Should I clean my gun dog’s mouth of feathers?

Gun dog training expert
PAUL RAWLINGS KCAI (WG*)
Technically you are not permitted to handle or touch your dog during competition, but obviously the welfare of the dog is of prime concern to the judges.

After all, they want to give your dog every chance to perform to the best of its ability.

Therefore ask permission from the judges and they will decide as to whether or not your dog needs its mouth cleaning of feathers.

Most dogs will soon swallow any feathers left in their mouth and come to no harm by doing so.

However, a mouthful of pigeon feathers can be particularly difficult to get rid of without any assistance, so you need to make sure you ask the judges first.