Hard mouth, or tearing birds when retrieving them?

[Benny]

Well it seems Mandy has been tearing the birds up or mabe hard mouthing them.

We cleaned a couple birds to day thay I know Mandy retrieved for us, they were tore and had puncture marks form her teeth.

How can I break her of this, I never play tug or war with her but that's not to say my daughter or her friends have not done it.

I saw her try to do it today with a rooster she brought back to one of the other guys.
But he didn't give her the "give" command either, just tried to take the bird.

I use "give" to get her to release to hand.

Benny

[JD]

"I Heard" that if a dog is doing this you can take barb wire and wrap it around a dead bird and have him/her retrieve the bird a few times and this can break the dog of biting hard on the bird.

[vickieschessies]

You can also take a block of wood put some nails in it (Not more than an inch of the end coming through) wrap some cotton string around it then tie bird wings on it. This way when they bite down they get a little poke and will learn to carry without chewing on the bird.

[Benny]

I figured the cure would be harsh, will this make her not pick up any birds though?

Also, today while tossing the plastic dummy for her I watched her to see if she was chewing or clamping down hard.
She seemed to have it barley in her mouth, and it was loose when I took hold of it right before the "give" command.

Now I have seen here take two almost like bites when first picking up the bird.
Like she is trying to get it further in her mouth.

Also some times she will wipe the dummby around by the rope if she gets it in her mouth.
Kind of funny to see this as the dummy smacks her hard in the sides so she wipe it harder still.
Then will put her paws on it and try to turn it side ways.

Thanks,Benny

[JD]

no, if she has the drive in her and she wants to make you proud she will still pick up the bird.

[Bufflehead]

 Some of the #1 things that lead to hard mouth are...playing tug-a-war with them as a pup and not slapping them on the nose when they bite down on you with their sharp puppy teeth or when playing with them.

 They need to know right from the start, those teeth hurt and don't bite me with them, don't play rough.

 Did you do any of these things with your dog as a puppy?

[Benny]

Nope, I never ever play tug of war and she got scolded real bad when she nipped as a pup.

Now I can't say that my daughter hasn't played tug of war with her though.

I have told Melissa many times not to but you know kids.

I will try the wood block with some nails when I get back from SD, and I will try to catch her clamping down in the field this weekend to.

Thanks,Benny