OK, my dog is now LOVING hunting....maybe too much. This morning we shot six doves and we let her nab all of them. Matter of fact she found one that we lost. Here is the problem, she is too playful and wont bring them to me. She gets excited and starts running with them. She tosses them in the air and catches em, dives in the tank with them. the only way I get them is if I show her another dead bird and then my buddy has to run and get the bird while she is distracted. (im not too mad...she was gunshy 4 months ago and I know this takes time for a 2.5 year old dog). my question is do I need to get her FF or maybe get a e-collar and zap her *&^ when she does this?

stop hunting with her until you get her straightened out.that is not acceptable behavior.she needs to have a check cord on and wouldnt hurt her to be collar conditioned to here.Force fetch wouldnt be a bad idea either.Have someone teach you how to collar condition first,dont just zap her #$$ with it,it will cause more harm than good by creating hot spots.hope this will atleast point you in the right direction.

Good call, I am not sure either. But In speaking with lonestarguide I realized that I forgot to mention that she will listen to the come command if she does not have a toy or bird. Once she has something she wants all obediance goes south. If I bribe her with a treat she will drop whatever she has and come...which at that point I am torn beetween praise for comming and no praise because I want her to bring me her toy or bird. (thanks lonestar)

A hot spot is an area you create that is hot.If you burn your dog with a collar when she is sitting by you or when she is near you,you create a hot spot or area around you and she would be hesitant to come close to you.Another example.If you were to burn her with a collar every time she is around her kennel,she probably wouldnt go artound that kennel because there has been a hot spot created with the collar.If the dog was going to pick something up that was next to a bush and you burn her she probably wont go by that bush anymore.I hope I didnt make it more confusing.To many amateurs get collars and burn everytime they get pissed and there dogs become scared of a collar and they do more harm than good.

Thanx for the explanation!

Im no expert but try keeping and freezing a few birds hard to the bone it tends to soften there grip as the cold hurts there teeth.Put a wing on a stick and train them in close I realize the dog is 2.5 yrs old but they will train it just takes more time.I dont like shock collars and some love them to death I will promise you without a dummy collar your dog will know its not there.Since you got or started training this dog late lots of patience is in order.I would wing work it in close and frozen bird her to soften up her mouth for awhile, and sometimes you just have to either cut your losses or put up with it.Remember keep it a game for the dog. Hope this helps.

Your dog needs to be be force fetched and collar conditioned. The dog also needs some tune up on obedience if the face of distractions it sounds like. You really need to formalize alot of the training if you ever hope to have a quality hunting dog.

Get with a local HRC or find someone with some exerience that can help you out. You will be much happier hunting with a dog that doesnt require constant correction and cause frustration while in the field.

I've seen harnesses that fit on birds that have long rivets that stick out to teach dogs to have a softer mouth. I haven't had any experience with them but they look like they might work.

What Zack said!

I hear ya zack…she DEFINITELY needs obedience. I think I kind of rushed her in to the hunting thing without getting the obedience thing down the way I should. There is only a little time left for this season. I guess I am just happy she is not gun shy anymore and has the desire to at least retrieve the bird. I am going to hit the obedience part up really hard in the coming weeks….but I will still let her hunt with me…..she has too much fun out there not to. I am guessing by next year with some serious work she could be a decent hunting dog. Zach, I am going to save up a little cash (hopefully) and I will probably need your help on the FF.