Innate behaviours : was retrieving
Within a breed there will be found often quite a wide variation in a particular trait. Even in breeds where retrieving is bred for this will happen and there is no doubt that as with other innate behaviours the ability to retrieve has to be selected for in a breeding programme. Malcolm Willis, in his book "the Bernese Mountain Dog Today", quotes Falt et al (1982) who suggested that tests undertaken on eight-week old German Shepherd puppies revealed that : Fetch (the ability to chase a ball and pick it up) was highly inherited at 73%, whereas the willingness to Retrieve (bring it back) was only 19% heritable. This indicates that it is easier to train a dog to chase than to bring back. At the end of the day when we train our dog we are modifying innate behaviours! Marion Brown Teversal Bernese Mountain Dogs South Africa Dogs Never Lie About Love (Jeffrey Masson)
retrieving
All of our Berners are also happy retrievers. Haley, at 11 1/2 will still retrieve enthusiastically. In her puppy temperament test, she retrieved the thrown object 5 times, and the evaluator stopped at that point. (Always bringing it back happily, not just investigating). Cassie, our 4 year old will play fetch with a tennis ball for as long as we allow. She has never willingly quit, and usually outlasts our Border Collie! It isn't a breed specific game! Some of ours has been cultivated, but Haley's was totally natural, and Cassie's retrieve drive is far beyond what has ever been taught. Kris Clark and Kris Osojnicki and the Bevy of mostly Berners Haley, Mara, Lexi, Cassie & Niko (& Pearle the Border Collie) Chalet & Tiki (both in loving memory) [EMAIL PROTECTED]
assorted retrieving tricks
a simple retrieve can be renamed - retrieve stuffed sheep or cow - this is 'herding'. a friend of mine's sheltie would retrieve 2 stuffed sheep & deposit them in a basket - 'the barn'. retrieve hidden toy - stuffed rat - this is the popular terrier game of 'hunt the rat'. teach the names of more than one toy & teach to retrieve one particular one. retrieve wad of paper to trash can - pick up the garbage or do the recycle. we used to have a toy pedal operated garbage can & a brussels griffon would retrieve a wad of paper & open the can & drop it in. retrieve a wallet that you drop as you walk the dog down the room - find the wallet (yep, you knew that old utility seek back would come in handy) and for the more laid back - how about go to sleep? dog does down stay on side, doesn't get up until you tell him it's morning. especially cute with a pillow & blanket. lisa baldwin (dickens, bark & zel) seattle, wa [EMAIL PROTECTED]
