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Hard Mouth in Gundogs
-Why it exists (Genetics vs Environment)
-High predation (drive building)
-High possession (tug o war)
-High independence (lack of early social development)
-Competitive aggression (Aggressing game in the presence of handler)
-Resource value (value games)
-Resource guarding (in tandem with hard mouth) not uncommon
-Why it doesn’t
-Why do we see some dogs that are high in prey without problematic predatory behaviors.
-Handler engagement
-High in socially appropriate attributes
-“Retrieve drive”
-Natural retrieve development
How to “fix” it
Trained retrieve (conditioned and disciplinary)
-Condition retrieve of unsatisfying objects then transfer appropriate behaviors to satisfying objects.
-Neutralizing prey triggers (working in different drives or lower states of drive)
-Reward based
-Condition picking up/carrying/delivering
-Neutral delivery target (place board) to alleviate handler conflict
-May fail as value of prey item increases
-Spiked harness, wire bristle brushes, etc
-Force Fetch
-Ditto
