Dog problem - need suggestions

[French Spaniel]

I've had and trained dogs for many years but have a couple recent problems that I haven't dealt with before.

I have three pointing dogs. The first about 6 years old is a great all-round dog.

The second is problem child #1. He is great at finding and trailing birds. He is steay as a rock but when trailing a wounded bird he just points and no matter how many times I say fetch or dead bird he stays on a solid point. I know these birds are alive and kicking. The older dog has always jumped in and retrieved when he has hesitated. So I'm hunting him by himself to force him to retrieve.

Problem child #2. She is wonderful to watch and has the prettiest point you will ever want to see. She is just over a year old. She tracks well but when she gets to a bird she wants to chew on it. I'm afraid if I punish her too much she might shy or blink on pheasants.

I've had hunting dogs for over 25 years so I have some experience but would welcome some suggestions. Thanks

[greenman]

for hardmouth some suggest getting your dog to retrieve a scrub brush another method is to freeze a bird hard as a rock and let your dog fetch it. force fetch training would fix the problem with child #1 but if she is pointing the bird out for you this is not all that bad. was this dog spurred by a wounded rooster? that might put off a dog on retrieving a wounded bird.

[fisherdog19]

The frozen bird is a good idea that may work. Force breaking would be your best remedy, I force broke my Setter and she will pick up anything I tell her to and bring it right to me, soft mout too. Another method would be to buy a bird harness that has small spikes on it. Many dog training supply stored/magazines offer these as a tool to help soften mouths of heavy mouthed retrieving dogs. One company I know carries this product is Bill Boatmans, do a web search and you should find it, otherwise call the 1-800 directory (800-555-1212) and ask for their #. You can call them and request a catalog. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

Fisherdog

[French Spaniel]

Thanks Greenman,

I think part of the problem with the retrieve developed when the older dog did all the retrieving. I think his pointing instict is so strong it is hard to get him to break point. One time I was hunting all three dogs with some guys in a large, very tall section of CRP and we lost him. After looking for 10 minutes I gave him a little shock to see if I could hear him or get him back. I heard him about 100 yards back. He didn't come so I went back to get him. He was still on point on a hen pheasant. I think he was on point the whole time. He retrieves anything dead but points them if they are still alive.

I will try the frozen pheasant and or the brush. Thanks!

[French Spaniel]

Fisherdog 19,

Thanks to you as well. You must have been posting at the same time I was. These are dogs that work with great style and have real strong pointing insticts. So I would really like to finish them off well. Thanks again.