Just a quick question.

[bullmastiff 615]

I've been taking the dogs out with me shooting and usually let Tia do the retrieving. After I shot a rabbit I thought I'd put Roo's retrieving to the test. Now he will retrieve tennis balls, Kongs and fur covered dummies (washing-up bottle full of stones and wrapped in a fresh rabbit skin) to my feet and will let go of them when told (in the garden and the field) but when he picked up the dead rabbit in the field, first he just tried eating it then when I caught hold of the rabbit to take it from him he wouldn't let go!

He didn't try to pull away from me but just stood there with it clamped between his teeth, I ended up having to force his mouth open to get it back from him, then heaped the praise on him for letting go (I don't want him to start running away with the rabbit).

I've only ever had soft mouthed dogs before (even Tia is) so was not prepared for a battle over whose dinner it's going to be. I think this is where my inexperience is perhaps showing in his training.

So what have I/am I doing wrong?

Your thoughts/advice would be much appreciated

 

Cheers

 

Luke.

[FJager 0]

G'day Luke, sounds like all is going well with Roo then, how about a few more pics.

Its his Bull nature mate, he wants to have a tussle that's all, just continue with what you are doing, prising it out of his jaws and heaping the praise on, he will soon realize what needs to be done with the rabbit, they are fast learners. Perhaps offer him the rabbits head or kidneys, heart and liver at time of dressing the rabbit.

You really got yourself a goodun there.

 

Cheers

[jimmy0211 2]

I've been taking the dogs out with me shooting and usually let Tia do the retrieving. After I shot a rabbit I thought I'd put Roo's retrieving to the test. Now he will retrieve tennis balls, Kongs and fur covered dummies (washing-up bottle full of stones and wrapped in a fresh rabbit skin) to my feet and will let go of them when told (in the garden and the field) but when he picked up the dead rabbit in the field, first he just tried eating it then when I caught hold of the rabbit to take it from him he wouldn't let go!

He didn't try to pull away from me but just stood there with it clamped between his teeth, I ended up having to force his mouth open to get it back from him, then heaped the praise on him for letting go (I don't want him to start running away with the rabbit).

I've only ever had soft mouthed dogs before (even Tia is) so was not prepared for a battle over whose dinner it's going to be. I think this is where my inexperience is perhaps showing in his training.

So what have I/am I doing wrong?

Your thoughts/advice would be much appreciated

 

Cheers

 

Luke.

 

my dad told us with our pup when he won't let go push both of his cheeks in so he is biting them almost and he will have to open his mouth and then take it from him and praise the dog for dropping it, or choke him off until he gets used to when he comes back, which you said he is doing, he drops it or has to drop it to breathe

[bullmastiff 615]

Fjager, Ok, thank you (just put my mind at rest!!). It was a complete fluke getting a dog like him!

I'm still waiting for Father in law to download the camcorder onto a DVD for me! (I still haven't been able to post the footage I got from the Lure Racing!) Got quite a few photos on it now, so will eventually get some more up!

I never eat the lights of the game I get (Bar one particular animal , which the missus turned into a wonderful pate) so they always go to the dogs whilst still warm!

Jimmy, Thats exactly what I was doing, the cheeks pushed between the teeth thing, I can't say I'd ever want/need to try and choke my dog off a rabbit, I would of thought that kind of thing would lead to a dog running away not too you with what ever it's caught?

 

Thank you for your replies.

 

Take Care

 

Luke.