Casual Retrieve training question

[HersheyK's Dad]

Okay! We have had some snow and Hershey Kisses (11.5 months) is having a ball palying in it. I was throwing bumpers yesterday. A few landed without her ever seeing them. She went out search for them. I know nothing about guiding a hunting dog on a blind retrieve. Don't know commands, hand signals, whistles, nuttin. I found that I could direct her to the area with repeated yes's when she was headed in the right direction, stop her progress in the wrong direction with a no, and when she got within 10-15 feet her nose took over and she brought them home. I was pretty pleased and surprised with her performance. Might have to read up on how to train for retrieves. Anybody have any recommended reading? Never going to hunt, job bumper and ball retrieves for exercise.

[tkpaul]

Sounds like you've got it down. All the training goes to solidify what you've have described. I agree with you, if your not really gonna use it, don't get into it. Good luck with H.K.

[Tagen]

Plenty of people train their retrievers and even compete with them even though they have no interest in hunting. It really is a fun activity to share with your lab and you may even find yourself wanting to someday enter a local hunt test or go out on a hunt with a buddy. For now, even if it's just for fun, they are a lot of books and material you can buy that will help you build a basic foundation for Hershey. I would recommend the 10 Minute Retriever by John and Amy Dahl. Great book with good information for a beginner and relatively inexpensive. It should provide you with the direction you'll need in your training. And if you find that you and Hershey really enjoy the training, you can add more material to collection that will take you to the next level.

http://www.amazon.com/10-Minute-Retr...7913077&sr=8-1

Have fun!

[HersheyK's Dad]

Thank you all. i have received a couple PMs that recommended this book and another. I have ordered both of them. I think this will be fun for HK and myself. She kind of encouraged me to pursue it the other night when she was responding so well to my homemade directions. Watching her nose take over was really neat to see happen. Different when she was trying to find a bumper I threw and retrieving it verses just searching for something to eat or chew on.

[Tatyana]

10-Minute Retriever is great. Also, Evan Graham's materials are wonderful. Retriever training is great for bonding with your dog and to see your dog doing what it was bred to do. You should also try to find some local retriever clubs and come to their events. Many clubs hold mock hunt tests and training days as well as licensed hunt tests. You should also go see a hunt test and a field trial just to see what these dogs can achieve. It really is breathtaking to see a well-trainer retriever nailing a hard mark or handling to a blind.