Our Big Challenge with Sadie

[NTNewf]

After taking Sadie down to the lake and working some more on take it, we see now where our real challenge is going to be.

If you throw the bumper out into the water, she is off like a bat out of hell to go get it (as you might have seen in the videos posted earlier by Ursa). Drop it in the water and she will go get it but not nearly as quick. Try to hand the bumper to her while on shore and she looks at you like you just tried to shove medicine from the vet into her mouth.

At home she will take the bumper from either Ruthanna (Ursa) or I and take it right over to the other person every time. Take her to the lake and she clearly isn't translating the task from one place to the other.

I figure that we will have to walk out and give it a very gentle toss and have her get it. Then once she is doing that (shouldn't be a problem there), then try just dropping it for her to get (still out in the water). Then working that to where we are holding it on top of the water. Then holding it out of the water for her to get and then slowly work our way back to shore.

Hopefully this won't take the whole summer.

Anyone have any other ideas?

Oops, put this in the wrong area. Should be in "Fun with Newfs". Sorry.

 

[NewfLove]

I have no suggestions or experience but will be watching this thread closely to learn also!

 

[NTNewf]

NewfLove - How is Darcy doing with the bumper? Hands want to know! lol

 

[janices]

Where are you doing it at home?

 

[mulenag]

Maybe take some peanut butter with to the lake and put a small amount on the bumper. She might be more willing to take it from your hand if it tastes yummy!

 

[NTNewf]

Janices - We are working on land at home (both inside and outside) and in the water just down the road at the lake.

Mulenag - Good idea, we will have to try that.

 

[janices]

It's not generalized. This is my strategy when I'm working. In the house, then back yard, then front yard, then take it on the road. Start with least distracting environment then keep increasing slow toward more distracting environment.

 

[NTNewf]

Ahhh, I see and then we've done the first two parts (first inside and then backyard).
We were planning on working in the front yard some this evening. So we (by accident) were going in the right direction.

 

[R Taft]

I am not sure how correct this is, because I have no proper waterdog training..........But we teach all our dogs to carry stuff for us from as soon as we get them. Even the rescue adults. Annabelle had no idea what we wanted, but we kept doing the same stuff. I give her the bumper and tell her how clever she is. We walk side by side at first and I just carry on and tell her how clever she is, Mike calls her and I say "take" at the same time. She goes to Mike and he says, when she sits in the recall position, "give" and takes it from her with two hands. I give her all sorts of things to carry and she now carries all sorts of stuff for me. She holds and drags ropes, carries small ropes, the mail, empty feed bags and daily fire wood. She also leads the horses on their leads. I think it is the constant repetition that gets it done. because we have done it for so many years, it is just something I do all the time. If I have something I think she can hold, I say "hold". We train all the time. We do not have training sessions, except when we go to obedience. we just seek different opportunities to train all the time for fun. I think it is to the point the dogs do not notice it is training. For example "wait" at the gate or door. Heel to go to the stable (to keep safe). We make it fun and they love being around and doing things. good luck with your water training. I envy you guys with having all the water training clubs around.....Ronnie

 

[dfwmiket]

I just want to say Sadie did GREAT today!! In one week, she's improved already!

 

[Ursa]

Thanks Mike and thanks again for doing the video for us. When we replayed it I got to see that Sadie actually took the bumper from Steve's hand to tow the boat!! We're so proud of our little Muppet Newf! :allg069:

 

[NewfLove]

NewfLove - How is Darcy doing with the bumper? Hands want to know! lol

We're out of town and Darcy is having her first boarding experience. The kennel has two pools, so she is certainly having fun. But, we have never been away from her and I am really worried about her feeling abandoned, even though her two troublemaker brothers are in the dog run next to her.

Yes, hands and shoulders and arms and legs. ouch. When we get home, we are going to institute some of the ideas we have read here. We should get the girls together to see how they do in the water. And, Ursa needs to come. And, Fargo needs to come. And, the MagMan needs to be there.

 

[Ursa]

We're out of town and Darcy is having her first boarding experience. The kennel has two pools, so she is certainly having fun. But, we have never been away from her and I am really worried about her feeling abandoned, even though her two troublemaker brothers are in the dog run next to her.

Yes, hands and shoulders and arms and legs. ouch. When we get home, we are going to institute some of the ideas we have read here. We should get the girls together to see how they do in the water. And, Ursa needs to come. And, Fargo needs to come. And, the MagMan needs to be there.

We'd love to get together with the sweet Miss Darcy and family again! Maybe this time Fargo won't jump in the deep end!

 

[dfwmiket]

We'd love to get together with the sweet Miss Darcy and family again! Maybe this time Fargo won't jump in the deep end!

We'll hope to bring 'puppy power' with us!:beer:

 

[CassandraHamilton]

Here's how I taught take it, hold and give.
I sat in a chair showed my Newf this incredible bumper, it was so amazing, I wanted to pet and stroke it and ooo it was so pretty... my Newf opened her mouth and held her head out to take it, if that was okay with me. I let her and said, "Yes!" "Good take"
Then I petted and praised her for a full 30 seconds. Saying "good take" over and over again.
Then I help out my hand for her to give it to me. She wasn't so sure about that, after all she had done such a good thing... but, I waited her out, very patiently. Soon, she targeted my hand. I praised with "Yes!" and then waited again. Soon, I had the bumper in my hand, "Good Give!"
And she got a full 30 seconds of praise with repeated "Good give!"s.
Then we played some more, my offering, her taking and her giving. All the while, lots of praise.

Soon that was solid. In any situation. I'd sit at the shore and play this. Treats were also good rewards. I'd stand in the water and play this incredible game. Treats were also available there too.

Then, I upped the anti. I gave different toys and objects, letting her enjoy the challenge, praising, etc. Car keys were the hardest, as dogs don't like the taste of metal too much.

For hold, I required her to take the object, then hold it for 1 second. Treat. Then 2 seconds. No treat if the object was dropped or given. Quite soon, we were up to 10 seconds! (We liked those smelly treats sooo much, and the 30 second praise that went along with it!)

Then we took this game everywhere, including the shore and standing in the water.

Our favorite version of this game was to get the paper and take it in... Very proud Newfie!

Well, that was before we discovered the jacket and cushion... then those were awesome fun!

Hope this helps!