Force fetch timing for my 2-year-old GSP - too late?
Got my German Shorthaired Pointer at 18 months from a hunter who didn't do any formal retrieving work. She's solid on birds, points steady, but just mouths and drops dummies. Tried positive reinforcement with bumpers for months, but she still won't hold. Using a Tri-Tronics collar on low stim. Wondering if I missed the window and should just live with it.
1 Answer
You're not too late at all - 2 years is actually a great age for force fetch with a versatile dog that already has bird desire. The mouthing and dropping is classic. Ditch the dummies for now and go back to basics with a paint roller or dowel. Use the e-collar on a low, consistent setting (like a 4 on the Pro 500) the moment she opens her mouth, paired with the 'hold' command. Do short, daily sessions of 10-15 minutes. She already wants the bird, so you're just teaching the mechanics. How's her compliance on other pressure-based commands like 'whoa'?
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