recall/retrieval of quarry

[Guest spartancombat]

Hi guys.Have recently aquired my pup,a deerhound lurcher,and am keen to start him retrieving to hand. I have read in a couple of books that hounds may retrieve a ball once or twice when thrown,but are unlikely to do so regularly. So basically would like to know how is he going to retrieve me several rabbits on a days outing??

Any advice and personal methods welcome

[skycat 6,174]

Retreiving a thing that you have thrown 'away' is pretty boring for most dogs unless they are Collie based and obesessed with balls and retrieving. Bringing back what they've caught is a whole different ball game.

If you have got a good relationship with your dog, ie you boss, dog not boss: (something you only achieve with affection, firm but fair handling), loads of praise and more praise when the dog catches something: I always say good dog the moment the dog starts to carry anything at all: even if its stuff I don't want them to have like my shoes! They then associate carrying something in their mouths with praise.

When they start catching they aren't going to want to put that rabbit down again, so then you use all your early recall training to get the dog coming to you with its 'prize'. Don't make the mistake of grabbing the rabbit (or toy in training) off the dog straight away: let it hold it for as long as it wants to begin with.

Like I said before: you could almost write a book on retrieving alone: try typing in 'retrieving' into the search option on this site: there's been loads of post on it already.

[Guest spartancombat]

Retreiving a thing that you have thrown 'away' is pretty boring for most dogs unless they are Collie based and obesessed with balls and retrieving. Bringing back what they've caught is a whole different ball game.

If you have got a good relationship with your dog, ie you boss, dog not boss: (something you only achieve with affection, firm but fair handling), loads of praise and more praise when the dog catches something: I always say good dog the moment the dog starts to carry anything at all: even if its stuff I don't want them to have like my shoes! They then associate carrying something in their mouths with praise.

When they start catching they aren't going to want to put that rabbit down again, so then you use all your early recall training to get the dog coming to you with its 'prize'. Don't make the mistake of grabbing the rabbit (or toy in training) off the dog straight away: let it hold it for as long as it wants to begin with.

Like I said before: you could almost write a book on retrieving alone: try typing in 'retrieving' into the search option on this site: there's been loads of post on it already.

Thanks for that advice Skycat. I will take all what you've said onboard and hopefully everything will fall into place with a little time and patience!

[spudlington 3]

Hi Spartan,

Have deerhound x greyhound myself and what Skycat says is spot on. My fella just can't be arsed running back and forth retrieving balls etc in garden but as soon as he caught his first bunny he retrieved it live to hand. That's not to say you should be too lax with the training but just that they don't enjoy "play" retrieving like say a Lab would.

 

Spud

[Tyla 3,179]

My pup retrieves well to hand with anything but rabbits, they get a victory parade round the field while i stand there calling her and looking a tw*t. im hoping its just excitement as shes only young but if anyone has any good ideas please fire away!

[weejohn 3]

i know exactly what you mean tyla but my pup doesnt parade with it he just holds it where he caught it.