Tur Bo
Tur Bo
I didn’t have a chance to work dogs early this morning but it was still cool after lunch so I trained the 3 young dogs. It was about 60 degrees with a good breeze from the north east. I hid 2 pigeons in the weeds on my neighbors side of the training grounds.
I put the e-collars on Tur Bo and heeled him out near the 4-wheeler. I started the 4-wheeler and released with an okay. I have done the same break away often enough that the dogs are heading, in a straight line, as fast as they can go to the bird field. By the time I got to the first bird Tur Bo was on point. He was about 15 yards from the pigeon. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. When I flushed the pigeon, it hit a limb on a small bush and Tur Bo caught it. When a dog catches a bird I don’t say whoa or no. I use it as a retrieving exercise. I went to Tur Bo and told him to give. He gave me the pigeon and I led him back to where he was on point. I put the pigeon back into the box on the 4-wheeler. I went back in front of him kicking the cover. I shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I shot the blank pistol 2 more times and he never moved. I started the 4-wheeler and released him.
He hunted his way toward the back and found the second pigeon. He pointed and I walked in front of him. I took pictures then kicked the cover. He took a step when I flushed the pigeon. I set him back and kicked the cover then shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I shot the blank pistol 2 more times and he never moved. I went to him and stroked his sides. I tapped his head to release him. I let him run for a while before returning to the kennel.
Blaze
Blaze
I put the e-collars on Blaze and heeled her out near the 4-wheeler. I released and she was off like a shot. hen I got to the first bird she was on point. I took pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She never moved. The pigeon had only flown into a tree above where I had hid it. I continued to kick the cover and shot the blank pistol. When the pistol went off the pigeon flew to another tree. She never moved. I continued to kick the cover and shot the blank pistol again. The pigeon flew again. Three flushes, three shots and she never moved. I started the 4-wheeler and released her with an okay.
She pointed the second bird. I took more pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and it came out low right over her head. She went with it. It flew into a tree about 20 yards away and she stayed with it. I pushed the button on the e-collar around her flanks, on level 4, and carried her back. When I set her down I released the button on the e-collar. I shot the blank pistol and she never moved. I picked up a stick and threw it into the weeds. She took a couple of steps. I pushed the button on the e-collar on her flanks and set her back. I threw a couple more sticks but she didn’t move again. I shot the blank pistol 2 more times but she never moved. I stroked her sides then tapped her on the head to release her. I let her run before taking her back to the kennel.
Luke
Luke
I brought Luke out with the e-collars on his neck and flanks. I started the 4-wheeler and released him with an okay. When he came by the first pigeon I was between him and the bird. He hunted to the back and pointed the second pigeon. I think he smelled the bird and moved in because he was really close. I took pictures then went in front of him kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He never moved. I tossed sticks, kicked the cover and shot the blank pistol 2 more times. He never moved. I started the 4-wheeler and released him with an okay.
I was close to the other pigeon when he smelled the bird. He started to point then moved up and I flushed the pigeon. He stopped to flush. I walked in front of him kicking the cover. I shot the blank pistol and he never moved. I shot the blank pistol 2 more times and he never moved. I went to him and stroked his sides. I tapped his head to release him. I let him run before taking him back to the kennel.
Maybe Mondays are hard for dogs, too. Luke has done real well on his birds without any mistakes for a long time and Blaze has been doing real well, lately. But today Blaze chased, Luke was crowding his birds and Tur Bo caught a bird. It looks like the weather will be cool enough to work the dogs most mornings and that’s how they learn, through repetitions.