How to make dog to take dumbbell

[yuki]

In our new class we started to practice retrieving. Leena (17 month old female) never done it before because she just never was interested in retrieving even as a game. So she just woudn't take dumbbell in her mouth. I tried to play with her with it, she wouldn't take it. Trainer said to shove it in her mouth and keep mouth closed forcefully and then praise and give treat. She still doesn't get it. I tried with plastic and wooden one, didn't work. Now she sees me with dumbbell and tries to hide. Any suggestions? Should I spread something tasty on that thing? We have 2 weeks to practice it and hopefully in 2 weeks she will show some interest in it. Should I be more patient and eventually she will not spit it out? Any tricks to make her take it?

[RottiMomCT]

Hold the dumbbell in your hands and have the dog sit in front of you. Offer it to her and say "Hold" as soon as she takes it in her mouth....for however long she holds it, praise her and offer a tiny treat morsel.

Do some quick sit/stay or heeling work and go back to the dumbbell and do the "Hold" command again.

Each time she takes that thing in her mouth, praise her...no matter how long she holds it. You don't want to force her to hold it in her mouth, but you can gently hold her lower jaw while holding the dumbbell as well.

Make it fun! I actually got Ben to hold a dumbbell by holding it in my own mouth and making a fool out of myself in the backyard...he was so interested in what mommy had that he had to have it! Make sure you wash it off before it goes back in your mouth :D :D .

Good luck!!

[yuki]

Thank you RottiMomCT, I will try to show her and take dumbbell in my mouth. So far I put her in sit/stay and when I give her dumbbell she just turns her head away to the best of her ability. She wouldn't take it at all, even for a second, only if I force it in her mouth. I will go right now and play with it myself to show her what fun it can be, may be even give myself a treat:)

[Judi W]

Well, there are as many approaches as there are dogs. I would say that before starting a forced retrieve, you use all the inducive methods available because once you start on the forced retrieve there is no going back. Also, prior to forced, you must determine that you are going to persevere. I will also say that the forced retrieve comes around and the dog does end up being a happy retriever in the end. If you are not determined and weasle out, don't attempt the force as that will set you back further than where you started.

[Rottlva]

Interesting that you bring this up as in my graduate novice class, we are continually shaping the formal retrieve.

I was under the understanding that no food should be offered while the dumbell is in the mouth or the dog will be more likely to spit the dumbell out?!

Any ideas for keeping the dumbell in the mouth when the dog returns to front and sits? Usually when he sits is when the dumbell falls out of his mouth....

[Judi W]

Well, I always start teaching the dog to hold the dumbell. Of course if you are waving food in front of it's nose it will drop it. I do this by a table or kitchen counter with some treats in a bowl, not my hand. Always with the dog in front, I place the dumbell in the dog's mouth with my hand gently holding the lower jaw. After half a second I take it and treat. Progressively having the dog hold for longer and longer periods of time while repeating the word "hold". This moves along until the dog will hold indefinitely. Then you progress to the dog reaching for the dumbell while it is in your hand. Reaching further and further........... by the time the dog is ready to go take it off the ground, the dog associates the word "hold" as it is coming in to front. You drop the "hold" verbage later after the dog understands what is wanted.

[yuki]

Thank you everybody. I think I know what I did wrong. I was holding a treat all the time and she just wanted to take food instead of dumbbell (smart dog:) ). Anyway I will try whole thing all over again without holding a treat. See, I would never even think about it without your help. Thanks again. BTW searching on this topic here I saw that it's important that dumbbels are the right size. What size should I use?