I was working Mann on some pigeons a few days ago and one of the traps released a bird without us being close. I didn’t realize that the trap was empty, when I ran Mann by. He went by the trap without even turning his head or anything to acknowledge the trap. Since I didn’t know the trap was empty I ran him by again. Again, he went by without showing any signs that he had smelled the trap. I rode the 4-wheeler up and saw that the trap was empty.
Tur Bo on a pigeon.
Sally on a pigeon.
Sally pointing a pigeon.
I have seen some older dogs check the traps out when they were empty but Mann acted like he never smelled anything. I worked Babe on the same trap with a pigeon in it and she pointed. I should have left the traps in the same spot and worked Mann with a bird in that trap but I didn’t.
This morning I worked Tur Bo on some birds but I hit the wrong button on the first bird he pointed and I released the pigeon at the very back on the neighbor’s side. He pointed the first bird and I pushed the stake into the ground, right behind him, and tied the check cord to it. After taking pictures I flushed the pigeon in the release trap. He watched it fly away without moving. I had a pigeon in my hand. I continued to kick the cover. I dropped the pigeon from my hand. He watched it fly away. I pulled the stake, untied him and heeled him away.
I heeled him about 30 yards and said, “whoa”. I took a frozen quail from my pocket and threw it about 15 yards. Tur Bo only has off and on. His “on” is all out. He charged out, grabbed the frozen quail, wheeled around and came charging back. He ran by me, wheeled and sat beside me holding the quail. He held the bird until I said, “give”. I threw the frozen quail three times and three times he went all out. There’s no in between. I released him to hunt.
The next trap he came by was empty. I wanted to see if he would show any indication that he smelled the trap so I rode straight to the empty trap. He came by at top speed and never broke stride. I thought maybe he was on the wrong side but he went on the south then circled the clump without slowing up. I rode away then came back to give him another chance but the second time was as the first. No indication.
To me, this shows how remarkable the bird dogs nose really is. When I hide a pigeon in a release trap I usually rub the pigeon on the grass beside the trap, place it in the trap, then break limbs or pull grass and cover the trap. All of this has to leave scent for the dogs to smell yet if the dog doesn’t smell a bird he doesn’t even slow. If the bird is still there he slams on the brakes. Mann did this and he is only 14 or 15 weeks old.
I’ve had people tell me that their dog false points a lot because it has such a good nose that it can smell old, old scent. If the dog had a good nose he would know whether a bird was there or not. Some false pointing is man made but some is a dog with a lousy nose that is afraid to make a mistake. That is my opinion of a bird dog nose. You may see it different.
Tur Bo pointed the last bird. I pushed the stake into the ground and tied the check cord to it. I took some pictures then went in front of him kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon in the release trap. He didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover and dropped a pigeon from my hand. He still didn’t move. I pulled the stake, untied him and heeled him away. I threw the frozen quail 3 times for him. He acts like he is starting to enjoy retrieving. I hope so. I need a retriever. I released him to run back to the kennel.
I reloaded the traps and brought Sally out. She hasn’t been moving on her birds so I didn’t make her drag a check cord but she was wearing an e-collar around her flanks as well as one around her neck. I didn’t try her on the empty trap but the way the traps work and how forgetful I am this experiment isn’t over. Sally pointed the first bird and I took pictures before walking in front of her. I flushed the pigeon and she didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover and dropped another pigeon from my hand. She still didn’t move. I heeled her away.
Tur Bo pointing a pigeon.
I put her on whoa and tossed a frozen quail just a few feet in front of her. She ran out, grabbed the quail and came back. She dropped the bird before I could say anything. I told her to fetch and she picked it up. I told her to give and she dropped it in my hand. I tossed it a little farther and she went part way then came back to me. I walked her out to the bird and said, “fetch”. She picked it up and I had her carry it back where we had started. I said, “give”. She dropped it in my hand. The next time I threw it she retrieved just fine. I released her to hunt.
She pointed the next pigeon and I took pictures. I walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and she didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover and dropped another pigeon from my hand. She still didn’t move. I heeled her away.
I whoaed her and tossed the frozen quail about 10 yards. She ran out, picked it up and returned to me. She held the quail until I said, “give”. I tossed the quail about 15 yards and she went half way and came back. I held the transmitter button down on low, one and walked her toward the quail. When we got close she grabbed it and came back. I had retreated to where I had thrown it from. She held it until I said, “give”. I threw it about 10 yards and she raced out, grabbed the quail and returned. I said, “give” and she dropped it in my hand. Seems like she will go 10 yards but needs help going farther. I want her to be successful. We will stick with the shorter retrieves for a while. I released her to hunt.
She was 2 or 3 yards from the next pigeon when she went on point. She knew exactly where this bird was so I dropped the pigeon from my hand and shot the blank pistol. That was a surprise for her because I hadn’t shot the blank pistol for her or Tur Bo either. She looked at me but didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover and flushed the pigeon in the release trap. This pigeon came out right over her and she reared up but didn’t really try to follow. I shot the blank pistol. I heeled her away.
Tur Bo pointing a pigeon.
I tossed the quail a few yards and she retrieved it each time just fine. After the third time I released her to hunt. I took her back to the kennel.
On Sally’s last bird I dropped the pigeon from my hand to get her used to staying on point when the bird she is pointing isn’t the bird that flushes. Sometimes, I will have two or more dogs on point and it shouldn’t make any difference which dog I go to, the others should stay on point. That is what I was trying to teach with that exercise.
I didn’t work the puppies today. I’m going to start them on obedience tomorrow. We will work on heel, whoa and kennel. I may put some pigeons out for them as we go along but for a while it will just be obedience. The sooner I get through these commands the sooner I can work on “here”. Seeing a bird dog learn is why I do this.
Tur Bo
Sally
Sally pointing a pigeon.