Legislation Shooting

Is she hard-mouthed?

Nick Ridley answers a question about why birds might be damaged Question: I think my dog may be hard-mouthed, as occasionally some of the birds she brings back when we are picking up are damaged. Can she be cured of this? Nick Ridley replies: First of all, don’t be too quick to blame the dog.

Would you like to appear on our site? We offer sponsored articles and advertising to put you in front of our readers.  Find out more
Time Well Spent
Time Well Spent June 15, 2022

Nick Ridley answers a question about why birds might be damaged

Question: I think my dog may be hard-mouthed, as occasionally some of the birds she brings back when we are picking up are damaged. Can she be cured of this?

Nick Ridley replies: First of all, don’t be too quick to blame the dog. You need to take into consideration the circumstances in which the bird has been shot. If you are on a high bird shoot and the birds are falling from quite a height and/or if the ground is hard, then the birds can be damaged when they hit the floor. They are travelling at quite a speed and I have seen a pheasant go through a Land Rover windscreen, such was the force. Also, if the birds are landing through trees, damage can also occur due to hitting the branches on the way down. I have heard it said that once a dog is hard-mouthed it cannot be cured, but equally I have heard of some quite ‘unorthodox’ methods people have used. In the first instance I would just try and see if there is a pattern as to which birds are damaged.

Related Articles