Is it possible to change the way a dog feels about a certain thing?
Maui doesn't seem to enjoy fetch but I'd love for him to enjoy it. I know I
can train him to do it or even to tolerate it but is it ever possible to get
him to enjoy it? It seems that no matter how fun I try to make it or what
reward he gets for doing it, it always seems like a pain for him instead of
a game to him. Please forgive the folllowing analogy but I can't think of
another one that works as well. I want Maui to play fetch more often but I
don't want to be the "parent" who forces their "kid" to play a sport simply
because they like it when the "kid" actually hates it. So, is it possible
to make/help him like it more? Or will he just never feel that way about
it?

"MauiJNP" wrote in message
...
Is it possible to change the way a dog feels about a certain thing?
Maui doesn't seem to enjoy fetch but I'd love for him to enjoy it. I know
I can train him to do it or even to tolerate it but is it ever possible to
get him to enjoy it? It seems that no matter how fun I try to make it or
what reward he gets for doing it, it always seems like a pain for him
instead of a game to him. Please forgive the folllowing analogy but I
can't think of another one that works as well. I want Maui to play fetch
more often but I don't want to be the "parent" who forces their "kid" to
play a sport simply because they like it when the "kid" actually hates it.
So, is it possible to make/help him like it more? Or will he just never
feel that way about it?

I've known dogs that have been taught a formal forced retrieve and after
that they seem to enjoy fetching and would retrieve things such as thrown
baby toys with great zest but I don't know if you want to go through the
steps of a force fetch. And I don't necessarily mean an ear pinch.

Beth

Is it possible to change the way a dog feels about a certain thing?
Maui doesn't seem to enjoy fetch but I'd love for him to enjoy it. I
know I can train him to do it or even to tolerate it but is it ever
possible to get him to enjoy it? It seems that no matter how fun I try
to make it or what reward he gets for doing it, it always seems like a
pain for him instead of a game to him. Please forgive the folllowing
analogy but I can't think of another one that works as well. I want Maui
to play fetch more often but I don't want to be the "parent" who forces
their "kid" to play a sport simply because they like it when the "kid"
actually hates it. So, is it possible to make/help him like it more? Or
will he just never feel that way about it?

I've known dogs that have been taught a formal forced retrieve and after
that they seem to enjoy fetching and would retrieve things such as thrown
baby toys with great zest but I don't know if you want to go through the
steps of a force fetch. And I don't necessarily mean an ear pinch.


so eventually, the dogs seemed to enjoy fetching?

I took a retrieve and recall class with Maui that lasted 4 weeks. Basically
the routine was teach the dog to (A) lust after the certain object by waving
it in their face and not letting them have it, (B) look at the object or
touch it to earn a click then treat, (C) chase the ball and touch it for a
click then treat (D) chase the ball and pick it up to earn a click/treat (E)
chase the ball, pick it up and then start bringing it back to earn a
click/treat (F) chase the ball, pick it up and bring it all the way back for
a click/treat and finally (G) chase the ball, pick it up, bring it all the
way back and drop it for a click/treat. Maui was really getting the hang of
it and for the 4 weeks of class I worked on the steps to teach the fetch. A
few weeks after the class ended, he still didn't seem to do it consistantly
or enjoy it so I just stopped all together. This was several months ago.

My thought was basically if I teach the same steps as above but over a
really long time (like a year or more if need be), then he would really get
the idea and maybe eventually like it. I thought I'd use the 2 meals he
gets each day to be the reward. So, if he doesn't comply, he doesn't eat.
Does this seem like it would work or only make him hate fetch more?

