training retrieve

[Gunnermom]

How do you all teach the dumb-bell retrieve? My girl has her CD and we're working toward open. I know there are different methods and I want to hear about different methods to decide which would work for her. I try to stay with postive training. She "generally retrieves", but occassionally doesn't. I'm trying to figure out how to make her REALLY want it. I don't want to use things such as the ear-pinch.

[ShatteringGlass]

I used the Shirley Chong method for Sydney who had ZERO interest in the dumbbell/retrieving. She now has a solid retrieve and will also pick up anything when I tell her to "take it".

http://www.shirleychong.com/keepers/retrieve.html

[mjbgsd]

With Isa she really never wanted to pick up a dumbbell, in fact, she was in your dogs position just a year ago. Now she retrieves super fast and LOVEs to bring me the dumbbell any time. What we did was use the clicker. I held the dumbbell and if she looked at it I would click and treat. After a few of those if she went for it I click/treat. Then it was a slight hold, click/treat, then I asked more so I wouldn't click till she held it for a few seconds, click/treat. Once she was holding it from my hand I would lower the dumbbell from her face to about her shoulders and repeat the same process. Then it would be lowered to her legs, repeat process. Then it would be lowered all the way to the floor only when her holds were solid at the legs. She was then picking up from the floor and holding the dumbbell. (this is over a couple months span because I wanted to make sure her retrieve from the floor and hold was solid) After that I would place the dumbbell farther away from her and I would click/treat if she went for it and grabbed it and brought it back. After doing a couple of those the dumbbell got placed farther and farther until we were throwing it. The coming infront with the dumbbell was taught seperately and then "stitched" into the retrieve sequence. So today she retrieves solidly anywhere.