Starting the dumbell

[Miabella]

I was told by my trainer last night that I need to start on the dumbell with Ilsa. She said I could start with a wooden dowel instead of a dumbell, and practice with opening her mouth, saying "take it", placing the dowel in her mouth, and then praising while I lightly held her mouth closed so she doesn't spit it out. I was told to do this in 5 sessions of 7 times each (35 times per day) for the next 2 weeks.

Thoughts, opinions? I am a total newbie to these exercises, but I do know that there are several schools of thought on how to teach the retrieve. ;)

Also, should I order myself a dumbell, or just stick with the dowel for a couple weeks?

[Rott-Wiley]

Yes, that is one way to start teaching how to get a dumbell.

You could order a dumbell anytime now. I like those ones that are made of that plastic material. Eventually you may want to have 2 of them, one for training and the other to save for showing. I'm not sure where you can get those plastic ones, I buy mine locally at my training facility. If you can't find one, let me know and I'll try to find a link to them.

[Rott-Wiley]

Here's some plastic ones: http://www.cherrybrook.com/store/pro...8&selection=59 Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

[Miabella]

Thanks, Rott-Wiley! I see they sell both wooden and plastic, so since they don't seem too expensive, maybe I'll get one of each material and see what Ilsa prefers.

[Skip]

Originally posted by Miabella
I was told by my trainer last night that I need to start on the dumbell with Ilsa. She said I could start with a wooden dowel instead of a dumbell, and practice with opening her mouth, saying "take it", placing the dowel in her mouth, and then praising while I lightly held her mouth closed so she doesn't spit it out. I was told to do this in 5 sessions of 7 times each (35 times per day) for the next 2 weeks.

Thoughts, opinions? I am a total newbie to these exercises, but I do know that there are several schools of thought on how to teach the retrieve. ;)

Also, should I order myself a dumbell, or just stick with the dowel for a couple weeks?

35 times a day seems like too much to me. I want the dog to look forward to the exercise and I think a dog might develop some negative issues if you did that many in the beginning. Just my 2 cents, but I think 5 total times (10 at the most) would be plenty when you are just getting started with the dumbbell.

[Miabella]

Skip, she is a GSD person, so perhaps they don't mind repetition as much? ;) I'll keep an eye to not pushing it with too many repetitions.

[DNeff]

I would also caution about doing so many reps using this method. This will quickly casue the retrieve to be viewed as a chore rather than a fun game to play.

IMO I would work on creating some real drive and enthusiasm for the dumbbell first and then after several weeks of "keep away" with the dumbbell I might begin to introduce the hold and the retrieve.

Susan Garrett has a great article on creating a motivating toy, this is much the same method I recommend for introducing the dumbbell. http://www.clickerdogs.com/createamotivatingtoy.htm

There are some fantastic methods out there for introducing the dumbbell and retrieving.
http://www.shirleychong.com/keepers/retrieve.html

I also recommend Sue Sternburg's "Guide to the Inducive Retrieve", Morgan Spector's "Clicker Training for Obedience" and Sheila Booth's "Purely Positive Training" for excellent retrieve training techniques.

J and J has some wonderful dumbbells, I recommend you try them to get the proper size you need. http://www.jjdog.com/Merchant2/merch...MBBELLSDUMMIES

Morgan Spector's book has a very good article on fitting the dumbbell at the end. A poor fitting dumbbell can cause problems over time or hamper your training.

There is nothing wrong with using a dowel to start, but I wouldn't use it too long unless you really need to.

Dawn
U-CD Cammcastle's Mystic Riven CDX OAC OJC OGC OAJ NA TT CGC
http://members.aol.com/dplantier
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld

[Miabella]

Thanks, Dawn! I will check out those resources. :) I will also be very careful about not pushing it too much with repetitions, especially since we have trials coming up, I want her in a happy mood.

[fbkeays]

With my bitch Misty she was very picky about her dumbbells. She would only work with J and J's invensi-bell. It is really strange as I never really taught her how to retrieve the dumbbell, she just did it when I found the right one. She would never retrieve anything until once at an obedience trial for her CD, she broke the stays to jump both baby gates and pick up an open dog's dumbbell that was just thrown over the high jump. Everything happend so fast that the boxer landed and there was Misty holding his dumbbell.
She wouldn't touch wood db or the cheap plastic moulded ones.
I am having a problem with my young boy (2 year old intact male). He will hold the dumbbell. He will fetch the dumbbell, even over a jump. He will bring it to me, but he will not sit with the dumbbell in his mouth. It is almost like there is a switch in his butt. The butt goes down and the mouth opens. I have tried to really get him in drive and play tug with a rope and then tell him to sit thinking that he will sit while still tugging- nope. Butt goes down and mouth opens:(

[DNeff]

Originally posted by fbkeays

I am having a problem with my young boy (2 year old intact male). He will hold the dumbbell. He will fetch the dumbbell, even over a jump. He will bring it to me, but he will not sit with the dumbbell in his mouth. It is almost like there is a switch in his butt. The butt goes down and the mouth opens. I have tried to really get him in drive and play tug with a rope and then tell him to sit thinking that he will sit while still tugging- nope. Butt goes down and mouth opens:(

What happens if you have him sitting in front position and hand him the dumbbell? Does he take it then drop it?

I would recommend working on handing him the dumbbell while he is sitting in front position and have him right up against you with his head up giving you eye contact. Put your finger lightly under his chin to keep his mouth tilted upwards so he can't help but hold the dumbbell since gravity is helping keep it in his mouth. Don't hold his mouth closed or tilt his head so severly that the dumbbell goes too far back in his mouth or he is uncomfortable.

The minute you hand him the dumbbell while sitting, yes him and take the dumbbell back immediately. Huge, huge praise and lots of goodies, make a big fuss over what a great guy he is. Gradually lengthen the time he holds the dumbbell while sitting.

Dawn
U-CD Cammcastle's Mystic Riven CDX OAC OJC OGC OAJ NA TT CGC
http://members.aol.com/dplantier
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld

[Grendl]

I purchased my first dumbbell, a wooden one, at the training school we attended. I recently replaced it with a white molded plastic one that I bought from one of the kiosks at the three-day AKC show circuit that was in Greenville in late July. It was reasonably priced.