"MauiJNP" wrote in message
I took a retrieve and recall class with Maui that lasted 4 weeks.
Basically the routine was teach the dog to (A) lust after the certain
object by waving it in their face and not letting them have it, (B) look
at the object or touch it to earn a click then treat, (C) chase the ball
and touch it for a click then treat (D) chase the ball and pick it up to
earn a click/treat (E) chase the ball, pick it up and then start bringing
it back to earn a click/treat (F) chase the ball, pick it up and bring it
all the way back for a click/treat and finally (G) chase the ball, pick it
up, bring it all the way back and drop it for a click/treat. Maui was
really getting the hang of it and for the 4 weeks of class I worked on the
steps to teach the fetch. A few weeks after the class ended, he still
didn't seem to do it consistantly or enjoy it so I just stopped all
together. This was several months ago.

My thought was basically if I teach the same steps as above but over a
really long time (like a year or more if need be), then he would really
get the idea and maybe eventually like it. I thought I'd use the 2 meals
he gets each day to be the reward. So, if he doesn't comply, he doesn't
eat. Does this seem like it would work or only make him hate fetch more?


Since I've never taught a retrieve with the clicker I'm totally in the dark
here.
My wire fox terrier had no desire to retrieve and I taught her to retrieve
in a method similar to the Volhard method. After she learned that she would
fetch thrown stuff all day long.
Wojo had the lowest retrieve drive of any of my shepherds and was taught a
force fetch with a collar take. He was a reliable retriever but really
turned on when a friend threw a retrieving bumper. I don't know what it is
about the bumper but he LOVES them. They are his favorite reward in
training. And now he picks up sticks for me to tug and throw for him.

So, maybe if you found the right toy Maui might decide he likes to fetch.

Beth

My wire fox terrier had no desire to retrieve and I taught her to retrieve
in a method similar to the Volhard method. After she learned that she
would fetch thrown stuff all day long.


sounds like heaven for me! I will look this method up and see what it
involves.



Wojo had the lowest retrieve drive of any of my shepherds and was taught a
force fetch with a collar take.

I looked up force fetch and there seems to be alot of ways to do it
(ecollar, ear pinch, etc). I am not sure I'd watch to do that but I will
read more on it. What is a collar take? Leading the dog to the item by
their collar and having them pick it up and bring it back to the starting
location? Or is this way off?


He was a reliable retriever but really turned on when a friend threw a
retrieving bumper. I don't know what it is about the bumper but he LOVES
them. They are his favorite reward in training. And now he picks up
sticks for me to tug and throw for him.


cool!


So, maybe if you found the right toy Maui might decide he likes to fetch.


maybe, I've been trying with tennis balls but he maybe he is too distracted
to fetch because he likes to defuzz them instead.

"MauiJNP" wrote in
:

Is it possible to change the way a dog feels about a certain thing?
Maui doesn't seem to enjoy fetch but I'd love for him to enjoy it.

I think I've told the story here about how Zoe will fetch 3 times and
that's it. Queenie the RETRIEVER MIX has no interest in fetching,
although she would be willing to bring me a squirrel, given the
opportunity. But Max just LOVES to fetch, which I didn't realize for
quite some time because I was so used to not throwing things for the
dogs...

Anyway, I'm wondering why you want him to do it, not that it's any of my
business. I do see the appeal of being able to exercise the dogs by
throwing a ball in the yard. Generally, if I want to really tucker them
out, I take them hiking or swimming, which is probably also better for
me...

--
Catherine
& Zoe the cockerchow
& Queenie the black gold retriever
& Max the pomeranian
& Rosalie the calico cat

On Sun, 6 May 2007 22:39:44 -0400, "MauiJNP" wrote:

[...]
He was a reliable retriever but really turned on when a friend threw a
retrieving bumper. I don't know what it is about the bumper but he LOVES
them. They are his favorite reward in training. And now he picks up
sticks for me to tug and throw for him.


cool!

My opinion? Forget the force fetch. It'll definitely help, but it
takes a lot of experience before one can do it well.

And if you don't do it well, you'll just make matters worse.

So, maybe if you found the right toy Maui might decide he likes to fetch.

I agree with Beth. You probably just need to find the right item.

maybe, I've been trying with tennis balls but he maybe he is too distracted
to fetch because he likes to defuzz them instead.

