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Force-Free Gundog/Clicker Retrieve
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  • £110

Clicker Retrieve

The clicker retrieve is an essential process for every dog: It's the force-free equivalent to force-fetch! Does your dog play keep-away? Does she drop on the ground instead of delivering to hand? Is she reluctant to pick up? The answer is always the clicker retrieve.
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The retrieve is a chain

The retrieve is a chain of behaviours. The sit. The wait. The go-out. The pick-up. The return. The delivery. At any point, things can go wrong. The clicker retrieve trains each piece of this chain separately before putting it together.

What does the course include?

  • 7 week course (take a look at the table of contents below for details)
  • A comprehensive programme - from zero retrieve to retrieving a wide variety of items
  • Unlimited training help via a Facebook group
  • Detailed video demos of all exercises using a variety of dogs
  • Presentations on key subjects
  • Illustrations of all exercises
  • Unlimited help via on-site messaging

Contents

Week 1: Useful information before you get started

What equipment do you need for this course? Where should you hold your clicker retrieve sessions? How do you set the room up? What is 'shaping'? And much more!
How to get help on this course
Preview
Using food as a motivator
WEEK 1.1 Introduction and background
WEEK 1.2 Preventing problems and the 'Drop' behaviour
VIDEO: How to take things from a puppy: For little puppies, pre-clicker retrieve
VIDEO: The Two-Fer Game: For little puppies, pre-clicker retrieve
WEEK 1.3 Training locations and equipment
WEEK 1.4 Homework

Week 2: Looking at and/or heading towards the retrieve item (Phase 1)

It's really important that you cover this step with your dog even if you think they can offer you more than this. And even if they are ultra-keen to get the dummy.

Why? Firstly, we need to ensure the dog can 'break off' at the click - and this is where we establish that key component. This is so important for preventing and fixing keep-away issues.

Secondly, the wise person built their house upon a rock! Let's ensure our foundations for the future are solid.
WEEK 2.1 How to begin a clicker retrieve session
WEEK 2.2 How to end a clicker retrieve session
WEEK 2.3 Looking at and/or approaching the retrieve item (PHASE 1)
Example 1 - Me with Grey
Example 2 - Leslie with Luke
Example 3 - Belinda with Harry
Example 4 - Annabelle with Nel
Example 5 - Sam with Lexi
WEEK 2.4 Homework

Week 3: At least a touch (Phase 2) and pick-ups (Phase 3)

WEEK 3.1 At least a touch (PHASE 2)
Example 1 - Karen with Jasper
Example 2 - Carol with George
Example 3 - Alinda with Cora
Example 4 - Mary with Trilli
Example 5 - Amanda with Blossom
WEEK 3.2 Pick-ups (PHASE 3)
Example 1 - Me with Grey
Example 2 - Me with Fire
Example 3 - Leslie with Luke
Example 4 - Annabelle with Nel
Example 5 - Sam with Lexi
Example 6 - Karen with Jasper
WEEK 3.3 Homework

Week 4: Continuing pick-ups (Phase 3) and hand target (Phase 4)

WEEK 4.1 Pick-ups (continued)
Example 1 - Me with Fire
Example 2 - Me with Slate
Example 3 - Mary with Trilli
Example 4 - Annabelle with Nel
WEEK 4.2 Hand target (PHASE 4)
Example 1 - Me with Grey
Example 2 - Charlotte
Example 3 - Karen with Jasper
Example 4 - Carol with George
Example 5 - Me with Moye
Example 6 - Vicki with Matilda
WEEK 4.3 - Homework

Week 5: Slight distance and a mini hold (Phase 5), proofing the hold against food (Phase 6) and duration on hand targets (Phase 4 cont.)

WEEK 5.1 Introducing slight distance and a mini-hold (PHASE 5)
Example 1 - Leslie with Luke
Example 2 - Åke with Rallison
Example 3 - Sam with Lexi
Example 4 - Annabelle with Nel
Example 5 - Belinda with Harry
Example 6 - Philippa with Doug
WEEK 5.2 Proofing the hold against food (PHASE 6)
Example 1 - Me with Slate
Example 2 - Me with Grey
Example 3 - Åke with Rallison
Example 4 - Philippa with Doug
Example 5 - Åke with Rallison
1) Water deliveries - the first use for proofing the hold against food
2) Preventing mouthing - the second use for proofing the hold against food
WEEK 5.3 Duration on the hand target (PHASE 4 continued)
Example 1 - Me with Moye and Grey
Example 2 - Me with Ren
WEEK 5.4 Homework

