Dropping Short Rabbits

[springfield 20]

I own a whippet x greyhound 18month old bitch. She's not came into season yet. She retrieves a dummy or ball fine. As soon as she catches a rabbit she will come into 10 foot away then drop and come in empty handed. She is kennelled with her mum and is very soft. The odd rabbit she has brought straight to me. My kennels sleeping area has 2 tube heaters below ply wood flooring and also a radiator in block on by night. And cushions for bedding. I'm hoping her having a season will make her more possesive. Anyone else had a dog like this. I've seen some dogs in past catch a rabbit and will not release until owner has literally pull out of there mouth. Any tips or am I just forcing her maturity

[blackmaggie 3,377]

A live bunny and a ball are totally different buddy they're is things I would try but rather than try them try a pm to either casso or skycat there good at this type of thing and behavior

[springfield 20]

Just keen if anyone else experienced this and how they overcame

[Aussie Whip 4,145]

One of my whippet/stags retrieved to hand as a pup,then at 18months started stopping 10-15 foot out holds rabbit on ground till picked up.Works fine with other dogs, giving up catches to them but will guard and attack other dogs when rabbits are bagged.4 now cant break her from this.but otherwise good worker.Very sensitive,moody bitch.

[Miesque 20]

Teach her a hold command - easy to start with a ball and move to cold game then warm game. Start just sitting with her between your knees and handing her a ball and saying "hold" for her to take it, then "dead" to hand it back and go from there.

[Casso 1,261]

As already said incidents such as these are more about how the dog feels in or around your space than anything else

The dog is bringing in a catch, it feels a certain way it feels flow , gets to within 10 feet or so has to change its state of mind , it has to go from one state of mind to another because somewhere it incountered fear

A sensitive dog goes from feeling predator like to feeling prey like in or around you and it can't fit you and bunny in the same frame of reference it's too highly prized

 

f**k away the bowl, a desire overcomes fear and hand feed what the dog believes is highly prized food , IN YOUR SPACE,

 

Your space must feel safe to the pup , get contact feeding the dog standing on its hind legs , no corrections in that area

The biggest erosion of any dog/owner relationship is fear, is untrainable and mind blowingly frustrating

None of this shit is rocket science , a pup get burned from a cooker once after that it just don't go back , it learns to avoid the negetive quicker than anything else , the rush to socialise earlier and correct to make social is a trap pet dog owners are thought by so called experts but we need our little feckers too have zero fear in our space , things fall into place if we manage and not try to dominate pups

Best of luck

[springfield 20]

I feed with her up at me. And she is forever looking for petting. Just fir every rabbit she catches she stands off

[Aussie Whip 4,145]

Not all dogs retrieve.im happy with mine as long as shes catching and giving up catch.

[lurchers 2,881]

Some dogs don't like the feel of fur or feather in there mouths,has your dummy got a rabbit skin over if as if so it can't be that as you say she retrieves that fine.another you can try is when she catches and starts bringing it back turn and walk away so she is left walking with you with it in her mouth mate.but some dogs will only retrieve so far to you if you are stood with another dog beside you so it might be best trying her on her own.

[runem 533]

Seen plenty of dogs return their catch a few feet or so from their owner then drop them , if the quarry is dead its fine , If retrieved unharmed they run of and a re catch is required ,

i presume you you are only running the one dog when it is carrying back ? . there are,nt many dogs that will carry straight back to the owner with another on a lead ,the dog could think its returning its catch to another dog.

I would first try facing the dog and walking backwards and calling the dog when it gets close with its catch,this should make the dog come in a bit closer to you . i presume your not looking for a gun dog style retrieve , Do not think for one minute that having a nice warm kennel and you look after the dog like its a king has anything to do with working faults , that is a credit to you ,

[springfield 20]

Seen plenty of dogs return their catch a few feet or so from their owner then drop them , if the quarry is dead its fine , If retrieved unharmed they run of and a re catch is required ,

i presume you you are only running the one dog when it is carrying back ? . there are,nt many dogs that will carry straight back to the owner with another on a lead ,the dog could think its returning its catch to another dog.

I would first try facing the dog and walking backwards and calling the dog when it gets close with its catch,this should make the dog come in a bit closer to you . i presume your not looking for a gun dog style retrieve , Do not think for one minute that having a nice warm kennel and you look after the dog like its a king has anything to do with working faults , that is a credit to you ,

 

Cheers runem. I only ever take 1 dog.