Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Bird Dogs => Topic started by: erickson3t on November 10, 2018, 10:51:45 AM

Title: Pup wont let go of the birds
Post by: erickson3t on November 10, 2018, 10:51:45 AM: I have an 9 month old Brittany which I got maybe a month ago. He is awesome when it comes to kicking up birds.. not so much on the commands..(still working that piece) more specifically he wont let go of the bird once he has them. At home he knows drop.. but out in the field he could care less.. any help would be greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Pup wont let go of the birds
Post by: bornhunter on November 10, 2018, 11:07:16 AM: Roll his lip up under one of his canines and push so you are pinching the lip hard. Tell him to drop. Most dogs Inhad thia problem with caught on quick. They don't like that pinch.
Title: Re: Pup wont let go of the birds
Post by: PA BEN on November 11, 2018, 05:46:45 PM: Dig your thumb nail in his ear and say give, keep pitching it harder until he give up the bird.
Title: Re: Pup wont let go of the birds
Post by: tlbradford on November 11, 2018, 07:00:43 PM: Whatever you do don't pull on the bird. Hold it gently. With a britt you need to be twice as gentle. I use the lip against the tooth as well. Lots of praise when they let go.
Title: Re: Pup wont let go of the birds
Post by: wildweeds on November 11, 2018, 07:06:13 PM: Flip his ear up and blow in it, he will let go, if you grab him by his flank and lift he will let go as well. He's young and is being possesive, it will pass. Trade him something for the bird.Biscuit,hot dog.
Title: Re: Pup wont let go of the birds
Post by: T-Bone on November 12, 2018, 06:23:33 AM: All good solutions/tips; hopefully in play situations, "Tug Of War" is not one of the games played.
Title: Re: Pup wont let go of the birds
Post by: jagermiester on November 12, 2018, 08:49:31 AM: Is he biting down really hard and mutilating the bird? If not stay calm and see this as a total positive. This dog may be a great retriever for you. Once he gets the bird in his mouth he will not drop it which means you will get the bird. Just stay calm and work the process. I really like the blow in his ear trick, if that doesn't work resort to rolling his bottom gums over his teeth and applying pressure.
If he is biting down hard it may be that he is associating the bird as food and in turn he wants it. This is also a positive. It's the prey drive that you want to see in your dog coming out. Without it you don't have much of a dog.
Title: Re: Pup wont let go of the birds
Post by: erickson3t on November 12, 2018, 07:18:54 PM: Thanks for the tips. This is my first time training a dog. Definitely hit the jackpot with him kicking up birds without even introducing him to a wing.. the listening piece is definitely going at slower pace.
Title: Re: Pup wont let go of the birds
Post by: h2ofowlr on November 12, 2018, 07:35:16 PM: Pinch point and I make sure I saw release once my hand is on the bird. I don’t use the command drop. I only want my pup to release once my hand is on the bird.
Title: Re: Pup wont let go of the birds
Post by: wildweeds on November 13, 2018, 12:15:36 PM: Do yourself a BIG favor... don't shoot kicked up birds, he needs to point them. You'll save yourself a big headache down the road.