when you read "Genetic full mouth bite".... - Page 1

I didn't really know what folks were talking about.  Kind of thought it was just another of those comments that sound good in adds... until I got my Django son.  Ikon is now 4.5 months old and an absolute firecracker.  I've always had Sheps and some really nice outgoing sane dogs, but not from working lines specifically.  We brought Ike home and the first day at 8 weeks we noticed that when he'd grab on to one of the stuffed toys he grabbed it solidly with his whole mouth over it.  Unlike my older dogs who often just dangle toys from their mouth, with him a large portion of the toy is snagged with those lil alligator jaws, and unless I tell him to let go (OUT) he will hang on and tug on anything he can grab.  He's also much much more vocal than most of my dogs have been, and it's that high pitched excited bark that I've heard on blind searches when the dog finds it's prey.

  I'm absoutely thrilled with the pup.  He's a sweet and loving house dog, loves to go for rides with the rest of my gang, and even if I'm not able to take him thru titling I know he's got the stuff to do whatever I choose to aim him at.  Dock Diving in the spring... obedience... Definately. I'd love to do tracking with him, we do hide-and-seek games on the trails where one person goes ahead and hides and tell him  "Where's Bev" and let him loose.  Great game and he never tires of it.   He is also already making trips to the local hospital to visit patients, and to my amazement he sits quietly beside the wheel chairs and gives kisses instead of being a typical puppy and mouthing.  He also is super gentle with my elderly crippled deaf Labrador, often guiding him up the steps to the porch, and waiting for him at the door. 

But for others who have had Shepherds, but not specifically working line dogs... they really do geneticly have a different manner of grasping things solidly with all teeth at one time. 

Yes, a full hard grip has a large genetic component to it.  Good luck with your pup he sounds super. 

Jim

Yes definitely true and its not necessarily to do with courage, drive or fighting spirit - some dogs have great temperament but genetically have the tendency to bite mainly with the front teeth, this has to be worked on in training - - these are the dogs that always want to rip apart the tugs, bite pillows and sleeves when they get hold of them, while others from an early age bite firmly from with all of the mouth, gripping with the back teeth. These dogs are usually possesive and will carry the sleeve etc and are often reluctant to release it, they maybe shake it but don't tend to chew as much. From my own kennel (showlines) I have clear examples of both types where I know this trait is passed on through at least 3 generations.

yes, grip behavior definately can be genetic.  You can help train a better grip on a dog that has a less desireable "genetic grip", and yes you can mess up a good grip with bad training -  but it's much easier to work with one who just does it, naturally from the very first.

molly

I would only like to add that typically even among dogs with genetically desirable "full" grips, the hardness does not come until later... It is obtained  either through maturity or MORE oftern than not through training. There are many pups, even up to 6 months of age that will bite full and hard on a bite rag (to the point that you can hold them up by their grip strength), but they will barely clamp down "hard" on even the softest bite wedge. Although there are exceptions to this, my personal experience has been that even with pups with genetically "full" grips, the "HARDNESS" comes later through TRAINING and MATURITY.

hi debi
i visited your web site, can you tell us what you want us to see,
i was looking for genetic grips.
V.

This is my boyfriends DDR/Czech?WGR male pup picking up his bottle.

I do believe there is a difference between HAVING to grip full-mouth to pick up a gigantic bottle that could not be picked up any other way, and genetic grips on things like sleeves or body suits that could be gripped without a full-mouth grip.  

Yup, definitely a genetic component to the grip.  When my hubby bought his Malinois it was quite obvious what a "genetic grip" looks like.  First time out of her crate at 8 weeks old and all of 6 pounds, she hammered the jute sack that I offered her.  Rammed that thing as far down her throat as possible.  Beautiful! 

I've heard a lot of talk about techniques designed to "improve" a dog's grip.  I don't know about that... I'd rather get a dog with the right genetics and not have to worry about it.