| Summer 2005 Featured Website Article |
| Help! My Dog’s Fumbling the Retrieve BY ROBIN POOL, BS, CABC |
The retrieve is a behavior that is useful for therapy dogs and essential for
many assistance dogs. Because this behavior is complex, it is not unusual
for trainers to find that some aspects of the chain of taking, holding,
carrying, and giving the object to the handler has become sloppy over time.
Common Retrieve Problems and Solutions:
Dropping the object while carrying. Have the dog carry the object
for very short distances. Increase the distance after the dog is proficient.
Slow to grasp the object. Work only on the “take” portion of this
behavior. Click-and-treat the instant the dog moves towards the object.
Will not pick up objects from the floor. Transition slowly by having
the dog take objects from a chair, then a stool or a stack of books.
Mouths and chews the object. Try working on the retrieve with
objects of different materials, weights and sizes.
Shredding paper instead of retrieving it. Begin with heavy cardstock
or cardboard first,
many assistance dogs. Because this behavior is complex, it is not unusual
for trainers to find that some aspects of the chain of taking, holding,
carrying, and giving the object to the handler has become sloppy over time.
Common Retrieve Problems and Solutions:
Dropping the object while carrying. Have the dog carry the object
for very short distances. Increase the distance after the dog is proficient.
Slow to grasp the object. Work only on the “take” portion of this
behavior. Click-and-treat the instant the dog moves towards the object.
Will not pick up objects from the floor. Transition slowly by having
the dog take objects from a chair, then a stool or a stack of books.
Mouths and chews the object. Try working on the retrieve with
objects of different materials, weights and sizes.
Shredding paper instead of retrieving it. Begin with heavy cardstock
or cardboard first,
and place it on a chair with an end sticking out so the dog can easily grasp it.
Will not give the object to the person’s hand. Only click when the
object is in your hand. Practice moving your hand to different positions
increasing the level of difficulty slowly over time.
Will not retrieve when distracted. Work in locations that are not
distracting first. Use treats that really motivate the dog to reinforce.
Will not pick up metal objects or certain materials. Smear the object
with something tasty, such as peanut butter.
Knocks over vertical objects (such as soda cans) to retrieve them.
Place your hand on the top of the object to secure it, and click only when
the dog’s head tilts to grasp it.
Retrieves when not cued. Set up training sessions where you drop
numerous objects and give the dog treats for not retrieving, as well as for
retrieving.
Will not give the object to the person’s hand. Only click when the
object is in your hand. Practice moving your hand to different positions
increasing the level of difficulty slowly over time.
Will not retrieve when distracted. Work in locations that are not
distracting first. Use treats that really motivate the dog to reinforce.
Will not pick up metal objects or certain materials. Smear the object
with something tasty, such as peanut butter.
Knocks over vertical objects (such as soda cans) to retrieve them.
Place your hand on the top of the object to secure it, and click only when
the dog’s head tilts to grasp it.
Retrieves when not cued. Set up training sessions where you drop
numerous objects and give the dog treats for not retrieving, as well as for
retrieving.
| Some people with speech disorders may use adaptive equipment, such as the amplifier the author is using while training Nacho, a Siberian husky. |
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