I have a 4 year old lab who is semi trained. I've done it myself and he retrieves extremely well, and is fairly disiplined. I never did force fetch him though. Does any know if he's too old to force fetch? Just curious. He started out duck hunting the river with and done great as a pup then I've kinda got out of it the last couple years. He's turned into a house dog and family pet but he still loves the water and loves to retrieve. Any thoughts would be appreciated

Not to old for FF take your time and get it done

Send me a pm if you have any tips. About 2 years "hold" he would just refuse. I guess I need to put more time in and have some more patience. He retrieves like a champ, but when I sit him on a bench and snap him up he absolutely will not hold a dummy in his mouth. I've used the thumb and hand under his coller and his throat but it seems impossible. I'd appreciate any advice! Thanks check131!

Do not use a bumper when in the beginning stages of FF. Use a wooden dowell. You do not want the dog to associate any disscomfort or bad feelings towards a bumper. Bumpers mean fun time. Did you introduce your dog to the bench over several days prior to working him on that bench? Take a few days to introduce him to your table. Let him get up on it for a few minutes with you praising him then let him get down. I always teach hold on the ground. Be patient and consistant and you and your dog will get there. Have you considered letting somebody else do the FF for you?

I've thought about someone else. Just don't know what that would cost. I did use a wooden dowell w/ him earlier when FF. How did you get your dogs to hold?

There is no time line on the various stages of FF. Sounds like the holding stage may take a little more time for your dog. Dont expect the dog to take the dowell in its mouth and hold it for a prolonged period of time when starting out. You will gradually extend the period of time that the dog holds it as you progress. To start you will just say hold as you put the dowell into the dogs mouth, you may have to wrap your hand around the dogs muzzel for a few moments while saying hold. Then take the dowell out and then give plenty of praise. Then repeat several times for that first session. If he spits it out say No and repeat. Soon the dog will feel more comfortable with the dowell in his mouth. At this point you will have the dog hold it longer periods of time. Keep the dogs head up by saying hold while you place your hand under the dogs jaw. Later when the dog drops his head you can just rap the dog under the jaw and say hold. hope this gets you started. Be consistant in your training.
You can expect a trainer to charge you around 300 to 400 dollars per month. That is about 10 bucks or so a day. It can take 4- 7 weeks to do the process depending on how far you want him to go. I do retriever training on a small scale. I have a clients dog at this time doing the FF process and another one coming in this fall that is all that I want to do at this time (I am also working 3 of my own dogs) but if interested I would be glad to maybe meet up with you and show you the process or I can put you in contact with some else to do it for you. Let me know how I can be of help to you

Bernie Fraze

Anyone know where I can get a nice Yellow Lab from a good breeder. Someone who is somewhat reputable and good to their dogs?

I had the same problem with my chessy. I just backed off for several months (actually new job, new baby, and moving was more of a reason but anyways)and tried again after some time. He got it the second time around after roughly 3 weeks of working. 10 min. or so a day, some were good and others were terrible. Then it was like a switch was flipped.

Buster would lay down with a bit of pressure, so I had to keep heeling him, sit then hold. I had to physically hold his jaws shut. When we were around the 10 min mark or he seemed to catch on to the concept for the day I would kennel him until the next day.

Just be patient and strict. It was a true pain in the begining. Nothing like wrestling a hot stinky 95# dog. I just worked on the ground. Had a rope strung head high and just attached his leash to it for a bit of extra control when I needed both hands, legs, and gut.=)