We have a 6 month old GSD who seems to be losing the out command. I started when she was about 16 weeks working on this with food in my kitchen (give her the rope bone, then she'd drop it and I'd give a treat -- eventually worked up to saying "out" and rewarding with a treat). A month into that, she started getting tooooo excited with the whole process and ended up coughing up the treat -- I also was throwing the bone a few feet, so there was excited movement.

I switched to rewarding her with another toy -- say "out" and then when she dropped it, tossed another rope bone in the air for her to leap at -- great game. She loved it!

We got a Chuck-It a month ago. She was doing really well with "out" and then the last few weeks, she wants to shy away from me when I say out, like she doesn't want to give it up!

Normal puppy behavior? Hurried the new toy? What should I do when she does this?

Right now I can tell I'm getting frustrated. I step toward her to step on her leash and then ask again and wait it out. My problem is I'm asking her to comply with really only a verbal "good" when she does it and that doesn't seem enough at this age. Suggestions?

Just read the first line again. Not fair to say she is losing it, since she really never had it completely at 6 months! We are working on this and she has done a lot better with it in the past. She seems to be regressing is probably more appropriate

First, do you have SchH or other plans for the pup?

Sounds like handler conflict. She is ONLY 6 months old...Why is everyone is such a rush with puppies. Outing can be something that dogs find very conflicted about. They may want to comply, but don't want to give up that special toy. Trust can be an issue here also. Let it be a game. Games are supposed to be fun...She doesn't sound like she is having fun any longer. Take a step back in the training & go back & trade for a HIGH VALUE treat. Stop putting pressure on her to perform this task. That is where the conflict is coming from.
Back chain to where you are just trading a toy for a high value treat. (you can do this inside, sitting in a chair)You don't need to toss the toy, just hand it to her & have her give it back..trading for the treat. Start out with a lower value toy for her to hand back to you, so that you eliminate some of the conflict with her favorite toy....eventually work back up to the toy that she really likes & trade that for a VERY HIGH VALUE treat. OR.....you can trade her off the another of the same toy that she is reluctant to give up. This way she doen't feel that you are taking her favorite toy & replacing with something of a lesser value to her. Some dogs are more toy then food driven. Just keep it fun for your dog.

 Quote: anne jones

.... Back chain to where you are just trading a toy for a high value treat. (you can do this inside, sitting in a chair)You don't need to toss the toy, just hand it to her & have her give it back..trading for the treat. Start out with a lower value toy for her to hand back to you, so that you eliminate some of the conflict with her favorite toy....eventually work back up to the toy that she really likes & trade that for a VERY HIGH VALUE treat. OR.....you can trade her off the another of the same toy that she is reluctant to give up. This way she doen't feel that you are taking her favorite toy & replacing with something of a lesser value to her. Some dogs are more toy then food driven. Just keep it fun for your dog.

Great answer!!

In fact, this is my first step in "fetch."

I just saw that Connie posted while I was typing. She asked about SchH plans. I will say that if you are thinking of doing SchH with the dog...you might want to stay with using food & not playing '2 ball' with her, as it can make for chewy grips down the road in some cases.

I made the asumption that you were not, since you didn't mention playing with a tug with the pup at all & that is usually the toy of choice for people doing any bitwork with their dogs down the road. I may have assumed incorrectly.

Connie...like minds...

I have to thank Bob Scott for the fact that I start every dog's "fetch" game with the fun step of teaching the release of the item into my hand for fabulous rewards.

We do it, as you said, indoors, or sitting on the lawn, or anywhere .... until that one command is one the dog's most ingrained ones (after the recall and "leave it") ....

You assumed correctly -- no SchH plans.

Not trying to hurry. Dog has a lot of energy and loves chasing things. I actually stumbled on this by my tennis balls (I play tennis) falling out of my bag. She went crazy chasing them. So I started tossing them and then tossing another one. She didn't necessarily drop the other one - well, maybe sometimes. It was more playful chaos for both - no real point or training involved.

When I bought the Chuck-It, I just assumed she would love the chasing aspect. And she does! But realized I didn't know how to get it back from her. She loves this toy!!! I can say where's the Chuck-It and she goes spinning to the cabinet it's in and then to the back door and so on. She gets very excited! So I know this is something she likes!

I just needed help in not taking the fun out of it for her! I will try your "back chain" idea.

Releasing the item into your hand can be a fun command. Upbeat praise, great rewards .... I make sure that link in the chain of the fetch command is very good before ever tossing the item.

Here is how Bob Scott made it very clear to me a few years back: "The retrieve is not taught by tossing the item and hoping for the best."

It matters with your Chuck-it as much as it matters with a retrieve for a sport, I think ... I don't want to feel frustrated and pretty much take the fun out of a game because I can't get the item back into my hand.



P.S. Chaining and back-chaining can (and often should) be the way to teach any command --- teaching each link before stringing them together.