Clicker Training a Bird Dog Retrieve Part 1 Shaping and Chaining The Basic Retrieve

Favorite this video so you can watch Step by Step Instructions over and over on how to shape, then back chain together all the behaviors needed to have a solid retrieve to hand for bird dogs and gun dogs. All positive.
Tips for training given as you work through the process. Practice each step until your dog can do it correctly 8 out of 10 times in a row. When you add the next criteria, your dog should be successful 50% of the time. If she's not, you need to simplify something for her so she can be.

You can use tugging to increase desire for the bumper between sessions if you use a different toy, not the bumper.
This method works for natural retrieving breeds as well as non-natural retrievers such as Jessie. It allows you to retrain any part of the retrieve chain that your dog is not proficient with. The video is Closed captioned and can be translated into other languages.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• gun dog
• bird dog
• clicker training
• dog
• retrieve
• positive
• sporting dog
• retriever
• Golden retriever
• labradors
• pointers
• flusher
• spaniels
• springers
• chesapeak bay
• airedale
• terrier
• back chain
• operant conditioning
• classical conditioning
• backchain
• retrieve to hand
• formal retrieve
• service dog retrieve

[laurakrupp]

My 4m old retriever will reliably touch his nose to the ball but won't progress to putting his mouth around it or pick it up. Any suggestions?

[supernaturalbc2009]

@laurakrupp Try a smaller-sized object or one that has a different texture. The easier you can make it, the more successful he will be. 

[wyndrunhr]

Question.......dog will grab and hold bumper, but as soon as I let go, they run away with it. Suggestions? Put them on leash?

Thanks!

[supernaturalbc2009]

@wyndrunhr Try upping the value of your treats and/or train in a small room so its more fun to return it to you than run away (nowhere to go). Once the dog is successful there, train in a little larger room or block off space in a larger room to limit where the dog can go . Good luck!

[Fieldcocker]

My (American) Cocker Spaniel, also a rescue, is well on her way for retrieving, (see my video). I am wondering, she will retrieve a chuckar, but how and when do I transfer the clicker training to the bird? Do I basically start over with a bird, step by step? Thanks!

[supernaturalbc2009]

@Fieldcocker Yes! Start from scratch. In fact, I'd probably start with shaping the hold of a wing, then a wing attached to a bumper, then two wings on either side of the bumper, then a whole bird. You will find that gnerally the process goes much more quickly than the first time through. Challenges you might face are the dog not wanting to hold the dummy (some dogs don't like the oily birds) or the dog hard mouthing it. Shape the hold and train with microsteps so your dog can succeed. Enjoy! D

[markoVTX]

You certainly have a wonderful rapport with dogs, brilliant stuff, our Rupert is a little headstrong (to be fair he's only 20 months old) but we love him to bits :-).

Brilliant videos you have on here they have been very informative, all the best from Birmingham England...Cheers!

[supernaturalbc2009]

@DonkeyDanni Thanks for the feedback. it might encourage others to try this approach! D

[DonkeyDanni]

Just wanted to say a huge thankyou to the maker of this video. I have a 23 month old Working Cocker Spaniel. She is bred directly from gundog lines, both her mum and dad excel in the field. Shes the first dog i've owned and is unfortunately very possessive so we've been in battle just trying to get a play retrieve with a ball. I was desperate to start some gundog training with her, and you have been my saviour! After two weeks she will stay as I throw the bumper, retrieve and sit to deliver :-)

[wudangsuifeng]

A very nice video! That's what I needed! Thank you for charing this!!!