Week 6: Putting the pick-up and hand target together (Phase 7)

WEEK 6.1 Putting the pick-up and hand target together
Example 1 - Carol with George
Example 2 - Leslie with Luke
Example 3 - Ann-Marie with Darcey
WEEK 6.2 Continue your other exercises
VIDEO: Hold until the click. Drop at the click.
VIDEO: Revising water deliveries
WEEK 6.3 Homework

Week 7: The finishing touches (Phase 8)

WEEK 7.1 The finishing touches
Example 1 - Me with Slate
Example 2 - Åke with Rallison
Example 3 - Tess with Luna
WEEK 7.2 - Transitioning to Game
Example 1 - Me with Ren (and ducks)
Example 2 - Me with Moye (and ducks)
WEEK 7.3 A short coda!
WEEK 7.4 Deliveries

FAQ

Can you unlock future weeks of the course, early?

The courses have been carefully designed to provide you with the right amount of information each week.

Too much information at once can be overwhelming, leading to you skipping material and picking and choosing which bits to watch. (Splitting applies to humans and not just dogs!) You will not get best results, if you approach the course in this way.

Moreover - the exercises need to be practised for at least a week before moving on. (Frequently it will require longer - it depends on the dog's progress.) The number of reps you get in, at each stage of the course, is important for future success.

Even if you are 'only' having difficulties with a later stage of training, the origins of that problem frequently can be found in shaky foundations. For this reason, you will rarely get best results by skipping ahead to where you believe the issues lies. You should first consolidate each previous stage for the requisite time - and ensure you build on solid basics.

Lastly, I care about course content, about how the courses are delivered and about doing the best job I can with what I'm teaching you. I take pride in delivering material in the way that I think is optimal for your learning. 

For all these reasons, I am extremely reluctant to unlock course content early. But, if you feel you have an exceptional circumstance, please get in touch.

I don't want to work my dog, is this course still suitable?

Whatever the reason you'd like your dog to retrieve, this is the course for you. If you only want your dog to retrieve dummies, no problem. If you want to compete in other dog sports and need to retrieve a dumbbell or other articles, it's for you too. If you want to train your dog as a service dog and need her to retrieve other items, this method is for you as well! 

Can I take this course with a puppy?

Yes, but I recommend you wait until your puppy is 5-6 months old and has finished teething before you begin. Until then, you might want to check out the Reliable Recall course and the Heel! course.

What equipment do I need for this course?

We cover the equipment which is needed in detail on the first week of the course, so full info can be found there. In brief:
  • 1lb green canvas dummies (x2)
  • Regular sized white plastic/rubber style dummies (x6)
  • Any fur/feather/Dokken dummies you want to generalise your retrieve to
  • Pieces of household 'junk' (to be explained!)
  • Your dog's regular meals to train with
  • Clicker
It is more than possible to follow the course without this number of dummies, but since you will soon need this number (when you move onto marks), I do recommend you purchase them at this point.

What happens after the course? Is there a time limit on the course or will I continue to have access?

You have ongoing access to the course. There is no time limit. You can decide to work through the material more slowly, if you'd like.

What if I have some questions whilst taking the course?

Included in every course is unlimited help via on-site messaging with me. Just click on the speech bubble icon in the bottom right of the screen. Easy!

On this course you also have included access to a Facebook group where you can post your training videos for unlimited help and feedback from me.

What types of gundog is this course for?

All types of gundog! Truth be told, any breed of dog can take this course - your dog doesn't even need to be a gundog. Any dog can be trained to retrieve.

Can you guarantee a reliable retrieve by the end of the course?

There are many variables in dog training and a lot of them are outside my control. (For example, your own level of motivation, availability of your time to train and your ability to follow instructions!)

There are also many factors which influence how long it takes for any particular dog to achieve a reliable retrieve. For example, a dog's prior learning history, her food motivation and her experience of training.

So it is not possible to guarantee that you will have a reliable retrieve by the end of the course. Many people do, however!

After 7 weeks, you will be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skill to be able to achieve a reliable retrieve with your dog, in the future. It is an achievable goal for your dog! 

And you will have ongoing access to the Facebook group to receive my help on your quest!

What if I decide the course isn't right for me, after purchasing it?

No problem! Just contact me within 30 days after purchase and I will give you a full refund.

Hi, I'm Jo

I'm a gundog trainer who uses force-free training methods and I've created Force-Free Gundog to help you train your dog
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