Preventing and Correcting Victory Laps: How to Ensure Your Pup Brings the Retrieve Straight Back

How to Stop My Dog From Playing Keep Away

Imagine this: You send your dog on a retrieve, and it bolts out enthusiastically, grabs the bumper perfectly, and starts heading back. But then—just as you're feeling proud—your pup looks at you, then turns away, or worse, starts doing a victory lap around the yard.

Frustrating, right?

So, what do you do when this happens? Better yet, how do you prevent it from happening in the first place?

In this post, we will look at how to stop this common behavior during training. We will also discuss what to do if your dog has already formed this habit.

Prevention Is Key

Prevention is always better than having to correct a behavior later. The groundwork for a solid retrieve starts as soon as you bring your puppy home. Teaching the right habits early on makes all future training sessions smoother.

Here are some crucial tips to prevent your dog from running away or taking victory laps:

1. Don’t Overdo It with Retrieves

It might surprise you, but early on, less is more when it comes to retrieving. If you have a well-bred dog, the desire to retrieve is already there. Your job is to awaken that desire without overdoing it.

Most people make the mistake of over-retrieving. To avoid problems down the road, focus on what your puppy needs most in the beginning: socialization and obedience. When it comes to retrieving, leave your pup wanting more.

If things go well, limit your young pup to just 2-3 retrieves every other day. If you notice your pup getting bored, you’ve done too many. Scale back and let that desire build up again.

If retrieving doesn’t go well, don’t push it. Take a break for a week or two and focus on other training.

2. Use a Hallway or Natural Channel for Retrieves

One of the simplest ways to prevent your dog from running off is to use a hallway or a narrow space for retrieves. This setup gives your dog no option but to return to you. At Cornerstone Gundog Academy (CGA), we emphasize setting your dog up for success. A controlled environment like a hallway does just that.

The only downside to this method is that your pup might decide to sit at the end of the hallway and chew on the bumper. If that happens, don’t stress. Simply go and get your pup, and take a break from retrieving for a week or two before trying again.

Correcting the Problem: The Cure

If your dog is already in the habit of taking victory laps or not coming straight back, don’t worry—there are ways to correct this behavior. Here’s how:

1. Create an Outdoor Hallway

Set up a controlled environment outdoors, similar to the hallway method. Use garden posts and plastic chicken wire to build a 20-25' lane. The end you’re standing at should be open, but the other three sides should be closed off.

This setup limits your dog’s options and encourages a straight return.

2. Use a Check Cord

A check cord is an invaluable tool for reinforcing good behavior. If your dog grabs the bumper but doesn’t come back, a gentle tug on the check cord will guide them back to you.

However, it’s important to use the check cord correctly. Your dog should be preconditioned to the check cord so that it doesn’t create bad habits. We cover this in-depth in our Complete Retriever program.

3. Condition Your Dog to Return Every Time

Once your lane is set up and your dog is used to the check cord, it’s all about conditioning. Repetition is key. The more you practice, the more ingrained the behavior becomes. Train your dog to return straight back to you every single time, so it becomes second nature—even when hunting.

Remember, this repetition happens over time. Continue to keep retrieving sessions short and leave your dog wanting more.

4. Transition to a Natural Lane

After consistent success in your man-made lane, start transitioning to a natural lane—like a path through tall grass. Begin with the check cord and gradually reduce its use as your dog consistently returns.

5. Move to an Open Field

Finally, progress to more open areas. Again, start with the check cord, and continue reinforcing the behavior. Over time, your dog will forget about running off and will instinctively return straight back every time.

If your dog regresses at any point—perhaps due to introducing something new—don’t worry. Take a step back, reinforce the training, and remind your dog what’s expected. Then, keep moving forward.

Patience and Persistence Lead to Success

Training a great retriever is a process that requires time, patience, and consistency. With the right approach, you can enjoy the satisfaction of watching your dog bring the bird back beautifully every time.

Stay committed, and you’ll experience that amazing feeling of accomplishment when your dog completes a challenging retrieve in the field.

BuildFromHere,

Joshua Parvin

P.S. For more in-depth guidance and a step-by-step plan, check out our Complete Retriever Program, where I walk you through the retriever training process with my energetic dog, Violet.