DuckSouth.com

I have a 2 year old female that will chase dummies & dead birds all day long. Well, twice this season she has gotten to a downed bird & just swims around it without grabbing it. She has no interest in picking it up, at first. After a command or 2, she fetches it up. She almost seems confused, yet she knows what to do during training. What should I do?

Do you ever train with a thawed out real duck?

Was your dog force fetched??

i have seen some dogs that didn't like certian birds. one of my friends has a dog that does not like wood ducks or gadwalls. it is force fethced and will pick up other ducks like a champ but it takes a few FETCH commands on the other two.

I think some experienced guys on here will have to detest to that one. I always took it that if you forced the dog right he is supposed to fetch. No matter what colors his feathers are. I have a buddy who's dog has obvious dominance issues and does the same thing. Maybe the dog is just givin you the inconspicuous doggy middle finger for a second before he goes and does his job. One of these experienced guys can tell you what's up.

You're right. A dog that's properly FF'd will retrieve no questions asked. If your dog isn't FF'd, then it would definitely fix this problem. Also, as advised already, make sure to use plenty of birds in training.Good luck!

If the dog has not been thru force fetch, then do so.

If the dog has been thru force fetch, then revisit force fetch because there are some holes in the prior training.

As you can tell, IMO it is a force fetch issue.


Frank Barton

Think like a dog that has seen a mark and gone to the AOF and decided to look for something else. What is he looking for and why?