Learn how to keep your dog from running away with things he
finds and instead, get your dog to bring you those found "treasures"
instead of playing keep away with them!
The “Bad
Dog” Retrieve by Beth
Duman
Background
·
Dogs love to
steal items and start a game of keep-away.
·
Any item that is
in the possession of another dog is valued.
·
When an owner
runs at a dog grabbing an item from the dog and “growling”
(yelling), the value of the item increases to the
dog.
·
Items that
become valued during the formative puppy months may have increased
value throughout the dog’s life.
·
Many owners
consider their dogs “bad” when, in fact they can use this behavior
to positively train a reliable retrieve.
Phase
I.
1.
When a dog has
an item that you do not want her to have, approach slowly,
preferably sideways, rather than head-on.
2.
Do not look at
the coveted item.
3.
Praise the dog
saying, “Good Dog, Good hold it!”
4.
Gently grasp the
coveted item with one hand and present a valued treat with the
other, inserting a finger into the dog’s mouth to tickle her palate,
if necessary.
5.
Say, “thank
you”, and gently remove the item, immediately feeding the very yummy
treat.
6.
Immediately
offer the item back to the dog, saying, “Take
it.”
7.
After the dog
again grasps the coveted item repeat steps 3-5
8.
Offer the item
again, repeating the procedure.
9.
Put the coveted
item out of the dog’s reach for the time being and play with the dog
with another toy or do some other activity that is rewarding to the
dog.
Phase
II.
1. Arm yourself
with delectable items and a previously coveted
item.
2. Approach the
dog offering the item and say, “Take it.”
3. Praise the
dog for grabbing the item. Then immediately “trade“ the food morsel
for the item and practice the “thank you”
trick.
4. Offer, trade,
and treat a few more times, practicing the “take it”, “hold it,”
“thank you” sequence.
5. Put the item
on the floor in front of the dog and add ask the dog to “take it”
from the floor.
6.
Start tossing the item a short distance and reward the dog lavishly
for approaching you to trade for the goodies. If you think there is
any chance the dog might “snatch and run” do this entire sequence on
leash. You may like to add “pick it up” and “bring it” cues at this
point.
7. Put the item
up and move on to another fun activity with the
dog.
Phase
III.
Practice the
above sequence but now substitute varied items of different size,
weight, texture, and shape.
Results
·
Your dog will be
able to hold and retrieve a variety of items.
·
Your dog may
bring you items rather than take off with
them.
·
Stealing and
chewing may be replaced with retrieving and holding
behaviors.
