Hey Pup, Fetch It Up!: The Complete Retriever Training Book [Hardcover]

Bill Tarrant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1993

This Tarrant classic contains a complete, humane training plan for both hunters and field-trialers.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bill Tarrant has helped thousands of hunters train their dogs with his books.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Stackpole Books (June 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811707997
• ISBN-13: 978-0811707992
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #571,551 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful read - one of the better training manuals ..., August 12, 2001

By 

Yeoh Siok Kee (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hey Pup, Fetch It Up!: The Complete Retriever Training Book (Hardcover)

The book is hardcover, good binding, average quality paper, standard font size but the good layout making for easy reading. A substantial book, with 500 pages.

First published in 1979, Bill Tarrant was well ahead of his time; he's been using praise & reward training methods long before the expression "operant" became vogue.

Primarily directed to training retrievers, Tarrant's method & style is so honest - almost anyone wishing to train any breed will find the book useful and enlightening ... If there is one consistent message that comes through Tarrant's book, it is - NEVER HURT THE DOG!

Perhaps what makes this different from many others - is it becomes patently obvious even after a few pages that Tarrant is not teaching anything he has not tested & tried, he is himself unafraid watch, learn and try different methods.

Consisting of 20 chapters, the author takes the reader from how to choose a pup to training the first fetch, from how to transport a dog to emergency first aid, from housetraining a puppy to teaching the dog to force fetch. When & how to introduce a dog to water? ... How to train for a soft mouth? ... Gun-shyness, what to do? ... Tarrant deals with all and more ...

The book lays out training methods & schedules and offers potential solutions to difficulties & problems that may be encountered. Tarrant has developed his own training methods and procedure - some of which are rather novel. For example, he advocates using puppies to teach each other the beginnings of how to `stay' and to give to the lead.

Each topic is explained in-depth; each stage of training dealt with in detail.

Written with wonderful humour, the book is filled with anecdotes and stories collected from a lifetime of training & living with dogs, the book is both entertaining and educational. More than just a training manual, the book teaches us how to better appreciate our dogs, respect the individual spirit within each animal and have better understanding of our canine friend.

A wonderful read.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hey Pup - One of the best for amature trainers, December 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hey Pup, Fetch It Up!: The Complete Retriever Training Book (Hardcover)

Fetch it up goes one step further than other training books, in that it addresses the next steps when your dog does not respond to the initial instruction. Covers all aspects and needs for training a hunting retriever.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Non-Force training method, November 30, 1999

By 

David Engel (Stanwood, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hey Pup, Fetch It Up!: The Complete Retriever Training Book (Hardcover)

Bill's technique of no force shed a new light to my ideas on how dogs should be trained. I was on my way to training my newest retriever just liked I'd trained many dogs before. Bill's book shed a new light on things. I tried it and it works! I recommend to anyone, give it a try before you knock his technique!