CHESAPEAKE BAY RETRIEVERS

Training equipment and techniques.

BABY PUPS, 7-12 WEEKS

What you need to start training your pup.

An adjustable flat nylon puppy collar.
A four to six foot leash or cord with attached snap.
Play retrieving objects: tennis ball, old sock with knot in middle, puppy toys.
Formal training retrieving objects: A paint roller cover with plastic rather than cardboard backing and medium length nap.
Pigeon wingtips taped together around a small piece of dowel or a metal bolt covered with tape or cloth.

Play or formal retrieving.

Even at this age, you should have objects that are for TRAINING not for PLAY. These will be thrown only 2-3 times in each session, then put away. They should never be left where the pup can play with and/or chew them.

How to start retrieving games with your pup.

Remember, for a very young puppy, retrieving should be a game. A game that has certain rules and a short duration. I have written the masculine for clarity but everything applies to females also.

Always stop when the pup still wants more retrieves.

The natural tendency is to throw "just one more". The pup refuses, the owner is upset and what could have been a great training session is a disappointment for both. One or two retrieves can be enough for very young pups. They have very short attention spans and tire easily. Four tosses are enough for a session, even with an older pup. However, you can have several sessions a day.

Never play "chase me" games with the pup.

Remember, a young pup is not retrieving for you but is picking up an object and taking it away to eat or play with. Your job will be to place yourself between where the pup picks up the object and his "safe place" where he will want take it.

Don't take the object out of the pup's mouth right away.

Praise with enthusiasm, stroke the pup on the chest and up the neck to encourage him to hold it and keep his head up. When you see he is ready to drop, say your release command-Give/drop/out or any other word you choose. This petting and praise will convince him that bringing stuff to the boss is very worthwhile.

Check cord and collar.

Once the pup is used to a collar and leash, let him wear the collar and drag a short leash or rope when retrieving, except in water where there is a lot of vegetation and/or stumps. If the pup develops a habit of stopping a few feet away or running past you, step on the end of the rope and gently reel him in, praising as he gets closer.

Train in different areas.

Go for walks with the pup and give him a couple of retrieves in different places. Try to match the degree of difficulty to the pup's ability and "build on success". He should be able to have quick success on most retrieves. An occasional failure won't hurt, just walk out and coax him close to the object so he can get downwind and find it.

OLDER PUPS- 3-6 MONTHS

Buckle collar and check cord

3- 10 feet long, depending on situation and size of puppy.

Training dummies, canvas or plastic.

Two small ones are fine to start but you need at least 6, preferably 12 for more advanced work. The 2 x 12 plastic can be retrieved by fairly young pups. Duck or pigeon wingtips taped to the bumper keep the pup used to feathers. If the wingtips are allowed to dry between sessions, they last quite a long time. We like small canvas dummies for pups but they take more care and don't last as long. Hang them up to dry after water work.

Whistle.

Plastic is best, especially in cold weather. We don't use it much out hunting but, in some situations, it could be a lifesaver. The whistle sound carries better than voice. All retrievers should be taught to respond to both voice and whistle command. The usual ones are a trill or a couple of short toots plus a trill to COME and a single sharp toot for SIT. Forget the double toot for a release command. How often do you have your whistle out ready when you are shooting?

Blank/starter gun.

This is great for getting the pup used to gunfire. Make sure to start at a distance while the pup is doing something he likes. Retrieving, eating, etc. Watch for bad reactions. Most retrievers are not as sensitive to gunfire as the pointing breeds but it makes sense to go slowly. Instead of a blank gun, you can use a dummy launcher without the dummy.

Decoys, duck calls, etc.

Get your pup used to whatever type of decoys you will be using. The easiest way is to put a couple out on the lawn while you are doing obedience with the pup. Use a duck or goose call now and then to alert the pup to a forthcoming retrieve.

Boat, if you use one when hunting.

Start with the boat on land, then shallow water. Teach the pup to use a dog ramp if you have one.