We had a cool morning Wednesday, the second of June, so I worked all 5 dogs. Thursday morning I needed to take Boss to the vet to get all of his shots for his trip to North Dakota so I took Abby along too. My vet doesn’t sonogram but he felt of her and determined that she was indeed pregnant. She should have a litter near the end of this month.
Boss
Abby pointing a pigeon.
Boss pointing a pigeon.
I’m sending Boss to North Dakota near the last of this month for two months. Before I give the mans name that is taking him I will talk to him about my blog. But he wanted Boss to have all of his shots, including Lyme disease, before he leaves so I took him to my vet, when I took Abby. The vet doesn’t allow anyone in the office, because of Covid. A lady vet tech comes for the dog and you tell her what they need. She leads the dog into the building, they work on it and bring him back. When the vet tech lady brought Boss back she said, “that is the nicest, one year old dog, we’ve ever had in here”. Makes all of the time teaching manners, worthwhile.
I let Luke out to run wearing the GPS collar. I don’t ever do much with him except pet him a little. He’s starting to really enjoy the petting. I can’t take a chance on turning him loose without the GPS collar but, here at home, he’s always stayed close and comes when called. After petting him while I sat on the rock wall, around the water faucet, I put him in his kennel run.
Mann was next to be brought out wearing an e-collar, a GPS collar and dragging a check cord. I whoaed him several times as we went toward the back. I walked to the very back of my side of the training grounds as Mann ran. When we got close to the retrieving bench, on the way back, Mann jumped onto the bench. I walked up one side then down the other petting him occasionally.
I placed 4 retrieving dummies on the far end of the bench, after telling him to whoa. When I sent him to retrieve he came back and held the dummy until I said, “give”. After he retrieved each one I set him on the ground and said, “whoa”. I placed the 4 retrieving dummies on the ground out farther than the bench is long. I sent him to retrieve each one. I insist that he hold until I say give. He retrieved each one. I tapped his head to release him.
Then we went to our favorite thing. I sit at the rock wall around the water faucet and pet him. I think, Mann would stand there all day. He rests his head on my leg and doesn’t move. After a few minutes I put him in his kennel.
Boss was next to be led out. He was wearing a GPS collar, an e-collar and dragging a check cord. I whoaed him several times before releasing him to run. On this day he jumped onto the retrieving bench on the way to the back. I petted him as we went up one side of the bench then down the other. I placed the retrieving dummy in his mouth 6 times on the bench. I set him on the ground and had him hold the retrieving dummy twice. I tapped his head to release him.
Boss pointing a pigeon.
We went on to the back then back toward the kennels. When we got to the rock wall I petted him for a few minutes then put him in his kennel.
Then it was Abby’s turn. I put the GPS and e-collar on her, hooked the check cord to her regular collar and led her out. I whoaed her several times in the first hundred yards then released her to run. Abby has one spot that she expects me to whoa her. When she gets there, well ahead of me, she waits for me to tell her, “okay”. I must have whoaed her in the same spot several times.
When we get near the retrieving bench I help her jump up. Mann and Boss always jump on with no help but Abby and Sally usually want my help. I walked both sides of the bench petting her. I placed a retrieving dummy in her mouth and had her hold for a few seconds before saying, “give”. I had her move her head off the dummy. After she held the dummy 6 times I set her on the ground and said, “whoa”. After I had her hold the retrieving dummy two times I released her to run.
Abby on point.
After petting Abby at the rock wall for a few minutes I put her in her kennel and led Sally out. I whoaed her several times before releasing her to run. We went to the back then back to the retrieving bench. I helped her on then petted her as I walked down both sides. I put the 4 retrieving dummies on the other end and sent her for the retrieve. She retrieved each one and held until I said, “give”. I set her on the ground on whoa.
I placed 4 retrieving dummies farther out than the bench is long. I sent Sally to retrieve each one then released her to run. We went to the rock wall where I petted her for a few minutes. Some days she really likes the petting but on this day she would just as soon eat grass. I put her in the kennel.
I hid 2 pigeons, in release traps, on my side of the training grounds. I use the pigeons that, I think, will fly the best for Abby. She holds really well until the bird flushes but if it has any problem, hits a limb or doesn’t fly fast enough, she is fast enough to catch the bird.
The first two birds were big pigeons so I put an e-collar and GPS on Abby and heeled her out with the piggin’ string. I whoaed her near the 4-wheeler, took the piggin’ string off, got on the 4-wheeler and started it. I watched her for a few seconds then said, “okay”. She crossed the little creek way ahead of me. I had to slow down to cross. There was hardly any wind and she was on the wrong edge to smell the first pigeon. We went on to the back. She hit the scent cone and slammed on the brakes.
Abby.
I took some pictures then went to her. I stroked her sides and told her what a good girl she is. I walked in front kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and it flew back toward the pigeon coop with Abby right behind. She came back and went back to hunting.
As we went back toward the front she hit the scent cone of the pigeon. I took some pictures then stroked her sides telling her what a good girl she is. I went in front of her, took another picture then flushed the pigeon. This pigeon had some problems getting in flight but had the problem too high for her to catch it. She followed it back toward the pigeon coop. I put her in the kennel.
After I reloaded the release traps I heeled Boss out wearing an e-collar and GPS collar. I whoaed him near the 4-wheeler. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it and watched him for a few seconds. When I said, ‘okay” he was off. When I made it across the creek he was on point on the first pigeon. There wasn’t much wind and he was a good 25 yards from the pigeon. I took some pictures but didn’t think he was getting much scent. I tapped his head and he moved up about 10 yards and pointed again.
I went to him and stroked his sides before walking in front of him kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon. This pigeon just flew into a tree right above the release trap. Boss wanted to stay under the tree but as I rode away he moved ahead of me. We went on to the back.
Boss on a pigeon.
Boss went around the edge and wanted to go back to the first bird but I called him back. He was closer to this pigeon when he hit the scent cone and slammed into a point. I took pictures then stroked his sides telling him what a good dog he is. I walked in front kicking the cover. When I flushed the pigeon Boss watched it fly off for a couple of seconds then chased. I picked up the release traps and went back to the kennel. I put him in his run.
I was going to force break both of these young dogs but decided to send Boss to North Dakota for a couple of months. If the bird crop is good he should get to find lots of wild birds. And Abby should have a litter of puppies near the end of June. When I force break dogs to retrieve I’m really slow. I only have to please me and it may take 3 months or more. I probably use less pressure and more repetitions than the pros do. But I don’t have a time line and it doesn’t cost more for me to go slow. I have to feed these dogs anyway.