Blaze
Blaze
The mornings are getting warmer so I’m going out to work the dogs earlier. I clip the hair on my setters 3 or more times a year so they can run a little cooler. It also keeps them from picking up burrs as bad. I hid 3 pigeons on the training grounds.
I heeled Blaze out with the e-collars on her neck and flanks. I put her on whoa near the 4-wheeler. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear and said okay to release her. By the time I got to the first bird she was on point but she was standing right on top of the pigeon. I picked her up and set her back. After she went back on point I kicked in front of her, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She never moved. I got back on the 4-wheeler, wrote on the note pad, started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and released her with an okay.
When I got to the next pigeon she was on point and again she was right on top of the pigeon. I think she is smelling the bird then moving up and getting too close. I carried her back. When she went back on point I kicked in front of her, flushed the bird, and shot the blank pistol. She never moved. I got on the 4-wheeler, wrote on the note pad, started it, put it in gear and released her with an okay.
When she got close to the next pigeon and she acted like she was smelling the bird I flushed it. She stopped to flush and I shot the blank pistol. I’m going to flush her birds before she can point for the next few sessions. This should make her more cautious. I got back on the 4-wheeler, wrote on the note pad, started it, put it in gear and released her with an okay. I ran her to the back and then to the kennel.
Luke
Luke
I put Luke on whoa after putting the e-collars on his neck and flanks. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it and released him with an okay. He was on point on the middle pigeon when I got there. I took pictures, kicked in front of him then flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I stroked his sides telling him what a good dog he is. I got on the 4-wheeler, wrote on the note pad, started it, put it in gear then released him with an okay.
He pointed the farthest bird next. There was almost no wind but he was at least 15 yards from the pigeon when he pointed. I took pictures, kicked in front of him then flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He turned his head to watch it fly away but he didn’t move his feet. I got on the 4-wheeler, wrote on the note pad, started it, put it in gear then released him with an okay.
He had passed the first bird on the way down but he pointed it on the way back. I took more pictures, kicked in front of him, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He never moved. He needs some birds shot over him now but it’s too early in the year for the game preserves. I got on the 4-wheeler, wrote on the note pad, started it, put it in gear and said okay. I let him run to the back and then to the kennel.
Tur Bo
Tur Bo
I put the e-collars on Tur Bo and heeled him out near the 4-wheeler where I put him on whoa. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear and waited. I waited for about 15 seconds after putting the 4-wheeler in gear before saying okay to release him. He pointed the first pigeon and I took pictures. I walked in front of him kicking the cover. I said whoa and flushed the pigeon. He was steady on the flush and I said whoa and shot the blank pistol. He took about 3 steps and stopped. I carried him back. When he went back on point I kicked in front of him again, got on the 4-wheeler, wrote on the note pad, started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and released him with an okay.
He pointed the middle bird and I walked in front of him kicking the cover. I said whoa and flushed the pigeon. He took a step. I said whoa and shot the blank pistol. He took 2 more steps. I picked him up and carried him back. He went back on point and I kicked in front of him. I got back on the 4-wheeler, wrote on the note pad, started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and released him with an okay.
When he got close to the third bird I yelled whoa and flushed the pigeon. He took a couple of steps and stopped. I carried him back then said whoa and shot the blank pistol. He took 4 or 5 steps and stopped. He’s only chasing the pigeons a few steps. It’s almost like he can’t contain himself but just a few sessions ago he didn’t want to stay on whoa until I released him. Now he’s doing real well on that. I carried him back then got on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear and released him with an okay. I let him run the field for a little while then we went back to the kennel.
When you get to this point in the training it’s boring to read about because it’s doing the same thing over and over but that’s the nature of dog training. Dogs learn by repetition so I’m repeating the same exercises over and over until they do them right all the time. Luke is doing really well and most times Blaze is too. After this week I may go back to the county park for a while just to give them a different place to run.