| To train the dog to "take, hold and give" an article, | | | | Praise him and pet him while he holds the article, |
| prepare first of all a number of tasty treats. These | | | | saying "good hold" as he holds it in his mouth. Then, |
| treats should be something he finds extremely good, | | | | ask him to "give" and take the article back out from |
| such as small chunks of cheddar cheese or nuked hot | | | | his mouth. If necessary, pinch behind the incisors |
| dogs, something that is a "special" treat that he | | | | again, this forces him to open his mouth. Pet him, |
| doesn't often get. Next, have a number of articles | | | | give him a treat for a job well done and do this |
| ready that you will use for the dog to hold in his | | | | whole sequence again. |
| mouth. Depending on the dog, your choice of articles | | | | This exercise should be repeated at least 5-15 times |
| is important. If your dog loves "stuffies" then use | | | | the first day and every day thereafter or at least |
| bumper toys for the articles, these are soft and large | | | | until you have done this at least 10-15 times on |
| and easy for him to hold onto and will be something | | | | separate occasions. Once the dog will definitely "take" |
| he naturally wants to hold. If you dog is a tennis ball | | | | the item from your hand, then place the article on |
| freak, then get ready a number of rubber balls. | | | | the floor or elsewhere and instruct him to "take" and |
| Caution: do not use tennis balls if he is truly a tennis | | | | then to "hold". The main idea is to continue to do this |
| ball freak and won't want to give them up. Basically | | | | little training exercise frequently until you can say for |
| try to pick an article that the dog will WANT to carry | | | | certain that 90 per cent of the time your dog will |
| in his mouth. | | | | eagerly take an article into his mouth, hold it for a |
| Sit down with the dog in front of you and put him on | | | | minute or so and then give it up to you. When he |
| a sit/stay. Put one of the items into his mouth as | | | | begins to hold the item for a minute or so, you can |
| you say "take". If it is already an item that the dog | | | | stop holding his muzzle at all. And of course, when he |
| will want to carry, this makes this task much easier. | | | | begins to release the article to you on command, you |
| If he doesn't want to open his mouth and take the | | | | will no longer need to pinch his mouth to make him |
| article, then encourage him to take the article into his | | | | give it up to you. Be patient. This is not something |
| mouth by "teasing" him with it. You can also have a | | | | that can be taught over night and you may need to |
| pre treated article that has a food smell impregnated | | | | refresh the dog on this exercise every so often |
| into the article, by rubbing it with the flavor first. You | | | | after he has learned it. As he learns the "hold" be |
| can, if necessary, open his mouth by pinching behind | | | | sure to gradually stretch out the length of the hold |
| the incisors and physically put the article into his | | | | over a longer period of time. Later on, this command |
| mouth, although this is seldom necessary. Once the | | | | will be very necessary if you want him to travel any |
| article is in his mouth, gently hold his muzzle shut for | | | | distance while he is holding the article. |
| a period of three to five seconds, telling him "hold". | | | | |