15 months - Teaching the Dumbbell Hold and Retrieve

Spring break gave us a chance to get more training and photos in. This is a photo of Alfred av Stavanger "Larry" holding a Schutzhund 1 dumbell. At 14 months he already has a calm, firm hold. It's a hoot...he literally holds the dumbell forever. He even extends his neck as if to serve it.

Since Larry has a natural retrieve it was a no brainer to teach the dumbbell hold using the motivational method. THE KEY to this method is to make the retrieve a mandatory exercise through the use of food. It can not be just about fun by using the dumbbell as a toy. The dog must be required to take and hold the dumbbell before it receives a food reward. This in turn indicates to the dog that he must do what you say (hold the dumbbell) before he gets what he wants (food reward).

At first Larry wasn't all that keen on the idea of taking a dumbbell in exchange for food. His preference was to either take the food for nothing or play with the dumbbell like a toy. I don't think a mandatory dumbbell exercise was on his agenda that day! So to get things moving along I brought mom (Gjeter) in on the training scene. Boy did that get things moving along...all Larry needed was to see an example of mom working for a food reward by holding the dumbbell. He figured it out quick and stepped up to the plate.

We have Denise Fenzi to thank for showing us this method. I used the same method with my female Gjeter which proved to be a reliable training method. Her dumbbell routine was her strongest and most reliable obedience exercise even during two Schutzhund Regional Championships. She always received high remarks from the judges. It is important to point this out because it is possible to make obedience mandatory without compulsion. Additionally obedience should be mandatory even through positive reinforcement to maintain reliability.

We are hearing and seeing that our A-litter shows really nice scenting ability. Not only are they showing the beginnings of a strong work ethic for the track. But they also show a true ability for scent discrimination. Ava in Colorado will entertain her humans to no end by fetching the very same crinkled pine needle over and over again after it is thrown out into the woods. Her little nose is fine tuned. She brings the very same pine needle back every time. Our very own Curly (Angus) will also do the same; only his human Glenn throws a small stone down a driveway full of rocks that all look the same. Curly always brings the same one back without fail. Larry (Alfred) is quite amusing; if anyone enters the house or yard he can be seen and heard sniffing everywhere that person has been. No object enters unnoticed.  Larry is on official scent patrol. He gives a new meaning to Curious George.

(Photo: Angus av Stavagner "Curly" - German Shepherd Dog Tracking)