Clicker Retrieve
From Deb Jones
with modifications for using a tennis ball in preparation for flyball.

TRAINING STEPS:

I. With tennis ball in your hand, close to you

1. Look at ball
2. Move towards ball
3. Sniff ball
4. Touch w/nose
5. Touch with mouth/teeth
6. Put mouth over ball
7. Close mouth over ball
8. Hold in closed mouth
9. Increase hold duration

II. With ball placed on floor within 3 ft. of you

10. Look at ball
11. Move towards ball
12. Sniff the ball
13. Touch w/ nose
14. Touch w/mouth/teeth
15. Put mouth over ball
16. Close mouth over ball
17. Pick up off of floor
18. Increase vertical distance off floor
19. Turn towards trainer w/ball in mouth
20. Move one step towards trainer
21. Increase number of steps towards trainer
22. Bring ball to trainer

III. Adding distance

23. Place ball four feet away. CT for pick-up
24. CT later & later on return
25. CT when dog reaches handler
26. Keep increasing the distance that the ball is placed away from the handler
27. Yo-yo distances
28. Place ball on a raised surface - like a chair seat, ottomon or overturned laundry basket.
29. Repeat steps 23 through 27 with the ball on a raised surface.

IV. Adding requirements

Retrieve over jump
Proof for send anticipation (stimulus control)
Proof for distractions

Solutions for common problems:

Playing with the object, including keep away: 2 treats/toys, trade, on leash work. Shorter, calmer retrieves. Place object rather than throw it.

Mouthing: size & type of retrieve object. Position of head.

Anticipation: NEVER CORRECT, just don’t reinforce. Reinforce the stay instead.