Dog possessive of "his" bird

J

Jakeismydog2

Member
Last Saturday I was out with a buddy. Ox locked up not a 100 yards in to the first field. A rooster got up and flew straight away from me, it only took me 3 shots to prove I can't shoot :(. I was starting to get pretty frustrated as Ox has now managed some very nice points for me this year and I still had not downed a bird for him yet. I shot a rooster later off a different dogs point. Ox happened to be the first to the bird. He pretty much just licked it until I came and picked it up. Later he locked down a rooster and fortunately for Ox my buddy had the shot and dropped him. Ox immediately went to the cock and picked the bird up and acted very possessive carry. It away from the other dogs and not wanting to give the bird for me.

I am not worried about this at all, retrieving is down the road for us.

But I was curious if anyone else has noticed dogs that seem to like the birds they point more than birds pointed by a different dog? I have not seen that in any dog I have hunted with this until this experience.
 
Hey buddy no worries! My brittany did the same thing when he hunted with his first 2 dogs. Hes been in two dog fights, i mean serious ones. I just nicked him a few times with the e collar and all that stuff quit. We hunted with a lab on last sunday, they worked together and got alot of birds up. No fighting at all, everything was happy happy happy. So my advice to you is to nip that in the butt as fast as you can sir. If you have an e collar i would nick him so he knows that wont be tolerated.
 
I personally would never "nick" a dog with a bird in its mouth. He could relate it to carrying the bird and not want to pick up the next one. or perhaps even develope hard mouth from the anxiety of anticipating a shock for carrying the bird. Get some birds and a check cord and perhaps a professional but dont "nick" him while he is retrieving a bird!
 
peterpointinglab said:
I personally would never "nick" a dog with a bird in its mouth. He could relate it to carrying the bird and not want to pick up the next one. or perhaps even develope hard mouth from the anxiety of anticipating a shock for carrying the bird. Get some birds and a check cord and perhaps a professional but dont "nick" him while he is retrieving a bird!
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+1
I believe it is one of the Ten commandments.
Though shalt not shock thy dog on a bird,near a bird, or because of a bird.

Someone really should make a list.
 
I would also not nick a dog with a bird. The collar is for reinforcement of commands the dog already knows, not punishment. My thought is that he is just self hunting a little and hasn't figured out it is your bird yet. I am guessing since you said retrieving will come later, you intend on force fetching him. I think you are fine until that gets done and wouldn't worry too much about it unless he really starts ripping birds up. Sounds like there is plenty of prey drive there and although I like dogs with natural retrieve, I will always take one without it if there is plenty of prey drive.
 
Im not talking about if the birds in his mouth, im talking if my dog is fighting with another dog because of a bird. He goes to grab it and another dog comes up, he attacked the dog. I will not tolerate that shit in the field. He doesnt do that stuff at home, and if he did my pitbull would nip him in the ass for being that way. And yes nicking him with a bird, or anything to do with a retrieved bird is not a good thing to do.

And im talking about the bird was already in my hands, and the gsp came up next to me and my dog attacked. Just to get things clear here. Ive been told by my trainer that i needed to nip that as soon as possible. Now ii think i took care of the problem, because he didnt fight or even act aggresive towards the other dog on sunday.
 
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Jakeismydog2 said:
Last Saturday I was out with a buddy. Ox locked up not a 100 yards in to the first field. A rooster got up and flew straight away from me, it only took me 3 shots to prove I can't shoot :(. I was starting to get pretty frustrated as Ox has now managed some very nice points for me this year and I still had not downed a bird for him yet. I shot a rooster later off a different dogs point. Ox happened to be the first to the bird. He pretty much just licked it until I came and picked it up. Later he locked down a rooster and fortunately for Ox my buddy had the shot and dropped him. Ox immediately went to the cock and picked the bird up and acted very possessive carry. It away from the other dogs and not wanting to give the bird for me.

I am not worried about this at all, retrieving is down the road for us.

But I was curious if anyone else has noticed dogs that seem to like the birds they point more than birds pointed by a different dog? I have not seen that in any dog I have hunted with this until this experience.
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I would think you would be happy, you actually got a setter to put a bird in his mouth:D. I wouldn't worry about it too much. It will be easier to to teach a dog to give than too teach him to pick it up. Now the licking thing..........I don't know anything about that:p
 
All the "Golden" I have owned love to show off with the bird in mouth and not drop - just circle around me a bit, with a tail wag. A buzzer on the collar seems to work, if not, he gets a nick and eventually drops the bird. If the bird is still alive and kicking, getting him to drop is more difficult.

The nick seems to reinforce the command "drop." He will drop it immediately if there's a piece of wiener above his nose!
 
carptom1 said:
I would think you would be happy, you actually got a setter to put a bird in his mouth:D. I wouldn't worry about it too much. It will be easier to to teach a dog to give than too teach him to pick it up. Now the licking thing..........I don't know anything about that:p
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Hey, thats enough from the peanut gallery! :D

Next time he has the bird in his mouth, get a light hold on him and love him up, but let him keep the bird for a long while, he will give it to you after a bit most likely.

Picking up the bird and carrying it around is more than half the battle.
 
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Carptom has it right... I was quite surprised he even picked it up.

I am not concerned with fighting, that does not seem to be in his blood. I just thought it was strange how he did this on the bird he pointed, and does not care much on the birds other dogs pointed.
 
I have this same problem with my golden. I don't have the answer because he still does it. Been tryin what most people on here have said but still doesnt work. And he has bit me pretty good a couple times for even coming close to him with the bird wing or bird.
 
And your dog bit you??

Not sure what I would do if my dog ever tried to bite...I believe he would be on his way to another owner or...
 
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