More Than Retrieve

Retrieving is so much than just “fetch”. All pups learn to manipulate objects with their feet, their mouth, their tongues and are very aware of how to move objects between acquisition and destination.

Through the 6 weeks we shall be taking the basic skills of pick up and place and teach complex concepts as well as precise and accurate actions. There will be an option to continue for a further 4 weeks.

This is for all dogs not just natural retrievers. By building the simple steps and ensuring confidence and understanding there are no limitations.

➤  Place By Matching teaching the dog to recognise that specific items needs to be placed in matching containers. This can vary from recycling: paper, tins, plastic into their respective bins, toys in the toy box, to locations by name or person.

See Biggles here; matching items to containers, the unlikeliest of retriever.

➤  Precision Delivery Items that can be carried and placed in very specific ways: how they are picked up to placement: rings on a pole or hook, cups stacked, letters in the post box. Dogs have exquisite capabilities on how they learn to carry and deliver.

➤  Collect By Name From the famous Chaser who knew 1000 different names we can teach the dog to match and collect by sound, (names) images or symbols.

➤  Improved Skills Retrieve is a complex chain of actions that runs dangerously close to wild parading for pleasure or obsessive chase and capture. There is no need to lose that enjoyment by shaping the action to a focussed and healthy outcomes.

Requirements

Dogs will need the basic pick up and place. The step by step instructions on teaching this is in the Build The Learning Workbook part of the Setter Two and Three Membership. This should be completed and confident before this course begins.

A selection of toys and suitable objects for retrieving will be required.

This is not an activity where the dog should be doing all the work, but a respectful appreciation of what they can do and how we can bring pure pleasure to the process.

Rewards are at the centre of the learning and always deserving of close inspection and our skilful employment.

Never be too busy to learn.