Dog Training Tip #2

[Raymond]

Hold is a conditioned command taught to make sure the dog understands he is supposed to hold the bumper,dowel,duck, until you ask him to release said object. Dogs that are taught hold will be less likely to mouth or chomp objects that are retrieved (a more popular definition is Hard Mouth). Only after your dog will walk at heel with a bumper or dowel in his mouth are they ready for force fetch. Hold will give them the tools to complete force fetch by holding onto the bumper after the command Fetch. It can be a slow process but IMO it is your foundation for the training that follows.