From 8 weeks thru 12 weeks - Puppy Play Retrieve

The Mannerly Puppy

The Play or Puppy Retrieve

The importance of the puppy/play retrieve cannot be overemphasized even if you never put a practical, working retrieve (retrieve what I say on command) on your dog. Why?  Think about the training implications of the practical working retrieve. The dog has to see something (called a Mark), remember where the something fell, wait until send to do the job (retrieve), go retrieve the item promptly and briskly (no mangling or chomping of item), and return with item in mouth and relinquish item on command into handler’s hand (no dropping).

EVEN harder to teach is a Blind retrieve where the dog has to follow an invisible ‘line’ (following the direction of your hand/body) to somewhere (dog never saw anything fall or get thrown so a Blind retrieve is 100% built on trust), take direction (Whistle Sit), take another direction or two or three (Right, Left or in reverse called Back) until within 15’ of item which is usually an orange bumper.  BTW, orange is color dogs can’t see so it isn’t until the dog is within the scent cone (so the dog can use its nose to locate the something), find it by scent, pick up and promptly return to handler and relinquish item on command into handler’s hand (no dropping).

But you are not planning of teaching a practical, working retrieve so why do you care?  BECAUSE working a puppy through the below sequencing lays a mental foundation so your dog learns to work away from you, do the job, and then return to you, always. Preserving an inherent play retrieve is any dog is critical so the dog learns to go away, get, and return to you.  If you destroy this inherent play retrieve, you destroy part of your dogs trainability and trust. Once destroyed, it is very hard work to put back into place and you will work 100% harder, in the long run, of basic obedience training, because you did not know how to value and shape a play retrieve.

So here’s the retrieve sequencing in the house:

1.      Anytime the puppy picks something/anything up in its mouth, PRAISE. 

2.      Call or coax your puppy to you, PRAISE. If puppy isn’t coming, use your Learning String. Praise.

3.      Guide the puppy (with item in mouth) to another location using your Learning String. PRAISE. 

4.      Gently mold your puppy into a Sit and PRAISE. 

5.      Gently take the item from your puppy’s mouth using the cue work “GIVE”, PRAISE.[Watch my “Puppy Retrieve” mechanics video].

6.      Put the item in a location where your puppy can not get to it, PRAISE.

7.      Guide your puppy to another location and allow it to get interested in something else.

Try to never go to your puppy and take an item out of its mouth. Always call you puppy to you, if necessary use the “Learning String” to help guide your puppy to you. Move your puppy towards where the puppy ‘found’ the item, as if puppy takes it away, puppy has to work to return. Keep the puppy on your left side. Always remember to PRAISE.

When your puppy comes to you with an item in its mouth, even when its your shoe or camara, always give soft words of praise for coming and then take your puppy to another area, or have the puppy take item back to where it ‘found’ it before you remove the item from its mouth with the cue word “GIVE”.  PRAISE

If you have a “natural” retriever you will be doing these drills many times every day.  It really must be done every single time your puppy picks something up.  The entire sequence needs to be completed each time.

If you have a “natural” retriever you may also play retrieve with your puppy using a safe toy.  Have no more than 1 or 2 special toys used ONLY for play retrieving. Try to have at least 2 short play sessions each day.

Invite your puppy to play.  If there is interest on the puppy’s part, throw the toy a short distance at a diagonal line in front of the puppy and allow her to chase it.  Encourage her to bring it back and praise for doing so.

Do not throw the special toy more than 5 times in any one session. Do not throw the toy a distance of 5 times the height of the puppy at the shoulder. STOP when puppy’s interest is HIGH and end the session.

So here’s the retrieve sequencing outside:

 1.      When you are outside walking your puppy and he picks up a piece of trash, PRAISE.

2.      Allow your puppy to carry the trash to a trash receptacle. PRAISE.
3.      Mold him into a Sit, take the trash using the “GIVE” command. PRAISE.
4.      Dispose of the trash and encourage him to find some more.
5.      If and/or when he finds another item of trash, repeat the process.

This is a natural behavior that may continue until your puppy is at least 12 months of age or more. It will naturally extinguish as your puppy’s curiosity about things is satisfied and at the same time you are laying a strong foundation for a future working retrieve that once taught will make your now adult dog a wonderful, helpful companion.

When your puppy picks up something you don’t want her to have, before you scold her, STOP, THINK. Do you want to discourage that retrieving behavior? You only have a few very short months to build a strong positive attitude toward retrieving.  Every time you scold for something in her mouth you are giving her one more reason NOT to retrieve as an adult AND your scolding WILL NOT stop the picking things up and carrying them around or carrying them off to a hidden location for a good chew.

PRAISE FOR EVERYTHING IN YOUR PUPPY’S MOUTH, EVERYTIME, EVERYWHERE.  Your shoes, "Good Dog!"
The towel, "Oh what a good retriever dog you are!"
Your camera, "OH Good Dog, you found my camera."
Trash that fell on the floor, "Oh such a good dog!"

Etc. AND always do your praise with a smile on your face even when you don't feel like smiling. Why? You dog can 'read' your insincerity, so if you smile, the rest of your body language will follow.

In time, your puppy learns ‘The Fun Game’ is finding a 'something' and bringing it to you. Why? You will have taught your dog that finding, picking up, and bringing to you is a wonderful, special reward – your praise.