Luke
Luke
A nice cool morning. When I went out to train about 8:00 am it was 52 degrees with a light wind out of the north east. I put 9 pigeons in the box on the 4-wheeler and hid birds in 2 release traps on the training grounds. I like to change things so the young dogs will be ready for anything in the field. I had enough birds to drop one pigeon by hand when the dogs point the first time.
I released Luke with the e-collars on his neck and flanks. When I got to the first quail he was on point. I took a pigeon from the box on the 4-wheeler and hid it behind my back. I took pictures (which is no small thing with the camera in one hand and a pigeon in the other) and walked in front of him. I dropped the pigeon behind me and shot the blank pistol. Luke watched the pigeon fly away but didn’t move. I continued to kick the grass and flushed the pigeon from the release trap. He didn’t move even when I shot the blank pistol. I stroked his sides, then started the 4-wheeler and released him with an okay.
He pointed the second bird and I took more pictures. I walked in front of him kicking the cover and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I continued to kick the tall grass, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I continued to kick in front of him and shot the blank pistol again. He still didn’t move. I went to him, stroked his sides and tapped his head for a release. I let him run for a while before taking him back to the kennel.
Tur Bo
Tur Bo
I brought Tur Bo out with the e-collars on his neck and flanks and whoaed him near the 4-wheeler. I started the 4-wheeler and released him with an okay. When I got to the first bird he was on point. I got a bird from the box and hid it behind my back. I took pictures then went in front of him kicking the cover. I dropped the pigeon behind me and shot the blank pistol. Tur Bo raised his head really high but didn’t take a step. I continued to kick the tall grass then flushed the pigeon in the release trap and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move even when I shot the blank pistol again. I went to him and stroked his sides telling him what a good boy he is. I started the 4-wheeler and released him.
He was on point on the second bird when I got to the area. I took pictures then went in front of him kicking the cover. I shot the blank pistol and he never moved. I continued to kick the cover, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. Tur Bo took 2 steps and stopped. The pigeon only flew about 15 yards to a tree and landed. I picked him up and set him back. He was still watching the pigeon in the tree and I didn’t want to release him as long as he could see the bird. I threw a stick near the pigeon and it flew away. I shot the blank pistol and he didn’t move. I stroked his sides then tapped him on the head for a release. I let him run for a while before going back to the kennel.
Blaze
Blaze
I put the e-collars on Blaze and heeled her out near the 4-wheeler. After whoaing her I started the 4-wheeler and released her with an okay. All 3 of these young dogs are really fast to the bird field. When I got close to the first bird she was on point. I got a bird out of the box on the 4-wheeler and hid it behind me. I took some pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I dropped the pigeon behind me and shot the blank pistol. Blaze watched the pigeon fly away without moving. As she watched she saw a pigeon sitting in a tree about 20 yards from her. I kicked the cover but she didn’t turn her head away from the bird in the tree. I finally went to the bird in the tree and made it fly. I shot the blank pistol but she didn’t move. I went back close to the bird I had hidden in the release trap and flushed it. I shot the blank pistol but she never moved. Three birds and three shots with no steps taken. I went to her, stroked her sides and told her what a good girl she is. I started the 4-wheeler and released her with an okay.
She pointed the second bird and I took pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I shot the blank pistol but she never moved. I continued to kick the cover and flushed the pigeon. I shot the blank pistol then shot it again. She didn’t move. I went to her, stroked her sides and released her with a tap on the head. I let her run before going back to the kennel.
These young dogs really enjoy pointing the pigeons but when they pointed wild quail they were totally different. On the pigeons their tails curl or is to one side but on the wild quail it’s ramrod straight. They are even more intense on quail than they are on pigeons. On pigeons I can flush them when I want to but the quail will not hold for me to walk around the dog to get the best picture. Usually, during the hunting season, I’m so excited about the moment that I forget to take pictures, anyway.