A hard habit to break

WHATEVER FAULT A retrieving dog may have, be it running-in, whining or not listening to the whistle, there’s only really one that’s serious enough to end a dog’s career and that’s hard mouth.

The essential requirement of all dogs that pick-up game, be they spaniel, retriever or pointer, is that they collect dead or injured birds gently and without damaging them. Field trial judges are taught to examine every bird retrieved to check for hard mouth. With practice it isn’t difficult, but feeling a bird’s ribs only