Bumper hard mouth

[Colonel Joe]

I could use some advice about hard mouth. This is lab # 5 for me so I'm no rookie although I have never entered a dog in competition. This one, Lumpy, a two year old which I have worked every day since we brought him home, delivers a duck without bending a feather. He absolutely murders a bumper though. I have tried putting nails through a bumper, different types of bumpers, wrapping bumpers with rope and with tape, scented and non scented bumpers, and am still having the problem. This is a high energy dog with a stylish entry and excellent response to both whistle and hand signals. He is steady in the boat to wing and shot but he can destroy a rubber bumper in one session. Help!
Colonel Joe Ficarra
Virginia Beach, Virginia

[JakeH.IN]

You should try a stiff stemed brush if it has the balls on the end of the stems just cut them off but leave the stems long. read it in my dog training book, its worth a try.
good luck
Jake

[Jason Zerrer]

A couple of things come to mind. You might go back to hold and correct for mouthing. Sometimes you can take their mind off the bumper by giving them another command to think about, i.e. sit (most helpful) or heel. Copy this over to the Sporting Dog forum and I'll bet you'll get some more opinions.

[Dwayne Padgett]

I agree with Jason on giving another command. Put the dog at heel and go for a walk while the dog carries the bumper. takes his mind off of rolling the bumper around in his mouth.