Conan will always chase anything we throw. If we're in the house, he will bring it back but doesn't out. He thinks everything is a tug and there is nothing he loves more than a good game of tug. In the park on a long line he will chase what we throw, sometimes just come back with nothing, and sometimes come back to the general area we're in but doesn't bring it to us. So I thought maybe I can try marking and rewarding him bringing a ball back to me. Problem is.... the very first time I threw the ball, he went after it, as soon as he turned towards me with the ball I marked, and he came running with the ball for the food. I thought it was too perfect to be true!

It was. After that, he wouldn't even chase the ball. He sits at my feet and offers just about everything else he has been trained to do. I get lots of sitting, laying down, playing dead, shaking, high five-ing, the whole nine yards. So I can only get him to chase the ball once during a "training" session.

Am I trying this too soon? Am I using too high value a food reward? Or too low value a toy? I've tried 2 ball and he still doesn't bring it directly to me, and if I mark and reward when he does he won't chase the ball because he is so focused on the food (even with the bait bag behind my back, he knows it's there). There's got to be something I'm missing, right? Ideas? Thanks

http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=134&Number=238356&Searchpage=1&Main=23123&Words=retrieve+Connie+Sutherland&topic=0&Search=true#Post238356


Mixed in with drive-building are the back-chaining steps for "retrieve."

Fabulous! Thanks!

http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=134&Number=254721&Searchpage=1&Main=24508&Words=retrieve&topic=0&Search=true#Post254721

http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=134&Number=243636&Searchpage=3&Main=23536&Words=retrieve&topic=0&Search=true#Post243512

Thanks again!

We'll definitely try these.

I know that I have said this more than once, but it's worth repeating Bob Scott's comment about fetch/retrieve:

"The retrieve is not taught by tossing the item and hoping for the best."

Agreed! I think rolling the toy a short distance will help him keep his focus on it and not so much the food I have behind my back. Thanks so much again!