Featured Dog: The Versatile "Twister"
Kate Maynard

Many dog sports incorporate retrieving in some manner. For upper level obedience, the retrieve is of great importance. In Schutzhund, the retrieve is an integral part of the obedience portion. In Flyball, the main focus is on the fast retrieve of the tennis ball. Retrieving for the "duck dog", hunt test dog or field trialer is the central part of their activity.

I have two Belgian Malinois. One was trained as a "duck dog" at about the age of three years. Didn't decide until that time to do anything like this. Now, I have a puppy that I began imprinting on this "retrieving game" shortly after I received her from Augusta Farley.

She was about 9 weeks old when I launched her into this program. The first thing I did to imprint was to encourage desire and drive with retrieving. She has such strong prey drive that it was very easy to do this. I just channeled it toward retrieve objects such as bumpers and also some fleece toys at the very beginning. I tossed, she brought back, I tossed she brought back, and so on and so on. The trick was to first build this desire inside the house and to use a hallway. Then she really didn't develop the habit of playing "keep away".

The next step I used was to move to the yard and put her on a very light long line. The same principle was used except I would really encourage return with my voice and moving backwards. If things got out of hand, there was always the line to "reel her in closer". I was then able to take her to various fields and have someone else throw either a favorite toy (and later a bumper), get her excited, and off she went to get the object.

At this point in time, we were also trying to get her to "mark" her object in the air so she could follow its decent to the ground. We'd use a cue word, "watch" whenever I take her to the line (the place where you would send her for a retrieve) and encourage her to look toward the "gunner" (person throwing the mark). The gunner would then yell "hey-hey" to be sure to get her attention focused. Then I would hold her in a sitting position and motion for the gunner to throw the object into the air. During the first weeks, I would release her when the object was in the air. Gradually, I held her longer, and now I hold her for about 3 seconds after the mark has hit the ground. It is during these baby stages that we are encouraging some form of slight memory for the mark's position. She is encouraged to use her eyes as this is harder for a dog than to use his nose (a more natural thing) But there are times when she must use her nose (so she must have a good one). And Twister has a good nose.

During the time I was encouraging land retrieves, I also introduced Twister to water. Well, that was easy!! She just loved to swim and was very confident in the water. Retrieves were done the same way using a gunner (or thrower). She is now on a long line that floats because she will try sometimes to cut a corner by going to shore early upon her return. A line just keeps her straight and through many repetitions will help to diminish her going to shore early (which by the way is a very natural thing for a dog to do unless you show them another way).

This is a wonderful journey we have undertaken. Twister lives to retrieve!! Now, it is also important to teach obedience and have been taking her to obedience classes. She does great except now my pro trainer has suggested I start heeling her to the line. Gosh, as one might imagine when a dog's drive is sky high this can be a very difficult exercise. We have really just begun working on this but I can already see some improvement. Once she learns control in this area, will work on things like random sits, etc. Control is taught earlier than I was ever used to coming from a Schutzhund background. And I am finding out, if done in a correct manner, desire is not diminished as one might fear. Before Twister turns a year old, she will be ready for the "forced fetch" using the classic ear pinch (used that on Flea). Time will only tell if everything turns out like I really hope it will. But for now, Twister is having the time of her life!!!

Can't end this without mentioning that my hunting retriever club, "Southern Flight" has been very supportive of Twister and me. Without their patience and help, this would have been a tough row to hoe.