[NAGDU] the fetch command

[nellie at culodge.com]

I have had labs for 48 years and all have been retrievers (other than my guide dogs) and been duck, goose and pheasant retrievers and we never ever used pinching the ear for anything!!  That sounds awful.  

Don’t know why anyone would do that?

-Janell
-----Original Message-----
From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Danielle Sykora via NAGDU
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2019 4:15 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Danielle Sykora <dsykora29 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NAGDU] the fetch command

Teaching a dog to retrieve that doesn’t do so naturally is only traumatic when very correction based techniques are used, such as pinching the dogs ear to get them to open their mouth. Guide dog training is a lot more positive these days. I bet almost any dog could learn retrieval with the clicker. It takes time and consistency though to make it reliable without encouraging bad habbits. 
Both of my dogs retrieve instinctively, but only with toys. I taught both to locate dropped objects with a nose or paw. Additionally, I taught Thai to retrieve his leash and bowl on command, using a plastic bottle as an intermediate from toy to non-toy objects.

Danielle,  Thai, and Jackie 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 18, 2019, at 4:26 PM, Janell via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> I was so lucky with my first guide, Sully because he had tremendous drive for retrieving.  He was never thought  that at school but just had a natural ability.  I discovered after a while if I dropped something and was trying to feel around with my foot or hands to find it and couldn’t, he would be standing there just waiting for me to give him the "fetch it up command."  He drops it right in my hand.  I never have him do it in harness, just at home.  He is fantastic with picking up milk jug lids, the remote back and batteries after I drop it or even will run and get my shoes.  He has never fetched anything without me giving him the "ok" and it sure has come in handy many many many times.  Now Rosy my second lab on the other hand has absolutely no interest in retrieving.  I have tried to get her to fetch in the yard for exercise and she has no clue what I am talking about.  She is so wonderful in so many other ways I am not going to push it with her.
> 
> -Janell
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU <nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Danielle Sykora 
> via NAGDU
> Sent: Monday, February 18, 2019 2:27 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Danielle Sykora <dsykora29 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] the fetch command
> 
> Guide dogs were taught to retrieve in the past, but programs discontinued this practice a few decades ago. Essentially, they considered it useful but not essential, and did not think it was worth dropping otherwise good guides because they didn’t enjoy retrieving.
> 
> Danielle, Thai, and Jackie
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Feb 18, 2019, at 2:39 PM, Madison Martin via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi all, I was reading a fictional book about these kids who visited a 
>> guide dog school, and it talked about how the instructor was teaching 
>> the dog to fetch a glove that he dropped while he was working the dog 
>> in harness. So I was wondering, is this something that guide dogs are actually taught to do?
>> Or do you think that it was just made up for the book? I'm just 
>> curious that's all. Look forward to hearing back from anyone who 
>> might be able to provide an answer to this! Thanks
>> 
>> Madison
>> 
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