I just watched the video from the Leerburg mag I get over my e-mail and I'd like to hear anyone who has tried this or similar approaches on their opinions on the results. Food rewards get him too focused on the food and increases the undesirable rough handling of items. Some things I might need him to pick up will require gentle handling, and some will require working out how to accomplish an awkward shape or size.

This approach seems like it might be ideal for my chessy guide dog to improve his picking things up for me. When I got him he had come from a breeder who bred for hunting. He was young and hadn't been on hunts yet, but had been encouraged to play retrieve with no control. He mouthed and tossed what he retrieved. I started working on the retrieve in the same manner I've successfully used with my high work ethic GSD's. Yes he was learning, but not with the attitude I desire. He wanted to play with the items while bringing them to me; and he is a soft dog who shuts down if handled too firmly. Totally different than the past guide dogs I'd trained who were all serious about working.

I had been getting discouraged with my results and hope this brings out the results I want, but I'd still like some imput from others. Getting it wrong for a guide dog can be more serious than for a pet or even a competition dog. So what do you all say?