I put an e-collar and the roading harness on Tur Bo, then snapped the weights onto the rings on the side of the harness and we started around my yard. The first few times, when I stopped, Tur Bo tried to sit. I would say heel and start walking again before he could sit. He pulls those weights about 1/2 mile each morning and I stop often. I’m now saying whoa each time I stop and heel when we start walking again. I also walk in front of him but so far I can only go right in front of his nose but he will get used to that and soon I will be able to walk around him as he stands on whoa. Pulling the weights makes heeling him easier.
Tur Bo pulled the weights to the shed and I sat in the door of the shed to take the roading harness off him. After taking it off I petted him for a while before heeling him to the retrieving bench. When we got to the bench Tur Bo jumped onto it. The last couple of times he has laid down before jumping up on the bench but today he didn’t hesitate. I walked him up and down the bench to get him comfortable then threw my glove 5 or 6 times. He brought it right back but I petted him until he dropped it then threw it again. I threw the tennis ball 1 time and he brought it right back. I petted him until he dropped it then moved him to the chain gang.
Tur Bo pulling weights
I put an e-collar on Blaze and heeled her to the bench. I threw a tennis ball for her 7 or 8 times and she retrieved it every time and acted like she was having fun. She knows what to do, but like a kid, she checks to see if this is the day that she is in charge. I put her on the chain gang.
I put Whitey’s e-collar on her and heeled her to the retrieving bench. I threw the tennis ball for her and like Blaze she retrieved it every time. They both have been through the trained retrieve but they still think they have a choice. I put her on the chain gang.
I put 2 pigeons in release traps about 10 yards apart on my neighbors side of the training grounds. I took the e-collar off Whitey and put it on Blaze, around her flanks. I had run the 4 wheeler on my side then drove over to the neighbor’s side to hide the birds, trying to fool these dogs. I turned Blaze loose and she headed straight to the neighbor’s side and went to hunting. When we got close to the pigeons Blaze pointed. I stroked her up and walked in front of her. After I kicked the cover for a while I flushed the pigeon that was farther away. Blaze didn’t move. I let her stand for a while then went back to kicking the cover. She could still smell the bird she had pointed. When I flushed it, the bird flew back over Blaze’s head and she turned her head to watch it fly but she didn’t move.
I replaced the pigeons in the release traps for Whitey. When I turned her loose she went to the neighbor’s side after checking my side for about 10 seconds. She was really running when she caught the scent and slid to a point. While I was kicking the cover in front of her I flushed the bird that was farther away. She raised her head to watch the other bird without moving. I waited, then she smelled the bird she originally pointed. I started kicking the cover, then flushed the bird. She didn’t move.
For Tur Bo, I left 1 bird where they were and moved the other to the back of the training ground. When I turned him loose he proved to me, my driving around on my side was just a waste of time, he went to the neighbor’s side immediately. He found the one near the back first and pointed with style. After he pointed for about 30 seconds I walked near the pigeon and stopped. I did not say anything. I stood there about 15 seconds and flushed the bird when he moved. He chased but not far then went back to hunting. I was behind him when he pointed the second bird so I just stopped. I didn’t say anything or move. I could see his cheeks go in and out as he chewed the scent. He held the point for over 1 1/2 minutes. When he moved I flushed the bird.
I turned all 3 dogs loose for a short run to shake the training off. Each day I look for little gains in training these young dogs. The way I train is slower than some others but you don’t take anything out of the dogs. You get the best your dog can be.