Obedience dumbbells

[Adina]

Does anyone know where I can get a dumbbell made that fits my dog? She mouths the one she has because she doesn't hold in the correct position in her mouth. The middle bit is correct length but the ends are too small.

 

[CorvusCorax]

The dog should be able to pick up any dumbbell of any dimension without mouthing or chewing it. I don't know what discipline you are working in but in my own there is only one size of dumbbell to use for each section and you must use the one provided.

Depending on how much training you have done already, I'd use a small rolling pin, metal bar, dowell rod, anything else first so that you make your mistakes with that and not the actual dumbbell.

Go right back to basics and train her to hold a bar quietly and correctly and reward that and nothing more rather than putting the whole exercise together.
When I broke the whole exercise down, there are about 15-20 parts for a simple flat retrieve and we expect the dog to put that all together an understand exactly what we want!!

 

[satinbaze]

Pet Needs do a variety of dumbells, plain wood, painted, plastic, string centres etc. they are on the Internet and are based in Wales. They usually have a stall in hall 1 at crufts.

 

[Adina]

Thanks, I will try Pet Needs. CC, we are at stage 2, have done the take, now the hold. She is a very prey/play driven dog. So that she carries and plays with anything large or small. This makes reward easy but she mouths everything she picks up. She once proudly presented me with ladies frilly knickers on a walk - yuk. I need the dumbbell to be different to anything she plays with.

 

[cava14una]

Pet Needs do a variety of dumbells, plain wood, painted, plastic, string centres etc. they are on the Internet and are based in Wales. They usually have a stall in hall 1 at crufts.

Was just going to suggest themI've ordered a lot from them on line and they are really helpful.