You've got a little poodle, right? That tennis ball might just be too
big for her. Try a racquetball ball. It's smaller and softer. And
there's no fuzz.

http://www.racquetballwarehouse.com/RBBalls.html

And always quit leaving your dog wanting more.


--
Handsome Jack Morrison

"Ni**er
Can you kill
Can you kill
Can a ni**er kill
Can a ni**er kill a honkie
Can a ni**er kill the Man
Can you kill ni**er
Huh? Ni**er can you
kill
Do you know how to draw blood
Can you poison
Can you stab-a-Jew
Can you kill huh? Ni**er
Can you kill
Can you run a protestant down with your
‘68 El Dorado
(that’s all they’re good for anyway)
Can you kill
Can you **** on a blond head
Can you cut it off
Can you kill
A ni**er can die
We ain’t got to prove we can die
We got to prove we can kill"
Nikki Giovanni, Virginia Tech

which I didn't realize for
quite some time because I was so used to not throwing things for the
dogs...


that's funny


Anyway, I'm wondering why you want him to do it, not that it's any of my
business. I do see the appeal of being able to exercise the dogs by
throwing a ball in the yard. Generally, if I want to really tucker them
out, I take them hiking or swimming, which is probably also better for
me...



I would like an easier way to exercise him when I am sick or during the
winter. It's not as important in the summer though for the reasons you
already mentioned.

"MauiJNP" wrote in message
...
My wire fox terrier had no desire to retrieve and I taught her to
retrieve in a method similar to the Volhard method. After she learned
that she would fetch thrown stuff all day long.


sounds like heaven for me! I will look this method up and see what it
involves.


There is one thing I don't like about the Volhard method and they do a
collar twist. that is just my opinion on it. I would rather do an ear
pinch than collar twist.



Wojo had the lowest retrieve drive of any of my shepherds and was taught
a force fetch with a collar take.

I looked up force fetch and there seems to be alot of ways to do it
(ecollar, ear pinch, etc). I am not sure I'd watch to do that but I will
read more on it. What is a collar take? Leading the dog to the item by
their collar and having them pick it up and bring it back to the starting
location? Or is this way off?



That is what I do. Very calmly and matter of fact take the dog by the
collar and march straight out to the dumbbell and have them take it. I
usually say something along the lines of "I said Take It." A friend does
the same thing with her cockers. I find it a good compromise when the ear
pinch isn't the right method for the dog.



He was a reliable retriever but really turned on when a friend threw a
retrieving bumper. I don't know what it is about the bumper but he LOVES
them. They are his favorite reward in training. And now he picks up
sticks for me to tug and throw for him.


cool!


So, maybe if you found the right toy Maui might decide he likes to fetch.


maybe, I've been trying with tennis balls but he maybe he is too
distracted to fetch because he likes to defuzz them instead.


What about something like extra super special squeaky toys?

Beth

I looked up force fetch and there seems to be alot of ways to do it
(ecollar, ear pinch, etc). I am not sure I'd watch to do that but I will
read more on it. What is a collar take? Leading the dog to the item by
their collar and having them pick it up and bring it back to the starting
location? Or is this way off?



That is what I do. Very calmly and matter of fact take the dog by the
collar and march straight out to the dumbbell and have them take it. I
usually say something along the lines of "I said Take It." A friend does
the same thing with her cockers. I find it a good compromise when the ear
pinch isn't the right method for the dog.



I think this might work for Maui.



He was a reliable retriever but really turned on when a friend threw a
retrieving bumper. I don't know what it is about the bumper but he LOVES
them. They are his favorite reward in training. And now he picks up
sticks for me to tug and throw for him.


cool!


So, maybe if you found the right toy Maui might decide he likes to
fetch.


maybe, I've been trying with tennis balls but he maybe he is too
distracted to fetch because he likes to defuzz them instead.


What about something like extra super special squeaky toys?


Maui's current favorite toy to carry around is a stuffed teddy. It changes
a lot but is usually something stuffed.