32. Things To Remember When
Teaching Retrieve Over Hurdle
Train your dog to jump and retrieve in play, but keep the dog on leash.
Keep the jump low for the first serious lessons.
Stand close to the hurdle so you can place (or throw) the dumbbell where you can reach it by leaning over the hurdle.
Give ONE command.
Follow the command with PRAISE.
If the dog fails to start, jerk the leash ONCE while you are giving the praise.
If the dog starts without a correction, give praise just the same.
If your dog leaps the hurdle, then starts back without the dumbbell, BLOCK her! Cuff her nose with the back of your hand, lean over the hurdle, jerk the leash once toward the dumbbell, and give a more demanding "TAKE THAT!"
Attempts to go around the hurdle on the way out can be stopped by giving the leash a backward snap.
Attempts to come around on the way back, when the leash is off, can be stopped by tossing something in front of the dog to block her. This correction should be made as the dog is passing the hurdle. If given too early, the dog will hesitate about coming back at all.
Practice throwing the dumbbell off to one side, so your dog will have to go out of her way to leap the hurdle on the return.
Practice in strange surroundings, and give the dog only a single chance. Afterward, change the location of the jump.
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