The Hound Retrieves!

Yes, Abby can now fetch a dumbbell! I am actually surprised at how quickly she has put it all together. Here is what "it" is:

1. Sit by my left side while I throw the dumbbell about 5 -10 ft away
2. When I say "Take it", go out and get the dumbbell
3. Put dumbbell in her mouth and carry it back to me
4. Sit in front of me with the dumbbell in her mouth
5. When I say "Give" put dumbbell in my hand
6. When I say "Finish", return to my left side and sit

I only work with her on this exercise for about 10 minutes a day, 3 days a week. I have been using a mixture of her food (kibble), jerky and stinky tuna treats as her reward.

I do vary her reward in that if it is something she already knows how to do, I will just give her a few pieces of kibble. If it is something that I have been waiting for her to do (i.e. sit with dumbbell in her mouth) I will jackpot her with a whole handful of kibble and treats but I give it to her a few bits at a time so it seems like 5-10 "little treats" rather than 1 big one that she immediately inhales. I let her "savor" the reward. 

I guess I should say that there are a few caveats to Abby's retrieving in that 1) I have a bag of treats within arm's reach and 2) we have only done this in my apartment.

We need to take our show on the road! I will try to remember to bring her dumbbell and treats to the park and go back to square one which is Abby simply "taking" the dumbbell in her mouth when there are all those distractions about: squirrels, kids, other dogs, squirrels, people on bicycles, yoga class and squirrels. Yeah, the squirrels are going to be a major distraction.

I also need to work with Abby in the apartment and see if she will retrieve for the sound of an "Atta Girl"and not reward her with food *every* single time she retrieves. Now that she understands what I want, we should be able to transition to verbal praise and begin to fade out the treats.