I have a young lab that i have been working with for awhile, and the other day he started dropping the dummy when he get about 10 yards away from me. How can i break the habbit??

A few things you can do....Use a training lead 25 foot long, and pull him back to you, see if that helps. If not try walking away, back pedaling, as he starts to come back to you, to get him to follow you, stop quickly and he should run up to you, with the dummy, if that doesn't help, the pup will need to be force fetched, with this you can either buy a book and try it yourself, or find a trainer that can do it for you.....hope this helps........

was the dog force fetched... it sure doesn't sound like it....

if not, I recommend that you force fetch him as soon as he is old enough, 6 months or so.

if he has been on the table, then it sounds like it's time to put him back on the table and spend a little more time of the "hold" command...

if none of this makes sense to you... PM me...

Look at Wildrose kennels web site, at uklabs.com He has some really good way of force fetching.

I have trained or help train quite a few lab puppies. I agree with what everybody seems to be saying. Depending on the pups age, I would start with letting the dog start back with the retrieve and just before he or she gets to that spot where they tend to drop the dummy, start back peddling and encourage the pup to keep coming. Back up like this 10-20 feet and let the pup gain a little ground on you and then stop and quickly praise the pup for making the full retrieve. Do this over and over and once you see progression, start backing up shorter distances and finally stop backing up all together but continue to encourage the pup throughout this process and always praise for a job well done. Remember to have some patience: it is still a pup. Another key would be to never push the puppy longer in a training session than it wants to go. If you stop a little before they are bored or tired they always come back wanting more. If the puppy is 6-8 months you might need to consider having him or her go through the force fetching training. Make sure if you take the puppy somewhere you do some research into the trainer. Not everyone does it in a positive and effective manor. Good luck. Training is alot of fun especially when you get to see the rewards of hard work when they make that first great retrieve.

First off how old is the dog?

You stated young lab could be teething - yes force fetch is the key, but during the teething process is a sore time for a young lab.

Force fetch is not something that I recommend doing without a mentor of some type it is like taking martial arts out of a book - I have trained numerous dogs since the age of twelve and had my own kennel and worked for one of the biggest field trial pros in the country training young derby dogs through young open dogs - Force fetch is pressure and the dog turning the pressure off by a desired response (the forced retrieve). It is just one of those cases that you have to decide is the pup teething - playing around and so forth - dogs until a certain age the running away from them to come to you only works so long then it is time to force fetch the dog.

There are numerous books and videos, but if there is an amatuer that has done some dogs or a buddy a recommend going and watching - timing of correction is critical.

David

I agree with David, how old is your pup? If he is 6 months or so he is teething. Give him a break for a week or two then restart!!

David makes a great point, some poeple will totally stop retierves with a teething pup, if this is the case then let him get over it and he will do fine.

Agree!! However I strongly belive in having a retriever Forced Fetched by a Trainer. When a 12 lb Goose starts slapping them in the face you don't want them droping it!

Shoot him start over...