Have had nothing but English Springers and English Cockers from strong hunting lines. Five different Dogs, and not once have any of them refused to bring a Bird to hand they got their mouth on. And it was no small number. Perhaps it’s those specific breeds.
Seen one Springer that was force fetched. He fetches fine, but it is obvious he doesn’t trust the hands that did the the work.
Addition: We are fortunate our Dogs don’t insist we be force trained to never miss. Even if they happen to refuse on 1 Bird out of a hundred, so what, it’s a day hunting, not the National Retriever Championship.
Duffy, the best of the bunch retrieved a thousand at minimum, perhaps more. Not perhaps, definitely. Never a refusal, except at the end. At which time a stick didn’t meet his personal standards. Took awhile for him to teach me the rule.
Last edited by battue; 12/21/19.
