I've let dummy training slip a bit in the last few months, just letting Rhian fetch toys for fun on our walks. Now I've started again and am having some problems with the correct hold.

It had taken a lot of work to get Rhian to pick up a dummy in the middle, I've used dumbells and have clickered correct pickup. Now she will bring back the dummy nicely most of the time...


...but occasionally I get this:


The other issue is holding the dummy. She will come back right to me and sit, but if I don't take it off her immediately she'll start fooling around and chewing it. She manages to do this even with the dumbells.



Trying to correct her when she starts mouthing does not do any good at all - this was recommended in a book on Retriever training I have. She will carry dummies without mouthing when walking on lead beside me, but the moment I stop she's starting it. Any ideas on getting her to stop this behaviour?

Sorry no advice at all......... but I love looking at your photos!!

What is it you want her to do?

When I send Ghillie out for a retrieve he comes back in with it, at which point I am squatting down with arms held out for him to come into, he sits at my feet and I tell him "Good lad" give him a quick stroke and take the retrieve off him saying "Dead" take it out of sight, put it behind my back, in a pocket or game bag. i don't do too many as he gets bored of them and will mess about.

To get him to hold it I use to put the dummy in his mouth, scratch under his chin and say "Hold, hold" not for too long, and then praise him.

Do you leave Rhian's toys around for her to play with?

Ghillie has Kongs in his run and tennis balls and dummies for training, if left with a tennis ball he will strip it If he does start to chew on a dummy or ball whist training I use a gruff voice and stop him straight away and remove it.

With picking up the retrieve some times they need to readjust to get a better grip, i know Ghillie does with game or Dokken's some times.

Hope this helps