[rottcrazed]

This is something I think cannot be fully described in a post without full visual. I have taught 4 dogs to retrieve and I have NEVER covered the dumbell with food. This might work, but once the food scent is gone, why would the dog retrieve it?

To teach this for open obedience, the dog HAS to be motivated to retrieve. I always teach this as puppies with toys to a command that is NOT what I am going to use on the dumbell, so I tell my dogs to 'get it' with their toys. Plus, it makes retrieving FUN, which is the most important thing. One thing I have learned, if your dog doesn't have the drive to retrieve, teaching a dog to retrieve later in life is like pulling teeth. It can be done, but it is not fun. I make sure that puppies I keep retrieve little paper balls at 7 weeks willingly, or else I don't keep them (just something for future reference)

I have also always done a forced retrieve with my dogs. Two of them have required an ear pinch, but I am not going to explain this in a post because I firmly believe this is something, that if it is going to be taught to the dog at all, needs to be taught by an instructor who is there to make sure it is all done correctly. Forcing a retrieve is not going to lessen the dogs' drive, nor is it cruel, unless it is done incorrectly.

It sounds very much like you are being taught to introduce the dumbell the same as I have been taught, and I have found it works like a charm. When you are teaching this for competition, the dog needs to know that the dumbell goes in the mouth and stays there. It does need to be totally positive, even if they are being corrected for dropping it.

Kristi