GSP dropping bird

[bailey]

Have a 2 year old GSP that retrieves dummies fine....does great work pointing, but this year has started to pick up the bird, then drop it and come back acting like she did something wrong. She will go back and show me where it is, but will not pick it up again. She even does it around another dog when just using the dummy....she is not aggressive in wanting to keep the dummie or bird in her mouth if there is any competition at all. I have tried throwing the dead bird out again with some luck in retrieving, but seldom.
Anyone have any experience and advise? Really don't want to go to force fetching as she can get timid. Any harsh words puts her on guard immediately. Only shock collar use last year was to keep her within distance and quartering. Look forward to suggestions. Thanks.
Mike

[Rustygunskennel]

Bailey,

In first reading your post several things came to mind and it may actually be a combination of all them which has put your pup in this situation. First thing that strikes me is that she point but when she picks up the bird she drops it or doesn't want to pick it up at all. this makes me instantly think that somewhere either in her training to point or in the house playing with a toy or something she wasn't supposed to, you may have corrected her and she now associates the bird with that correction. my very first thought on that is the E-collar you've begun to use. If you are using it to assist in keeping her steady on point then that is you problem right there. you've taught her to point the bird but if she even thinks about touching it she's going to get corrected. regardless of how this problem has manifested your pup has to get excited about carrying a bird in her mouth again. It's in the blood of all bird dogs to seek and catch/kill and eat birds. we as humans have short circuited that natural cycle by requesting a sequence of events MUST happen in order for the dog to get the bird in their mouth. e.g. Point, we shoot and the they have the prize of tasting the bird while they retrieve it back to us, only to turn around and do it all over again. so take some time with her and some wounded or live birds. start from square one. teach her it's okay to have a bird in her mouth, let her play with it and if she brings it to you give her tons of praise, but let her hang on to the bird. if she drops it then pick it up, if the wants to carry it then let her carry it for awhile then gently retrieve it from her.

I hope this helps some, I'm no expert but then again this bird dog thing isn't rocket science either. we humans make it harder than it really is.

Scott
RGK

[thunderhead]

If you want her to reliably retrieve a bird you need to have her go thru a FF process. Maybe it would be best for you to take her to an experienced pro for this training. The FF training instills a certain level of obedience into the retrieving process. It doesn't matter if she is soft or timid, she can be FF'd by an experienced trainer.

[treedaddy]

I had a pointer that would do that when he was young. Try walking the other way like you didn't see the dog pick up the bird. Maybe she then will want you to see that she has it and bring to you. Mark it if she drops it and walk away and see if she will go back and pick it up.

[RangeViewKennels]

You mentioned that you use an e-collar to control the dogs range. My question would be was the dog properly collar conditioned? It sounds like you are using the collar for punishment and not correction.
If that is the case it may be the cause of the dog being confused and not being sure of what you want and now has associated the collar with the other punishment.

You may also need to force fetch the dog. Retrieving is not an inherent trait in Shorthairs. It may be that the dog is trying to please you and just doesn’t have the retrieve drive. In that case you will need to force fetch the dog if you want it to retrieve.

Some dogs just don’t like the taste of blood.

It could be any of these things or any of the things others have mentioned. It’s really hard to tell without seeing the dog.

I would recommend a professional trainer to evaluate your dog and send you down the right path.