teaching retrieve...

Mate reckons it's best to use a ball to teach retrieve rather than a dummy... his theory being that the ball bounces around and so makes it less predictable where it will land.. hence the dog has to sniff around a bit more to find it, rather than just running off in the direction that it was thrown..... your thoughts?

I always make it simple when I'm teaching the retrieve. I'm not expecting them to sniff around to begin with. I do use balls in retrieving because it's something different. I've found that they can get bored with a dummy.

When I do want them to hunt for a dummy/ball, I give them a blind retrieve.

Just the way I do things.

Helen

I use both with mine, and they seem to love whatever i use. But i will say Star does seem to do a lot better with a dummy and Storm was outstanding with a ball.

Might be worth trying Jake out with a dummy... he's never been interested in a ball. He'll chase it but then comes back without it, whereas with a stick he'll bring it back for another throw...

maybe it's the shape he doesn't like then Ian...so a dummy may feel better to him? You can get the ones that float too can't you...which may be good with all your beach walks???

Aye, Jake would like that... he loves the water.. both do but he's the better of the two as far as swimming goes

I think you should use whatever your dog is most comfy/happy with, if he likes a stick you can try a dumbell, or a slim canvas dummy whatever works for your dog, they are all diff

Flynn will retrieve more or less anything (it always amazes me how he can pick out the exact stick you've thrown into the vegetation from all the other sticks!) but I tend to favour a neoprene dummy and it also happens to be his absolute favourite too.

A ball is good though because I think it teaches co-ordination and they may have to retrieve quarry which may be still moving around.