A retrieving query

[Spudlet]

We have been practicing with a few dummies this evening. Now, Hen's directional retrieves are doing fine, he has learned to sight down my arm and go for the one I send him to. I can land dummies in a circle around him, have him wait while I fetch some, send him for one I choose then pick the rest up myself **is proud of this feat**.

However I also landed three together (on purpose, not through crap throwing) and let him pick whichever he preferred first, then sent him back for the others one at a time. Except he seems to have decision making issues He couldn't choose which to bring back first, seemed to have to pick each one up for a second before deciding

I didn't want to reprimand him while he was doing this as I was concerned he would not understand why, and might be put off retrieving, so just encouraged him to return to me as quickly as possible. He brought each dummy back, and once he had chosen his first dummy he brought the next two with no messing about. It wasn't always the same one first either, so it's not that he has a favourite dummy he needs to find.

Does this matter particularly? Anyone else had this? Is this normal???

 

[Ravenwood]

Usually a dog will go for the last one you throw as that is the one he has marked last. Not sure I have ever done this with my dogs (thrown them in a clump). I usually throw one to the left, one to the right and one behind them and then make them go for the one I tell them to, to teach them left, right and back.

If you were on a shoot and three birds fell close together (certainly doesn't happen often) then it wouldn't matter which one they brought back first - assuming all fell dead, if one was pricked/a runner the dog would automatically go for that one anyway.

It is not really considered good manners for a dog to pick up a bird, drop it, go for another etc but hell, no dog is perfect!! My labrador has become skilled at picking and bringing back two birds at a time!

The worst crime is to pick a bird and then drop it to pick another that he has marked falling elsewhere!

So as soon as Henry has chosen his dummy, make sure you recall him back with just that one, don't give him too much opportunity to sniff around and choose another.

Have fun

 

[Spudlet]

Thanks

It's not even the last one, I can't for the life of me imagine WHY he has to check them all out first. Ridiculous creature

We will have to practice with a couple of dummies as I can just imagine him dropping one bird for another, the airhead

 

[Ravenwood]

To be honest, I am not sure its worth continuing throwing in the them a clump - not sure what this acheives?

I would go back to throwing the dummies a good distance apart and send him for the one you want - as soon as he has picked it use your whistle to recall him and distract him before he even thinks about the other.

 

[kirstyhen]

Like Ravenwood, I ca't see what throwing them in a clump would acheive.
You could throw a dummy, send him for the retrieve and when he's coming back with it, throw another dummy over him. Teach him he has to come back with the original dummy and ignore the freshly thrown dummy. That would be the most likely scenario with a dog dropping a bird for another. Similar to the rabbit scurry at Game Fairs.