[kaz]

Thought this might interest you.

[Cinderhills]

How cute, but what was a welly doing out there? 

[kaz]

She takes it out so she can retrieve it.

And here is her room mate looking on.

[Rosemary]

Is there a leg in it? 

[kaz]

Yep. When I put it in for work.

[doganjo]

That's what retrievers are supposed to do - retrieve!   Like the soft toy for the room mate to practice on 

Anyone else got retrieving pics?

This is Freckles and a  pheasant

[sabrina]

When I was teaching a dog training class in Banff I would try and vary the things i wanted the dogs to retrieve, a toy hidden inside a bucket, an egg, plastic milk bottle, one of my favorites was for dog and owner to leave the room, I would hide the dogs toy then when the dog came back in he or she had to find it and bring it to the owner and hold until told to give. This the dogs loved and the owners found it rewarding. The hardest test for them was a recall past a cooked sausage which gave us all a good laugh. I used to use my Jack Russell to show it could be done. His face was a picture as he so wanted to eat it. We had a fun night on the run up to Christmas and i made crackers for all the dogs. The dog who in my opion had improved the most for that year got a special price. I only stop taking the class when I took ill and had planned to go back but I do not have the same time anymore and now spend my Friday nights with my OH. Before giving up we took on a man who was very keen and he seems to be making a fair job of it. I miss the chat, could never remember owners names so I called them by their dog.

[ellisr]

My dad used to breed labs for working dogs and one year one of the litters got ill, Sam was the worst and lost all the hair around his nose eyes and ears. This was the only dog we were aloud to have as a pet and his sister who later went to my uncle and work as a mountain rescue dog. I thought it would be good if I could train him to retreive so I spent weeks watching what my dad taught them and started training Sam he took to it like a duck to water even if he was older than the ones dad was training, he carried raw eggs and would stand holding it for ages without breaking it and then would gently pop it down when I gave the command 'dead'. A few months later we went on holiday in the caravan to a lovely country site dad took Sam out for a walk late evening as it was getting dark (he had never walked Sam before) Well they were away ages and when they came back dad looked distressed no coat on and Sam was looking very pleased with himself. Dad popped the coat down he was carrying and Sam sat next to it silently watching it, dad then announced that the stupid dog had found a hedgehog and wouldn't come home without it and was set on staying with it all night if he had to. I asked dad if there had been any bangs before he ran off to find it and he said yes but it was probably a barn door slaming. I then had to admit to training him and dad asked if I had trained him to leave something and walk away I said 'no' well he fell about laughing saying he was doing exactly as he was supposed to and because I had never taught him to leave whilst retrieving he would bring everything back even the prickly ones . He did admit that I had done a fantastic job for a 10 year old but probably shouldn't persue a career in dog training.

[doganjo]

That is a brilliant story!!  You can come and train my youngster fro me - he won't bring anything back!  Runs off with whatever I throw for him unless on a line!

[ellisr]

cheese works well for most dogs and encourages them back. Dad used to send them away with a toy being thrown then have the same type of toy in his hand when calling them back so they had 2 if they brought the other back. I must admit that my GSD only brings his toy back when he wants to.

[doganjo]

cheese works well for most dogs and encourages them back. Dad used to send them away with a toy being thrown then have the same type of toy in his hand when calling them back so they had 2 if they brought the other back. I must admit that my GSD only brings his toy back when he wants to.

Nope tried cheese, liver, his favourite toy - runs off and tosses it about, playing with it and if he stops and I happen to even inch in his direction he's off again.

[ellisr]

Ahh the game to him is you chasing him for his toy, I personally would throw the toy and walk away or at least turn my back so he would get curious and follow hopefully with the toy

[doganjo]

Ahh the game to him is you chasing him for his toy, I personally would throw the toy and walk away or at least turn my back so he would get curious and follow hopefully with the toy

Nope, tried that too.  He doesn't care what I do - he just wants to run round and round with whatever he finds to pick up.  If he is on a long line he comes back instantly with the dummy and almost gives it into my hand.