Lottie has her first training session tomorrow. Im going to be doing the grade one course with the gundog club at end of sept and im having a few 121 sessions with the same trainer before the course starts.

Its mainly just the basic obedience i need to work on with her for now. She's doing really well with her recall now, she is starting to ignore distractions and listen to me.

However, i have problem with retrieving. She wont hold anything, or play with toys at all. Ive tried everything i can to get her to pick things up and shes just not interested. Even when i try giving her a chew stick to get her used to holding things, she doesnt want it.

Im worried as my trainer has told me to bring a dummy, and i just know she is going to sit there and pay no attention to it!

Any ideas on what i cn try to get her picking things up?

Still, im looking forward to the session. Ive just been trying to make everything fun at the minute while she's still getting used to me, but will be good to get training started.

Simone and Lottie x

How old is Lottie?

Although we haven't done gundog training - Rufus is very good at retrieving, but he was at least five months before he got interested in carrying anything in his mouth (though the dummy was one of his favourite things, when he did start doing so)

Maybe you could try getting her to retrieve one of your socks with a tennis ball in (mine always love socks!)

But ultimately, the reason you are going to a trainer, is so they can teach you and lottie these skills - so don't worry have a lovely time, and let us know how you got on

Hi Lottie is 5 months old and i havent had her long.

I am going to try with a sock, i think most dogs love these

And yes i know the trainer will help, i think im just over worrying. she is still very young.

Thanks

Simone and Lottie x

personally think she is too young to take training seriously, everything should still be fun fun fun, dont forget she is still a baby, mine is 6 1/2 months old and i'm not considering training other than fun retrieves, basic recall/sit/stay until he is older, ie coming 8 months, maybe more...

but, if your trianer can give u some useful tips and advice, go for it, but please dont forget shes still a baby!

Hi, yeah i agree about making everything fun for her. Thats why im only working on the basic commands for now (Sit, Stay, Recall ect)

Im not too concerned about starting the actual gundog training just yet, like i said i dont start the course until end of Sept when she will be almost 8 months.

Im only concerned about the retrieving right now as she is showing no interest in even wanting to play. But like you say she is still very young, and she doesnt really know me that well yet. So i will give her time to settle more.

Thankyou

Simone and Lottie x

i got my puppy interested in retrieving by watching me play with my other completely ball obsessed dog - see if you can hook up with someone who has similar, and take lottie along to watch, then just do some little short throws of a tennis ball and make huge fusses if she picks it up, really high pitched voice etc, she will figure it out - i was lucky, fonz was retreiving tennis balls at 9 weeks old!

five months old is the wrong time to be retrieving anything, the reason most gundog trainers dont start formally training there pups till 6 to 8 months is because till the adult teeth are through if a pup snags her baby teeth on a dummy or a ball it is more likely to be put off by it

I wont be 'formally' training her until she is 8 months. I just wanted some ideas on how to get her a little more interested in her toys. She refuses to play with them nevermind retrieve Bless her

Hopefully your trainer will be able to help you tomorrow. I know the trainer we go to see had a young dog that wouldn't pick up anything, now 12 months later she'll retrieve everything. Have fun tomorrow

Thanks Im looking forward to it.

She just brought me a sock such a clever girl.. I never thought id be praising a dog that ran off with my dirty washing