Does anyone know what size dumbbell I should be ordering for my Toy dog? At her obedience class she was lent one by a Jack Russell owner but it seemed too big for her to get in her mouth. She retrieved a tiny Kong instead. I've found one to order that says it's 4". It's made by Mikki. Does that sound about right do you think?

The Mikki ones tend to be the orange plastic ones which aren't very pleasant in the dog's mouth if you are trying to get them to hold without mouthing. Try Pet Needs, who sell obedience stuff. This is the link to the page with their dumb-bells on. They would usually be white painted wooden ones with a strung middle so more pleasant for your dog to hold.

http://www.pet-needs.co.uk/site/catalogue.php?id=5

Thanks for that marisa. Looks like the Tiny size should suit her. We're a bit new to this Obedience lark but she is going at it with great gusto. Maybe my handling skills will improve too!

I use the ones from Pets at Home for my Cavalier that retrieves, they're actually sold as rabbit toys but are just right for toy dog dumbbells!

Don't know what level you are but if you haven't competed before, you don't need to use a d.bell for Retrieve until you are competing in Novice. There is no Retrieve exercise in Pre-Beginners and it is 'Retrieve any article' in Beginners. So could be something like a rolled up magazine (DTW is great for this, just the right size lol), a bit of hose-pipe (though would put some white tape round it so it shows up in the grass), a wooden spoon etc.

> Don't know what level you are

Not sure we're any level really. I took her along to do Good Citizen, as with all our dogs. She picked it up really easily and was asked to move up a class, then another. I think some of the others do compete. We've only been to this class twice but this week the rest of the class were using dumbbells. As I said, she couldn't seem to pick up the one we were lent so I thought it must be too big for her. But on reading up a bit on Google, I now think it's probably because she's brachycephalic and she might do better with a shaped one.

What fun eh, as Jamie Oliver says, it's good to do something different!

> rabbit toys but are just right for toy dog dumbbells!

Thanks for that LucyDogs. All suggestions gratefully received by this Obedience complete novice!

If it's any help, I don't teach my dogs to retrieve using a d.bell. I use the other articles I mentioned above. That way, if I have a problem, the dog doesn't get a hang-up about the d.bell. I only introduce the d.bell when the dog can already retrieve. It is then just another article to the dog.

> I only introduce the d.bell when the dog can already retrieve.

That makes sense. She will retrieve a ball and her kong but just for fun at home. She also retrieves very patiently for a toddler who delights in throwing things for her. She always gives them back when asked, unlike my large breed who prefer me to chase them round the garden if I want things back!

Yes, sometimes people don't understand that a dog who will retrieve in fun still needs to be taught a formal retrieve and this can be perceived very differently by the dog.