Blaze
Blaze
Nice morning. The wind was out of the north west and the temperature was about 60. It was a little cool, on the 4-wheeler, hiding the pigeons. That went away pretty quick. I whoaed Blaze near the 4-wheeler after putting the e-collars on her neck and flanks. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear and released her with an okay.
She pointed the middle bird. I took pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and it came right over her head, real low. She reared back and whirled around. I shot the blank pistol and she didn’t move on the shot. I set her back. I kicked the weeds in front of her and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear and released her.
She hunted to the back and pointed the farthest bird. I took more pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I tried to release the pigeon and the release trap didn’t work. I took the bird from the trap and threw it by hand. She started chasing and I stopped her with the e-collar around her flanks. I carried her back to the original spot. I walked in front of her and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move on the shot. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear then released her with an okay.
She pointed the last pigeon I had hidden for her. I walked in front of her kicking the cover and flushed the pigeon. She didn’t move even when I shot the blank pistol. I kicked in front of her then got on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear and released her with an okay. I let her run before taking her back to the kennel.
Luke
Luke
When I bring Luke out to whoa him by the 4-wheeler he’s ready to whoa from the time we leave the kennel until I finally whoa him. If I don’t whoa him where he thinks I should he stops on his own. After I whoaed him I got on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear and released him.
When I got to the first bird Luke was already on point. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the weeds. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He never moved. I continued to kick in front of him then went back and stroked his sides telling him what a good boy he is. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear and said okay to release him.
He went from the first pigeon to the back and pointed the farthest bird. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and when it came out of the release trap it got tangled in some weeds then came right over his head. He turned completely around but didn’t try to follow. I set him back. He didn’t move when I shot the blank pistol. I started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and released him.
He pointed the middle bird on the way back. I took pictures then flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He never moved. I started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and released him. I let him run for awhile then took him back to the kennel.
Tur Bo
Tur Bo
I whoaed Tur Bo near the 4-wheeler with the e-collars on his neck and flanks. I started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and released him with an okay. He was running all out and I was right behind him when he hit the scent cone on the middle bird. He whirled into a point. I took pictures then spent a while just kicking weeds and brush. I flushed the pigeon and he took a step and I held the button on the transmitter down, on level 4, to the e-collar on his flanks. I picked him up and set him back. I let off the button when he hit the ground. I kicked the cover and shot the blank pistol. He took a step and I held the e-collar button down until I set him back. When he went back on point I shot the blank pistol again. This time he flinched but didn’t move. I kicked the weeds some more but the blank pistol was empty when I tried to shoot it so I reloaded. It takes a little time to reload but Tur Bo stayed on point until I got the blanks in the pistol. I shot the blank pistol and he flinched but his feet didn’t move. I started the 4-wheeler and released him.
He circled back and pointed the pigeon that he should have pointed first. I took more pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. He was steady at the flush of the pigeon but moved at the shot. I stopped him with e-collar and set him back. I shot the blank pistol after kicking in front of him again. He flinched but didn’t move. I shot one more time and he never moved. I started the 4-wheeler and released him.
He went to the back and pointed the last pigeon. I took more pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and he moved his head but not his feet. I shot the blank pistol and he flinched but didn’t move. I walked in front of him and shot the pistol one more time and he didn’t move. I started the 4-wheeler and released him. I let him run before taking him back to the kennel.
Today, I only used 6 pictures in this blog but I took 28. I take a lot of pictures then use the ones I like best. I’m not a photographer but if I take enough some will look okay. I think shooting the blank pistol several times on each pigeon is getting through to Tur Bo that he can’t move his feet. When I say he flinches on the shot and sometimes on the birds I don’t mean he is acting gun shy. He wants to move but he’s learning better. He just jumps without moving his feet. Luke did the same thing for awhile. Blaze has caught a couple of pigeons over the last 2 months and she is always looking for another chance. All of the young dogs are a lot closer to where I want them, now.