Rev - force fetch

[IRISHWISTLER]

Aye Mates,
REV, now 11 months old was worked on his 2nd day of FORCE FETCH conditioning today and is handling the training related pressure of the ear pinch quite well. All of his initial FORCE FETCH work is being done on a table designed for that specific purpose.


Materials needed to move through the session are prepared ahead of time so as to cause minimum interruption to momentum gained during actual training time.


The "ear pinch" pressure is applied as the bumper is placed into REV'S mouth and timed with the verbal command "FETCH", as REV accepts and retains the bumper, the command "HOLD" is given and the "ear pinch" pressure is turned off by the trainer. Timing is critical and the K9 will effectively learn to HOLD the object and turn off pressure by doing so. The K9 is required to "HOLD" the object without extraneous chomping, chewing, mouthing, or a loose / sloppy HOLD being tolerated, and to do so until the command "GIVE" is issued as a release command with the trainer taking the bumper into his / her hand.


I reward REV with positive physical contact (petting hismhead) and verbal praise for work well done.


As we move through successive sequences of the process, I watch REV with me well trained eyes for indicators of acceptance or resistance and will adjust me approach to the whole session accordingly. Once I determine that REv has had some positive training and while he is still focused, I will end the table work on an upbeat and positive note. I will then move REV on to the ground for some "WALKING HOLD" drills while on-lead, prior to putting him back in his kennel run.

I prefer to run a few short sessions of this nature each day as opposed to a single session of longer duration, doing so being much more effective with regard to the way K9's most efficiently learn.

We will take a look at the steps of "WALKING HOLD" in the next sequence.

Enjoy ye retrievers and good training to ye all!

Slainte,
Irishwhistler