How do you train a dog to fetch something without chewing it up in the process? we have a 7-mo-old lab that loves to fetch...son is trying to get him to retrieve small game (rabbits, quail) without leaving bite/chew marks - is this possible or is it just an innate thing with certain dogs?

For any other wise dog people out there - any advice on teaching a wiggly, over-enthusiastic 80+ pound lab "puppy" to STAY??? He will sit on command and comes 90% of the time, but I am making no progress on "stay" at all -- he's just all over the place.....

Thanks....

-- Patricia (hemsley@hdo.net), January 07, 2002

Answers

Hi Patricia, In order to teach your dog to fetch on command and to "hold" and "leave", he must be "force fetched". To be "force fetched" he must be obedient in obediene. The "stay" is easy to teach - just requires lots of patience and "baby steps" Go to your lbrary and look for a book called "Home Dog" by Richard Wolters. He also has one called "Duck Dog" that will hlp also. Don' waste your money on having someone else train him for you. Enroll in a local obedience class. HTH some. Gloria

-- Gloria in MD (mullinaxclan@webtv.net), January 07, 2002.

One way to get them to retrieve without damaging what they are bringing back is to use a device that deters biting. Usually, you can train them with a block of wood that had duck wings bound to it and small nails throught it, so when they bite down, it is uncomfortable to them, so they soft-mouth it. When they are used to carrying items this way, the usually continue to do so, even after you move them to other items.

-- Wendy A (phillips-anteswe@pendleton.usmc.mil), January 07, 2002.

You can use a hairbrush with stiff bristles to teach him to fetch gently. The round ones work well.

-- Kris (klteather@yahoo.ca), January 08, 2002.

A stiff bristle scrub brush (same idea as the hairbrush) works well -

Here's a couple books that have some good suggestions as well:

Speed train your own bird dog by Larry Mueller

Gun Dog by Richard A. Wolters

-- hmm (h.m.metheny@att.net), January 08, 2002.

Hey I have a 9 month old lab puppy, she's so frisky and excited whenever she sees me I can hardly get her to do anything. I've had dogs my whole life, and even managed to train them to be fairly obedient. She's just so full of life (and love) I can't seem to get her to do exactly what I want her to until she calms down. She will sit (only momentarily) and shake (occasionally). Everyone tells me she'll calm down in time--hope so, because I sure love her, but she's so exhuberant. She's not a chewer though, but how she does love to dig! I had one before her that was calm and obedient at 7 months, but she chewed everything she could get in her mouth for about 2 years, then she stopped. Oh well, gotta love 'um! I wish you success!

-- Sharon (spangenberg@hovac.com), January 08, 2002.