Gundog Training Forum

I have been training labs to working standard for many years, my latest addition is a 5 month old foxred lab. He is well bred, with many ftch in his pedigree including his sire and grand sire on dams side. My problem is that every time I give him a retrieve he tosses the bumper around and bites down so hard on it I can hear the air escaping from the valve. He gets to retrieve occasionally and no more than 2 or 3 at a time. This pup hasn't been handled any differently that any other pup I have trained, so no bad habits. The pups did have squeaky toys to play with up to 8 weeks old. I have never experienced this before and at this stage I am concerned that he will be hard mouth. Any ideas, suggestions PLEASE

I wouldn't worry about it unduly. And some trainers do use squeaky toys as rewards without mishap, so I wouldn't read much into that. How a dog handles dummies has no bearing on how it will handle game. And getting uptight/anxious about it won't make things better.

Naj

It can sometimes be stress related. Putting too much pressure on too soon and when the pup is teething too. I'd stop retrieving for a while then restart using something soft as a retrieve article.

in my experience those ribbed plastic bumpers (which I guess are the sort you're using from your description of the valve?) can tend to encourage some dogs to play about with and mouth them.I think they're just a bit too 'fun' for some. Could you try something more boring, like a plain canvas dummy?

Well, for what it is worth, my four past labs were trained only on 'proper' canvas dummies and were all forced fetched. They all handled birds well with no horse play.

Moving ahead to present day. My current 3.5 year old male lab has a really gentle mouth, sometimes a bit too soft. However, with this fellow I skipped the force fetch and embarked on doing things more along the positive direction with all the gundog stuff. I threw squeeky tennis balls, plastic coke bottles, and of course the obligatory canvas dummies. To top it all off I played tug to a fairly high level of excitement but with the aim of maintaining obedience control. I even tugged on a dummy being returned to hand for a second or two before accepting it all with the intention of making the return fast and fun. He is still soft mouthed whether the bird is dead or alive.

I'm not saying this is the way to go but it worked for me and I have done it both ways. Probably a fluke...I can't say, since I haven't trained enough. However, what I do think is paramount is reading the dog you have...so training maybe, a little bit of this and a little bit of that...for instance, I now infrequently play tug or tug on the a dummy that is being delivered because the behaviors are well entrenched, reliable and self rewarding.

Brian ?

Or is it Alan or maybe Steve....?

http://youtu.be/qQ8kXlsme4c

Sorreeee couldn't resist it....

Rascal

PS FWIW I agree with the others, the dog might just be finding the air release rewarding possibly so try different dummies. But I don't think it will transfer to game either..

Yes, can't always take ourselves too seriously...it would be no fun.

Many Thanks for help. Decided to stop retrieving again and will give him a decent break this time. Ettinsmoor advised useing something soft for retrieving , what do you have in mind. I will try the canvas dummies for sure.

I use a rabbit fur covered disc or ball. I would guess if the pup is chewing the bumpers he will enjoy popping his teeth through the canvas dummies too. Save them for when older.