The ff transition

[labman21]

Drake is now holding birds in his mouth. When i give him the fetch command he gladly takes the bird. He will hold it for as long as I tell him to and won't release until the drop command is given. If I give him the bird with the fetch command and have him stay and hold it, then call him he will do that no problem.

The only thing is, he doesn't seem to make the connection as far as a 10ft retrieve goes.
He does the same old thing. He runs up to it and mouthes it but won't grab it and pick it up.
Will this come with time or is there some underlying problem?

The other thing is. In a field situation when is the fetch command given?

He just seems like he has no clue what he is doing. He is definitely trying to grab onto it but won't. Please tell me if I am impatient or what's going on.

Thanks, Ryan

[EvanG]

Ryan,

How, specifically, did you get to this point?

EvanG

[donnie_19]

Sounds like you need to get him picking up off the table. Then transition to shorter retrieves. Don't rush it.

[birddogger]

It sounds like you have been doing a good job so far, but I believe you are getting impatient. You will have some set backs. You need to go slow and let it take however long it takes. It could take a couple of months or more, especially for somebody who is attempting it for the first time. It takes alot of persistence and patience.

I have only done it one time, so I will let others advise you on the particular problem you are having now. I will say this though, you should never allow a refusal. When you give the command, he must pick it up every time. You have to do whatever it takes to force him to pick it up. Maybe keeping your hand on it at first or picking it up just enough for him to grab it and using the ear pinch to enforce it if needed.

Just keep at it and don't give up. It will pay off. Good luck.

Charlie

[BellaDad]

You may be taking too big of a step for him. Does he pick up from the floor/table? How about taking a step and then picking up? Two steps, five steps? If he won't do 10 feet, take a step back to what he will do and then take a smaller step forward. Reinforce what he knows and then progress.

[topher40]

Donnie is right. If you have the dog on the table/bench and have him picking up off of there then you can transition to the ground.