Mouthing on retrieve suggestions please

[james milnes]

Bit of an odd one...
My 30month old GSP will sit and hold anything I put in her mouth from a dummy to a bird even have her sat in the kitchen with my forearm in her mouth and all is great.. however when I send her for a retrieve she starts mouthing the dummies.
I've tried everything I can think of as I think it's an excitement issue so tried to sicken her of it by doing 400 yard memories and blinds one after the other but this doesn't seem to work as she's still doing it.
Tried turning away on her return to she if it's eye contact stressing her out that's not worked either.
She's a gentle nature dog so can't go ott with her in case I create a clamping down issue.
Does anyone have any experience of similar or any ideas to try as I'm at my wits end and I don't want to write her off..
Much appreciated
J.

[trekmoor]

This can be caused by anxiety on the dog's part. If the bitch is doing "fancy " deliveries .....sit to deliver for example then stop doing that.

Even the "hold" that you have taught her could cause her to feel a bit anxious, if you think that might be a cause of any anxiety then stop doing that .....try to relax yourself as she returns.

You could try getting a quick fire delivery system going using half a dozen dummies tossed close to each other on easy ground . Do not get irate if she swaps dummies if you try this . Just move away from the bitch calling her and praising her as you go .....try to make retrieving more of a fun thing.....more of a game.

Wullie

[james milnes]

Thanks Wullie your helps much appreciated.
I've tried a dummy pile but I'm up for trying it again definitely, I do do the sit for delivery so I'll stop that for now and see if she improves, she's mad keen to fetch any I send her for and is flat out on the cast hence me thinking excitement causing it.
I'm going to try to walk on as she returns and just keep going till she settles at heel and see if that has any effect also.
Again many thanks for the input
Regards
J

[CockerCanuck]

Will she walk at heel carrying a dummy? I have had good luck with this with dogs who had a tendency to fumble and drop dummies, which may be a bit different than your issue. In any case it could not hurt. Just be calm and walk her along with the dummy in her mouth and praise when she is holding solidly and not mouthing. If she does mouth a mild correction with voice or the leash, be very gentle though, you do not want to make her drop it and then praise again when she is holding well.

My current Chessie pup had a tendency to be a bit sloppy this way but now will walk for 15-20 minutes holding calmly and happily.

[james milnes]

She'll walk all day carrying things and if I hold it out as we're walking she'll reach at take it off me no bother. I'm away stalking at min but when I get home I'll try the suggestionsearch made
Thanks for your input I really appreciate it
J

[CockerCanuck]

OK then I think you have your answer. Not surprising Wullie was one step ahead of me. If she is happy carrying at heel than there is something about the process of delivery that has her edgy. Take Wullies advice and remove all pressure around "perfect" delivery and make it more fun for her. You can always slowly reintroduce it later when she is more conditioned to happily bringing it back every time.

[james milnes]

Thanks guys
I've just had her a walk up the gallops as I got back home early and I just had her at heel as I walked and held out the dummy for her to take without any voice command, she took the dummy and just wanded off in front a little so I slowed up. When she was 10 or so yards away I stopped and kept my mouth shut, she came back at a walk and did a lap of honour round me then stood holding the dummy about a yard off me. I walked forward and stroked her for a min then took the dummy. So could be on a winner hopefully.
One thing I have noticed is she's not keen to stand still holding the dummy so I'm guessing walking is a stress relief??
Thanks again to both of you
J

[Aimeetess]

30 months? Is that not just 2 and a half?

Best of luck!

[CockerCanuck]

Thanks guys
I've just had her a walk up the gallops as I got back home early and I just had her at heel as I walked and held out the dummy for her to take without any voice command, she took the dummy and just wanded off in front a little so I slowed up. When she was 10 or so yards away I stopped and kept my mouth shut, she came back at a walk and did a lap of honour round me then stood holding the dummy about a yard off me. I walked forward and stroked her for a min then took the dummy. So could be on a winner hopefully.
One thing I have noticed is she's not keen to stand still holding the dummy so I'm guessing walking is a stress relief??
Thanks again to both of you
J

Good news, I don't think you have any real problem. Just a quick tip. Next time you do this don't walk up to her to take the dummy. Instead walk backwords and pat your leg or your chest to encourage her to come to you and then praise her quietly and after 10-20 seconds of quiet praise then take the dummy with your release command. It would be easy for her to develop the bad habit of waiting for you to come get the bird or dummy.

On the topic of release commands most people here use "give" or "drop". Many years ago when I ran in Springer trials there was a very nice older gentleman I competed against but never even got close to beating. I admired the calm easy way he handled his dogs. I noticed his release command was a simple "thank you". I thought it was very classy and have used it myself for about the last 30 years.

[Gundogs11]

I noticed his release command was a simple "thank you". I thought it was very classy and have used it myself for about the last 30 years.

I have a lovely old spaniel who lives in the house. He is a stickler for good manners. He has to bring you slippers, shoes etc in the house and will not give them up until you look him in the eye and say "thank you"! He is retired now, but when he was working he would happily give up retrieves when working to "dead", but not in the house