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I have got a big problem and need some help fast. I have a 7 month old yellow female lab puppy that i am trying to trail myself (this my first odg to trail all on my own). She has been picking up puppy bumpers since she was 8 weeks old and loved it. We always quit before she got tired and left her wanting more each time. When she cut her teeth I was careful not to ask her to fetch anything.

Now all of the sudden she will not pick up a bumper, ball, stick nothing that is thrown for her. She loves to have something in her mouth and will find something to tote as soon as you let her out. She will parade it around and give it to you to throw. You throw it and she will just look at it like she has no idea what to do.

The only time that she will show any intrest in fetching is if my male dog is out and he is picking something up. She will race my to get there first and get the prize and often does. But no go when she is alone.

Please help!! I would like to fix this before she gets to a point that I can not fix it.

What training are you doing with her. Are you putting any pressure on her? Have you corrected her for anything?

She could still be losing teeth also.?

We have made it all fun and games up to this point. No pressure. She is a mild spirited dog and still needs to mature some before we even do formal obedience.

Just throwing fun bumpers sitting on a bucket. I do not remember having corrected her for anything. I have tried to be careful about it because of her personality.

7 months old.....may be hormones kicking in. Some bitches get a little crazy a while before, during and after their heat cycle. Some turn into a entirly different animal for a while.

Also have you started FF?

Benjy

I have not force fetched yet. I am not sure that she can handel the pressure yet. As i said she is a mild spirited dog and I think that she needs th mautre before i put the pressure on her.

Maybe in heat? How are the boy dawgs doing around her?

pups also go through several rebelious stages, If she has not been forced, she very well could be just rebeling against you.

Time to force fetch her.

Take the opportunity.

Maybe she's british!

Im guessing she got a correction that stuck in her mind. Have you been steadying her suddenly?

Without knowing why shes doing it, your never gonna figger out if theres something wrong with her, shes spooked, or giving you the paw. Maybe she fetched till she got hot recently in a long session, and is simply not worth it for her right now? You might simply kennel her for a few days, and see how the drive comes back.

FF isnt the answer to not retreiving. Its the answer, but to a different question. She needs to be a retreiving manic before you start ff. Without ever seeing your 'sensative dog', Im going to predict shes a manuplituve bitch that has figgered out how to keep you from putting any rules on her. Most sensative dogs (especially yeller bitches) are that way in their owners minds only. Been there, done that. travis

From what I read, I was guessing she is a retrieving maniac and now she is saying what ya' gonna' do about it. You could shoot some fliers for her to check to make sure, but I say Force Fetch.

Kennelling in a box for a week with no interaction with the kids, cat or anything fun may get her to go again and is a great idea.

A 7 month old that quits all of a sudden and for no reason needs force fetched. She may be mature for her age.

I moved her into my heat pen which is away from the other dogs three days ago. She has not had contact with them and it seems to be making a BIG difference.

Two days ago I tried throwing a puppy bumper (canvas) for her and she was more receptive of it than the plastic ones. We just made it a game again and she started to pick them up consistently again.

Yesterday i took the puppy bumper to the pond with us. She is a swimming machine and would rather be there than any where. She picked up everyone thrown and with more enthusiam that the day before.
She seems to be getting her drive back. She is getting back to her break neck to get to it drive. Mabey all will be well.

THANKS!!

Did you say she was too immature for formal OB? That is where I would start before going to FF. Formal OB doesn't have to be a constant ass-whuppin'. In fact, it ain't that at all.

I have never whipped her and used the praise/scold method for things she has done right and wrong. We have done the basic obedience but when you start to put the pressure on her she breaks down and will cower from you.

Her demeaner is why i say that she is not ready for formal obedience or FF. She is still just to inmature for pressure.

I've seen a few, and never seen one to immature at 7 months for pressure.