Heavy mouthe d lab

Clarity · 11-05-2002, 10:08 PM

Anybody got some dog training advice for me? I have a 1 1/2 year old lab that I have trained myself (my first). He did well last season but suddenly this season he is really chewing the birds. I've heard of wrapping his dummy in barbed wire and wings, is there a better way?

1pump · 11-05-2002, 11:49 PM

I was lucky. My dog never did that.
A similar trick is to use chicken wire wrapped around a dead bird with some of the ends bent up to form little barbs. I also heard a really stiff, hard bristled brush used as a dummy might work. One thing I did-- I never, I mean never, allowed my dog to chew on a training dummy. I used the hard plastic ones with the little knobs, which might have stopped her from chewing. She tried a couple times, but an arse-kicking quickly resulted.
I'm no expert, but I hope this helps. :smile:

MarlinMark · 11-06-2002, 05:10 AM

Is your dog stopping to chew birds or doing it on the way in??

Mark

skein · 11-06-2002, 07:14 AM

I'm not much into barbed wire or wire brushes, either of which may actually hurt the dog. Try taking a couple of wings off your next bird and attaching them to a stiff-bristled brush. Early on, I used two small brushes back-to-back so there was never anyplace my pup could grab that didn't have something poking her. You can also find those round brushes that have bristles sticking out in every direction, but most of them have little cushion beads on the ends that negate the poking effect. Get one stiff enough to be uncomfortable but not dangerous to your dog. Admittedly, my pup was very young and impressionable, but she sure is soft-mouthed now. I'm not sure about one that's had a successful season but suddenly picked up a bad habit.

Good luck.

Skein

Clarity · 11-06-2002, 06:28 PM

He's stopping to chew on the way in.

Chukrchaser · 11-07-2002, 06:48 AM

Hard mouthed dogs are often caused by an injured bird that slapped him in the face with a wing -- so he makes sure it is dead -- but those are the dogs that give it one good chomp on the way back -- this sounds like a different problem -- has he been allowed to play with a toy that you or the family throw for him?

There are harnesses that you can get for pigeons that have studs on them -- or the barbed wire thing -- but that often leads to refusal to retrieve altogether.

Best bet is to take him back to school in the back yard and then the field (park,or?) and start his training from scratch -- if he is not allowed to stop on his retrieve he will not have opportunity --- the other option is to force break him -- and that should be done by a pro--

RogueFishr · 11-07-2002, 07:29 AM

I don't know if this will help now or not, but when my lab was a pup, I made something for him to play fetch with that discouraged chewing or biting hard. I took 2 pieces of cardboard and put them together. Then I put the small, push-pin tacks in both sides of it. They barely protruded out of the other sides of the cardboard. I put this inside a sock and tied off both ends. he could play all day with this and would never notice anything unless he bit down hard. Even then it would not poke thru enough to hurt him, but it would get his attention. He does real well on birds now..... well..... except for being lazy, but thats another problem

RF

Flying Roast Beef · 11-07-2002, 08:01 AM

Do you ever keep birds just for working the dog? If so freeze one. I have been told that works too.

Flying Roast Beef · 11-07-2002, 01:49 PM

Interesting point on force fetching. Didn't think of that. I saw that being done while on a trip to S. Dakota last year. Looks cruel as hell but I can understand why it is necessary.

Boedy · 11-07-2002, 02:59 PM

I have a field trial bred Chocolate lab that has been force fetched and is still a little rough on the birds and bumpers. Force fetching helps but some dogs are just a little more high strung then others, and I don�t think force fetching is really meant to teach them to be soft mouth as much as it is to teach them to hold the bird until you take it. He doesn�t chew the bird up or anything like that just likes to make sure he has a real good grip on it if you know what I mean. I will put a call into my trainer and see what he says about it and if he has any drills to help the problem. This is my dogs first hunting year so I am not really getting on him to much for it but will address it after the season for sure.

Flying Roast Beef · 11-07-2002, 03:09 PM

Boedy, I'm curious, who is your trainer? I know a few.

Labsforme · 11-07-2002, 11:09 PM

Is the dog force-fetched?If not this a good start to helping your problem.Sometimes it is too much excitement with a young dog and will get better with more birds under their belt.Still,all dogs that hunt should be FF.Also being in a training group with a club is good too because of the wealth of knowledge of the members,or just let Tilla have it for a week.

Clarity · 11-08-2002, 03:40 AM

Thanks for your help, guys. I think I'll take away his soft dummys and try the bristle brush first. I guess class is in session again for him.

Tilla · 11-08-2002, 05:24 PM

I know where you can get private dog training lessons, $20/per session. You learn how to train, force, handle whatever.E-mail me for info.

tag-a-long · 11-08-2002, 08:16 PM

Boedy, we need to get our dogs together sometime and talk a bit. I have lots to learn. You live in Mehama, right? I think I saw your place. Hard to miss the plate on the dually!!!!! :grin:

Boedy · 11-08-2002, 08:32 PM

No Dually here :smile: must be one of the many Boedigheimer's up here in the canyon. Anytime you want to get the dogs together let me know. Taking mine out duck hunting in the morning wish me luck.

tag-a-long · 11-08-2002, 08:35 PM

Good Luck!!!! Must have been someone else... Plate said BO-DE... There was a drift boat in the side yard...

Boedy · 11-08-2002, 11:07 PM

Utopia Retriver kennel in Monroe

Labsforme · 11-08-2002, 11:55 PM

Jerry's an excellent trainer.I saw Willie run several times.

tag-a-long · 11-09-2002, 09:35 AM

You might also look into the "dead Fowl" trainers. They have a closed cell foam body that is eally tough as nails. The heads and feet are some sort of hard nylon of plastic. the head is on a rope and it will smack the dog along side the head if he/she tries to shake it up, and the body doesn't give them much to chew on.

Tilla · 11-09-2002, 06:03 PM

A properly force- fetched dog will fetch anything it is told to, in the middle (balance), without munching, mouthing or dropping. Until ordered to drop (In your hand). End of lesson.
That's why they call it force fetching.

In the end everyone ,including the dog is happy.
There are many ways this can be accomplished. This will take 3-6 weeks. You have to commit to the training or find a pro. Either way it can be very rewarding if you are serious about hunting with a retriever.

MarlinMark · 11-10-2002, 03:02 AM

If your dog is stopping to chew then you are not so bad off. He picks up the bird (right instinct) starts running back in (another good move) stops to chew--Bad idea. Use a frozen real bird. Put a long (30 ft.) nylon lead on him. Throw the bird. Once he picks it up call him in, or whistle, whichever is his training. Stay on it all the way in. Then get your bird. If he stops to chew, then you start really reeling him in and calling him excitedly to finish the retrieve. Drag him in if you have to. Repeat until he remembers that stopping is not an option. Once he has been "taught" this drill with the lead you can introduce the electronic collar, if you have one. E- collars are the ultimate long leash/lead. :smile:

Try this and then email me if that doesn't fix the problem. There are lots more little tricks to convince him that stopping to make sure the bird is dead or get a little blood in his mouth, is a bad idea.

Mark

Willie · 11-13-2002, 02:37 PM

I've got to agree with MarlinMark. Had a lab when I was younger with your situation. Used the method he described and broke him very quickly. Like he said he's 2/3 of the way there.

I'm not a big fan of the pain treatments. I have seen dogs that get to where they don't want to retrieve because they associate picking up a bird with pain.