Gun Dog Forum

HELP!.........i shot a pheasant Saturday and sent scout to fetch it and well he found it and clamped down on it and would not let go. this was the first real bird had fetched. when he found it the bird was still flapping its wings when he got there. after the hunt when i cleaned the bird i found thats he had broke the skin and there were hole in the breast meat from his teeth!

what is the best way to fix this? he fetches fine and has a soft mouth on a Dokken Deadfowl trainer and his toys at home.

thanks,
tradhuntr

You just might be over reacting. He might have clamped down on the bird because it was flapping and in his mind it might get away.

If there is a problem you might want to tie some wings around your dummy and see how he reacts to the feathers. If he shakes it our chews on it you might have to consider the force fetch training.

Janet.

if i have to consider force fetch training what is the best meathed of training? i am new to all of this and have no clue how to force fetch.

I certainly would not fault him for clamping on a flapping bird. If you reach to take it and feel him tighten up, do not pull, just reach back to the flap of skin in front of his rear leg and lift up until he releases the bird, one hand on the skin, and one hand on the bird. I consider "hard mouth" when the bird is chewed up before he gets it back to you.

I want to say just relax. Give the dog a chance and by that I don't mean just one. I wouldn't even begin to make a decission till he has had a season of hunting if he only gets out on weekends.

Ezzy

could try playing fetch with a frozen bird to get him used to the feathers and all

many experienced dogs will kill a live bird,such as a pheasant or duck,and leave a few holes in it.They just get tired of being flapped
or pecked by the live bird.My old chessie got pecked hard by a live chucker,from then on,one hard crunch,and the bird was dead.
I would not consider it an issue unless the dog is ruining dead birds
that were dead before the dog arrived.

I have one who will bring a live bird back and release to hand, if you aren't ready it may fly, along with one that will make sure she finishes a bird off before bring it back to hand. Guess I need to shoot better......Bottom line the harder mouthed one and I are a better team in the field, she won't let dads shooting look as bad as it is...........

If the dog eats more of the bird than you do that is a problem. What you describe is a learning and experience issue. It was your dogs first bird in its mouth ?? and you were hunting??
Did I hear that right??

If so I would not worry about anything yet and don't get hard on the dog, if you do it may not retrieve any more for you. Take a step back and do a little more retrieving with a dummy and a check cord and demand the same thing each time you send the dog. Than throw in a few fresh killed birds and again on a check cord demanding the same thing each time as you did before.
After it learns the deal you will not have a problem. Just don't be in a hurry to grab that bird rub the pup down with that bird in its mouth then give your release command. And presto....retriever !!


Good luck

Griff Man

Being his first bird it could have been that he didn't want to
give it up, so maybe a bit of a fuss of the dog before asking
for the bird could help overcome this reluctance to release the bird.

I remember one of my GSP the first bunny she retrieved she
brought it up to me and then suddenly I could see in her eyes
she wanted it for herself, told her she was a good girl and once I got it off her made a big fuss of her about "her" rabbit and she was fine from then on.

I always push towards the dog, he/she will let it go without harm. If the dog ripps the bird and starts eating it then you have a problem.

I read somewhere(I think on this forum) if your dog won't let go of the bird, bumper stick, whatever to push said item into dogs mouth and it will let go. Did this with my dogs and it worked like a charm. Wouldn't be to concered if it was their first bird.

I think I read it on Wolters gun dog and It was to nick his or her nose with your index finger when they dont want to let go. It worked for me and after a couple times I incorporated the drop with the nick. Now all I have to do is say drop. He drops it and if he doesnt all I have to do is raise my finger and he will give it up right away.I almost forgot praise him a lot for bringing it to you and after he gives it to you. Dont take it out of his mouth right away.Hopes it works.