell out of him with it, after he has been cooped up for a couple days and see what happens. Remember, he's only 5-mos. We have ALL winter and next summer to get him going!!

[Powerstroke]

I don't know if my computer was offline or what, but I didn't get the first 2 posts on this page last time.

I haven't tried other kinds of toys outside because I was told not to, that it might confuse him.

I think I will take the advice from ufatz right now and take a little pressure off of him and me. I got a pin-style training collar last night and the walks and obedience training is going great all of a sudden...I'm gonna focus on those things and then jump into the fetching again in a couple of weeks.

I guess I do feel a little pressure cause I hear of people hunting their dogs at 6-9months old and I'm trying to get my little guy to sit and fetch still. I know I shouldn't compare my situation to books and other peoples situation, but its so hard when you want to be successful.

Thanks for all the info you guys are awesome.

[JDM]

One more thing that might work outside - get ahold of some wings or a dead bird. At only five months old, you really can't expect much. Don't worry about other people's dogs hunting at 6 to 9 months old. For every story like that, there is one for a dog that didn't get it until they were 2 or 3 years old. Your only concern should be just your dog. Again - no more than three retrieves at this age. Ever. I am sure he will turn out just fine.

[Wild Willie]

Sounds like your pup is attentive and secure inside the house and has no trouble playing fetch in a very familiar environment. Take him outside and now he sees how big and wonderful the world really is...with many things to see, taste, smell and discover. If I were pup the first thing I would want to do is go discover. The last I would want to do is pick-up a rubber dummy toy.

How much do you get him out and about? Do you take him for walks and work with him on a lease with heal, sit, stay, come, etc.? Try this...no fetching or retreiving exercises until you know he is not distracted and is paying attention and is focused soley on you. Once that happens have fun and start playing a fetch game with him. Throw a tennis ball, stick, frisbee, chew toy - whatever...it just does not matter at this stage of the game. What really matters is that the pup is having fun, is excited about the game and is getting lots of praise for bringing the object back. You will always be able to work on fine tuning him later with sit, stay...throw the ball, wait and then give the fetch/release command. I'm not a professional trainer by any stretch of the imagination. But....I believe this will work.

I was at a game farm a few years ago and I notice a hunter with about a 9 month old Brit pup. I started talking to the guy about his pup...he mentioned that his pup would not retrieve. I ask him if I could try something to help...and got his approval to play with his pup. I removed a dead bird from my vest and started playing with the pup. I got the pup real excited and birdy. He was having the time of his young life smelling and jumping trying to get a good grip on the bird. Once I saw the pup was extremely excited and focused on the bird I tossed it about 10 yards in front of us and sure enough the pup bolted as fast as he could to the bird in the tall grass, picked it up and brought it right back. I tossed the bird again and said fetch and got the same result. The pup's owner smilled and was very pleased at what he saw.

Its hard to keep in mind that pups are just pups. They all are quick to learn and eager to please. You don't always have to do everything by the book...just have fun and keep your training sessions short and sweet. I'm sure your pup will be just fine.

PS - I forgot to mention that you can't mix training and hunting at the same time. Training means yard work, social skills, obedience commands and lots of repetition. Hunting equates into combining yard work/social skills/obedience with pups natural hunting instinct. Taking pup into the field any time before he turns one year old will require a great deal of patience and a check cord. End result is that you won't get any quality hunting or training done. Best place for this sort of field testing situation is a game farm or private farm where you can plant dizzy birds, create mock hunt situations and obtain complete control.

[marine_man]

Quote:

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I haven't tried other kinds of toys outside because I was told not to, that it might confuse him.

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I agree with this statement typically, however, yours seems like a special case. If it were me I'd try and isolate the issue.. if it's the bumper the pup doesn't want to retrieve or if it's nothing at all. I wouldn't make it a habit, but I would try it to see what happens.

Taping some wings on a dummy is a good idea too that I'd try... taking a break isn't a bad idea either.

marine_man