So ive been hunting with my dads 18 month old vizla, hes had her about a year now and has hunted with her only a few times. ive taken her out several times in the last few months and for her age and experience she does a great job, points birds, flushes when told, marks birds and retrieves she even chased down her first winged quail today (i know not a good thing to wing birds on my part but it happens)
any how I know shes young and still a puppy but when she gets to a downed bird she mouths it, not to the point of breaking bones but a few birds have had punctures from her teeth in their breasts and she really doesnt like to give up the birds. ive been praising her on a good retrieve and rewarding her with treats when she does a good job but for whatever reason she still mouths and wont voluntarily give up a bird. i have a shock collar that she wears when we are out but i mainly use it to keep her in check on not getting to far away but i dont really want to use that to deter the bird mouthing cause i dont want to risk her becoming scared of picking up birds.
what are some tips on how to remedy the mouthing problem and to get her to give up birds instead of me having to take them from her, or is this something that comes with more experience and age and we just need to work through it? this is my first time attempting to train a bird dog so im all ears
thanks
Uplander
