Jaws Of Steel

[Annette]

Our Pogo boy has jaws of steel. We originally found this out after he had his leg amputated and would not eat for us and therefore we couldn't hide his meds in his food. We tried opening his mouth and forcing the pills, but he clamped his jaws so tight that Roy was surprised that his fingers were not broken.

 

Pogo has improved a lot. So much so that he had to prove that a three-legged greyhound can catch the bunny. Roy tried getting the bunny from Pogo, but he was not going to give up his prize. His jaws were clamped tight on his bunny.

 

Is there a way to train a hound with jaws of steel to give up whatever prize he desires but really shouldn't have?

 

After 26 years of greyhound parenting, we have one that doesn't fit the stereotype. That is why we named him Pogo.

 

Any advice?

 

Thanks

[Batmom]

A rabbit might be a failure point even after training, but most anything up to that should work.

 

You'll find more if you do a search on "drop it" in this forum. We start with something the dog has zero interest in -- for example, an old washcloth. I put it in front of the dog -- between his forelegs if he's lying down -- count silently to three, cheerful "Drop it!" and in quick succession "Good boy!," take the washcloth, and deliver a treat. And then put the washcloth back in front of the dog.

 

The treat should be something absolutely delectable, that you don't use for anything else. Hot dog slivers, freeze-dried salmon, cheddar cheese cubes, poached chicken liver bits ....

 

We practice that a couple times a day for some days, until when I say "Drop it!" the dog looks up at me instantly and happily and probably drooling a little. Then we move on to something the dog might be slightly interested in, such as an old toy whose squeaker no longer works. Then something the dog is a little more interested in. Et cetera ... And continue practicing from time to time. It is a really fun game that should be played at least weekly.

 

BUT ... I don't practice taking really desirable things like bones or rabbits from the dog. Cool toys, yes; food, no. I want the dog to "Drop it!" without thinking, and to make a habit of that, so on that one emergency day that I do need him to drop a bone or a rabbit, he'll do it.

 

At the end of your training session, always leave the object (washcloth, toy, whatever) with the dog. If it's something you don't want him to have 24/7, pick it up later when he's lost interest in it.

[cleptogrey]

in classes we used the exchange method, dogs gave up their possession for a very high quality treat. don't pull, don't touch the mouth, let the stinky liverwurst or fragrant hot dog or raw meat do the work. once they open their mouth and drop the item lure the head away from the item and give the treat to the dog the same time you remove the item they released. modify to make this work for you.try it standing up and let your foot claim the item that has been dropped.

[EllenEveBaz]

I'm sorry for the bunny.

 

But Milo and Jeter say woot! woot! Go Pogo!

[sobesmom]

My DH tried to pry a dead rabbit out of my Sobe's jaws years ago. That didn't work at all. I finally walked out with his food dish and poured kibble into it - that worked.

 

Training "leave it" works for some, not all.

 

Worse case scenario - if your dog eats the rabbit, he'll be fine, provided he's had his shots. It's what they do.

[Beachbum1]

A couple of years ago, Taylor grabbed a robin in the grass.

 

DROP IT.....didn't work.

Trying to pry his mouth open..............nope.

There was nothing else available to "trade up to".

 

He chomped it 3 times and swallowed it whole

No reaction.