Hard on Birds

[JPowell]

Quick question on the softness of my dogs mouth. I have noticed that the birds are a little torn-up on the breasts when i clean them. I am guessing that the birds that are still partly alive are the ones that he grips the hardest. any Ideas as to how i can get him to have a little softer grip on the birds. he is force fetched and very obedient.

JP

[JDM]

How old is he? Use the bird and go back to "hold" to make sure he isn't crunching them. You may even want to buy a live bird and set it up in training.

Being that he was FF'd, it should come back for him rather quickly. I have also, as you suggested, witnessed dogs clamp down a little harder on the birds that had life left in them.

[duckbuster]

This may sound like it would go against the grain but it works.

Tell the dog to fetch, when he has it in his mouth try shoving the bird down his throat as far as possible. While doing this telling him hold, hold. You are not doing this gently I might add. Forcefully shove it down his throat to the point the dog is gagging.

Do this a few times and it generally takes care of the problem.

GOOD LUCK!!!

[JDM]

That is also a good suggestion and it works.