Refused to retrieve...
Refused to retrieve...
My 3 year old male EP is not the best bird retriever, but most of the time he makes a serious effort to bring the birds to hand. He has not been forced fetched. I had him out recently on some pen-raised pheasants and chuckars. The first bird he pointed was a hen chuckar and when I flushed it I didn't wait long enough before I shot and practically dis-embowled the bird. The dog went to the bird, started to pick it up, and then dropped it and went back to hunting. He then also refused to retrieve the other 4 birds that were pointed, flushed, and shot. In similar situations, he has chased down cripples for 200 yards and brought them back, but this day he showed no interest in retrieving. I've seen the dog eat some very questionable stuff, so it's hard for me to imagine that the first bird put some bad taste in his mouth? Any ideas on what's happening??
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- Rank: Senior Hunter
- Posts: 105
- Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 12:48 pm
Re: Refused to retrieve...
I'm sure everyone is gonna say it, but sounds like you need to FF him. It's as if he chooses to retrieve when he wants to, and when he doesn't, you let him get away with it.
- kninebirddog
- GDF Premier Member!
- Posts: 7846
- Joined: Sat Dec 25, 2004 12:45 am
- Location: Coolidge AZ
Re: Refused to retrieve...
quite a few things sound like they happened
One not uncommon for weak retrieving dogs even some of your better retrievers to not want to retrieve a blown up bird
once your dog didn't retrieve that it set the pace for not retrieving the others
as for why a dog will do better on a bird they have to chase down..the prey drive has been heightened so that desire to GET THAT BIRD is also heightened
So yes if you want the retrieve FF is in order if you don't care then don't worry about it
One not uncommon for weak retrieving dogs even some of your better retrievers to not want to retrieve a blown up bird
once your dog didn't retrieve that it set the pace for not retrieving the others
as for why a dog will do better on a bird they have to chase down..the prey drive has been heightened so that desire to GET THAT BIRD is also heightened
So yes if you want the retrieve FF is in order if you don't care then don't worry about it
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"When I hear somebody talk about a horse or cow being stupid, I figure its a sure sign that the animal has outfoxed them." Tom Dorrance
If you feel like you are banging your head against the wall, try using the door.