DOG TRAINING 145 



HARD ilOUTH IN POINTERS 



A friend of mine has a pointer, which during 

 the present hunting season has developed a very 

 hard mouth. Can you inform me whether or not 

 this fault can be corrected, and how? The dog 

 is five years old, and is a grand worker. Until 

 this season his retrieving has been of that brand 

 which leaves nothing to be desired. It began by 

 his mouthing wounded birds. He was scolded for 

 that, but not punished. The fault developed rap- 

 idly, until at the present time he can be depended 

 on to practically ruin the great majority of his 

 birds. An attempt is being made to correct the 

 fault by the force system, by which he was 

 trained, but up to the present time the results 

 have been negative. Any suggestions will be 

 greatly appreciated, both by my friend and my- 

 self. 



Db. H. S. Robhtson. 



Ans. — ^We usually cure hard mouths in our 

 pointers and setters by beating them severely the 

 instant they mouth a bird. Then hand the bird 

 to the dog again, and he will usually bite for it, 

 and then give him another licking. About the 

 third time he will be afraid to touch it, and then 



