I decided to find another field to use this morning. The one I found had taller weeds and was larger than the one I have been using. It will give the dogs another place that they have to point and be steady to wing and shot. I hid 2 pigeons, in release traps, in the tall weeds about 75 yards apart.
Blaze
I heeled Blaze to the edge of the field and tapped her on the head to release her. She was running through the weeds and most of the time I could only see the weeds moving. Blaze, at less than 30 pounds, is not big enough to show above the weeds but she doesn’t quit. When she got close to the first pigeon I flushed it. She stopped without me saying anything. I walked in front of her, kicking the cover. I went back, stroked her sides telling her what a good girl she was, then tapped her on the head to release her.
She came around and went on point about 30 yards down wind from the second bird. She pointed then moved up a step and I flushed the pigeon and yelled whoa. She stopped. She was a long way from the bird and would have only moved a step or 2 but she has to learn that if she moves the bird may fly. I yelled whoa so she would know that I was upset with her moving. I walked in front of her kicking the cover then went back to her and tapped her on the head to release her.
Whitey
I heeled Whitey to the field and tapped her on the head to release her. She and Blaze are litter mates and about the same size. Neither of them will stand above the tall weeds but they sure make the weeds move when they go through them. On her first bird she was moving with the wind and I flushed it when she got close. She stopped. I walked in front of her kicking the cover, then went back and tapped her on the head.
She was moving through the weeds when she hit the scent cone on the second pigeon and locked up. I let her stand to see if she would move but she never moved. I walked in front of her kicking the cover then went back and stroked her sides telling her what a good dog she is. I walked back in front kicking the cover then flushed the bird. She never moved. I continued to kick the cover then tapped her on the head to release her.
Tur Bo
Tur Bo is large enough to go through places most bird dogs have to go around. I heeled him to the field and tapped him on the head to release him. He didn’t stand above the weeds either but he moved them more than the other 2 did. He was running back and forth across the field when he hit the scent cone and slammed into a point. I took a couple of pictures then walked to him and stroked his sides. I hooked my hand in his collar and flushed the bird. He tried to chase but I held him. He went back on point and I tapped him on the head to release him.
He went in the same direction the pigeon had flown then circled back around close to the second bird and I flushed it. He would have pointed it, probably but he also needs to be cautious. The pigeon came out low and he was able to chase for quite a distance but he only went a short distance then went back to hunting. He hunted back to the truck.
We got back to the truck and Tur Bo laid down in the shade. It is going to get hotter and hotter as we move into summer. I may have to start getting out about daylight. I’m going to try to keep going all summer so the dogs will have to get tough. We’ll figure it out.