For those who don't already know Daisy (6.5 month old American Cocker) is in the KC/Disney Lady and the Tramp lookalike competiton final  at Crufts.  The characters in the final all have to perform a task from the film, and the "Lady lookalikes" will have to fetch a newspaper.  We have been working on the fetch, and she is doing it very well (I now have a house full of dogs, both Yankees and Pugs who will fetch a paper!) however, learnt today that I have been doing the fetch the wrong way - I was throwing it, with Daisy following, picking up and returning it to me, but on the day she will have to go and pick up a paper already on the floor.  I hoped that some of our experienced obedience or gundog experts here might help me.  My instinct is to play along with what we have been doing, but getting someone else to drop the paper, and me sending her after it, saying fetch which she is responding to well, but when she has this OK  where do I go from there to get her to go to an "Static" object, so to speak?  Any help will be much appreciated, we only have a few days left to learn and practice!
bye
Gwen

Hi Gwen

I would reverse what you are currently doing.  As in encouraging her to hold it, but you and her back away from it as soon as she is picking it up.  Take her collar and lead her a few steps away and say her command and let her go to it.  Build up the distance.

If you are having problems with her picking it up try a clicker and treats.  Start by clicking when she looks at it, then when she moves towards it, then when she touches it.  Make sure you are looking at the article and not at her. 

If the newspaper seems to be a problem, try it with something she likes first.

I know you haven't got long, but she seems like a smart cookie :)

Good luck and let us know how you get on.  If you go the clicker route and have problems e.mail me and I will see if I can help.

Sandra

I am no expert so this is just my way of doing things and some might come on here yet and explain a much easier method.  Anyway, my dog knows the word fetch and I also name the objects to be fetched i.e. she knows what "my slipper" means and I asked her to fetch (pause) my slipper.  She had to fetch both for her to get her reward which was for me to go and get her dinner from the garage (she already knew it was dinnertime so she knew she would get a reward for fetching my slippers).

If you have told your dog to fetch the newspaper or whatever cue word then you are already best part there IMO.  You just need her fetch from static position.  Lots of encouragement i.e. if she touches it in anyway praise so that she knows she is doing well etc.

Remember also that Crufts has lots of distractions so if you have time, try to practise in a few different places as dogs are not very good at taking behaviours from one place to another, which is why it's often best to start at home, then in the garden, then in a quiet area of the park with no dogs, etc :)

What are you using to motivate and reward her? If using praise, be full of enthusiasm; if using treats make them tasty like liver :P

Lindsay
x

Gwen, do you have a clicker and is Daisy clicker charged?

If so, this would be relatively easy to solve - you just put the newspaper on the floor at your feet and click and treat her for firstly sniffing it, then for attempting to pick it up, and finally for picking it up.  Then you just move the newspaper away from you.

If you don't have a clicker, I would get someone else to throw it and to make excited noises as they throw it.  Do that quite a bit, then tell them to put it on the floor instead of throwing it and let her go almost immediately.

Then gradually make her wait longer and longer after the paper has been put on the floor before sending her.  Finally get the person to put the paper there and then walk out of sight before you send her.

Then do what Lindsay suggests and try this in lots of different locations.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I am afraid she is not clicker trainsed, and I think we have left it a little late to start.  I have been using both verbal encouragemnt and treats (she is very motivated by both)  however, the biggest trainng aid has been Junior my 7 year old Yankee, who is an infallible "fetcher".  When she saw him with the paper in his mouth, although she had been ignoring it for days, she got the message and started picking it up!  Will work with your suggestions and report back on Monday.  I have been teaching this at various locations, home, park, training class, and will even have a go tomorrow when we are at a show!

bye
Gwen