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The boy and I headed out after school today to shoot a few birds. It was the first hunt for the new pup too. He did very well, but when it came time to retrieve he chomped on the birds all the way back to me. Any good suggestions for dealing with a bird chomper? I've never had one that was quite this rough with the birds!

My Grandfathers method was to use a canvas retreving dummy and attach a couple strands of barbwire and then cover them with pheasant wings. He would make sure the points of the barbwire attached in a way where they didn't stick straight up. His dogs learned fast not to have a hard mouth.


ddj

By the way, congrats on your opener with your son.


ddj

I've heard that one too. Trouble is that he is gentle with the bumper, put real flesh in his mouth and he gets rough. I'm thinking maybe frozen birds for a while, but I don't know. Never had a dog that got this hard mouthed with birds.

Did you put wings on the bumper or canvas dummy?


ddj

The birds look like grouse of some type.

Some birds are hard for a pup to pick up because of size and feathers slipping, etc.

If the birds were shot hard and had exposed flesh they can get tasty for a dog.

Frozen birds may help. I always used live clipped pigeons for training labs.

Don't be too hard on the pup; because he is retrieving. You don't want to discourage him. As you said, "He did very well, but when it came time to retrieve he chomped on the birds all the way back to me."

BTW, you are a very lucky man!

I have a cage full of live pigeons but I'm hesitant to let him retrieve them for fear he'll kill them all right off the bat. My tame method of force fetch has not worked as well with this dog as it has with the others I've owned. I'm thinking that it might be a good idea to send him off for force fetch.

The birds are a mix of Hungarian Partridge and Sharptail Grouse. Thanks, I like to think I'm pretty lucky too!

Good Idea on the force fetch.


ddj

Looks like a good day!

Try force fetch training as suggested. I used a combo of treats and shock cord to help break my dog of chewing on birds. He will sometimes still do it and I correct him.

Your dog looks pretty young sure can still correct him of this.

Great pic, congrats on your opener!!

Working on fetching a very stiff bristled brush can't hurt, but I believe in force fetch. I'd rather do it than watch it done however. But really, a toe loop isn't that bad if done right, but in the field, there's nothing as handy as a little ear pinch for a reminder.

Very cool!

Dober

Any deer left in your part of the world? (pm if you wish)

FF. That is what it's for, among other things. You mentioned your "tame" version of it... All I have to say on the issue is this, if you train how the dog "wants" to train you'll only ever get so far. Think about elementary school, penmanship being a good example, all that repetition, cursive etc, and then recess. Yes, keep it positive, but pressure and attrition are both valuable tools. You/ they don't have to enjoy every step on the road, as long as it's a happy journey. Sharp looking pup! I'm enjoying my latest pup's first season too.

I second the try with a stiff bristled brush. Anything that they can easily carry lightly, but is uncomfortable to chomp on.

That's all well and good, and will certainly keep them from chomping on a bristle brush, but a warm juicy bird is still gonna get chewed up a bit. You don't want to use a shot bird and correct him when he does it, because you may end up discouraging him picking it up at all. an actual honest to god FF is gonna fix this. And give you tools to handle other problems that may or may not crop up. Additionally, it will give the dog a good understanding of pressure and how to work through it, regardless of it's source, cold water thick thorny brush etc. He will know that making the retrieve correctly and quickly will get him through, and relief from all those pressures. Do him a favor. FF him.

Some good ideas on helping a dog improve the retrieving.

Sometimes it just isn't worth the effort. I was given a 3 yr old GPW that was very hard headed. The first owner couldn't keep her in his back yard. He had enough and was going to drop her off at the pound. I heard about the dog and met the owner. While talking to him I discovered she also chewed on the birds while retrieving. His solution was to shock her! I was amazed shes retrieves at all with treatment like that!

She is 9 now and has been a fantastic pointer and retriever. She still chomps on the quail some during the retrieve. I live with it. When I clean the birds I cannot see any damage to the breasts so I don't bother trying to solve this issue as she has so many others. She will still jump our fence and is starved for affection, quite a handful. At least if she jumps she comes back in 1/2 hr or so. We try not to leave her outside unattended. Someday she will be too old to get over the fence. I am just glad she can earn her keep when we go hunting. Funny thing she never wanders away from me in the field.