Traveling Pointing Dogs

I have some commitments that are keeping me from dog training as often as I would like but they are coming to an end. I went out about 7:00 am this morning and it was about 65 degrees. Sally and Betsy both have been doing real well with the steady to wing and shot. I have been hiding two pigeons close together then flushing whichever is farther from the dog that is pointing. I haven’t been flushing the birds they have been pointing. I decided today to hide 3 birds, in release traps. I put one on my side of the training grounds and two about 50 yards apart on the neighbor’s side.

Betsy pointing a pigeon.

Sally pointing a pigeon.

Betsy, a head shot.

I put the e-collars on Sally’s neck and flanks then heeled her out with the piggin’ string. After about 50 yards I said, “whoa” and walked in front of her. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I heeled her away.

We went another 50 yards and I whoaed her again. I took a pigeon from the bird bag and held it by the feet, letting it flap. I laid the pigeon on the ground, on it’s back. It flipped over, flew low right over her head. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She turned to watch the pigeon fly away but didn’t try to chase. I turned her around, stroked her sides then heeled her away. I released her to hunt.

When I got to the middle of the neighbor’s side I saw her on point. She was at least ten yards from the pigeon. I walked in front of her kicking the tall weeds. I flushed the pigeon, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” Sally took a step and stopped. I set her back and walked back in front of her. I kicked the cover then slipped the piggin’ string around her neck and heeled her away. I released her to hunt.

She crossed to my side and was racing down the strip of tall grass that I had left. She hit the scent cone and whirled into a point. I took some pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She took 3 or 4 steps then stopped. I set her back then heeled her away. I released her to hunt.

It’s been quite a while since I have had more than two birds out for the dogs. Sally headed back to the kennel and I had to call her back. We went back to the neighbor’s side. She hit the scent cone but didn’t point until she was right on top of the release trap. I picked her up and set her back about 5 yards from the bird. I kicked the tall weeds after taking some pictures. I flushed the pigeon, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She didn’t move until I shot the blank pistol. Then she chased. I yelled, “whoa” but she didn’t slow down. I held the button on the flank e-collar down until she stopped. I carried her, about 30 yards, back to where she had been when the bird was flushed. I walked in front kicking the cover. I heeled her away then released her to hunt.

On the way back to the kennel I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She stopped before I could say, “whoa.” I went to her, stroked her sides then tapped her head for the release. She went back to the kennel.

I reloaded the release traps and heeled Betsy out with the e-collars around her neck and flanks. About 50 yards from the kennel I whoaed her, walked in front, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She didn’t move. I went to her, stroked her sides and heeled her away. Another 50 yards I whoaed her again. This time I walked in front of her, took a pigeon from the bird bag by the feet and let it flap it’s wings. I set it on the ground on it’s back. The pigeon flipped over and flew away. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She turned her head to watch it fly away but didn’t move her feet. I heeled her another 50 yards then released her to hunt.

I came around a clump of brush and saw Betsy on point. I took some pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and she didn’t move until I shot the blank pistol. When I shot her front feet did a dance but the back feet didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover for a few seconds then stroked her sides and heeled her away. I released her to hunt.

The area the second pigeon was in is surrounded by brush and she was on point when I got close. I took more pictures then walked in front of her kicking the tall grass. I flushed the pigeon, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She did her little dance but didn’t try to follow. I stroked her sides and heeled her about 35 yards before releasing her to run.

Betsy pointing a quail.

I had to call her back. She, too, decided that since, usually, they only get to point two times it was time to go back to the kennel. When she came back we crossed over to my side of the training grounds. She was running down a tall strip of grass, that I have left to hide birds in, when she got a little scent. She slowed down and I whoaed her. She stopped but I could tell she wasn’t getting the scent very good. I tapped her head and she moved up about two steps and went on point. This time she was more intense. I walked in front of her kicking the cover. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She did her dance but didn’t chase. I stroked her sides and heeled her away. I released her to run.

I saw her on point at the pigeon coops as I got to the kennel. I never have to worry about her whereabouts after dog training. She always heads for the pigeon coop and is on point when I get there.

Both dogs are waiting for me to go in front of them so I’m not worried about the movement after the flush. I don’t field trial so a little movement is not a problem. What I’m trying to do with the dog training that I do is keep them from running in and flushing any late flushing birds.

It won’t be long until I can do my dog training with wild birds. Kansas has an early prairie chicken season. Kansas also allows hunting turkeys in the fall with dogs. Fall turkey opens about the first of October. I use these seasons to find where the quail are and it lets me get my dogs out.

Sally’s eyes are pretty well focused.

Betsy watching a pigeon fly away.

Sally on a pigeon.

I went out a little after 7:00 am this morning and it was already above 70 degrees, too warm for dog training. This time of the year we just take what we can get. I hid 4 pigeons, two on my side and two on the neighbor’s side, in the tall grass and weeds. On the neighbor’s side the birds were about 5 yards apart and on my side they were about 10 yards apart.

Sally pointing a pigeon.

Betsy pointing a pigeon.

Betsy, after the pigeon has flown.

I put the e-collars on Sally’s neck and flanks and heeled her out with the piggin’ string. I took her to the neighbor’s side of the training grounds. After heeling her for about 25 yards I said, “whoa” and walked ahead of her. She stopped. I came back and stroked her sides then heeled her away. After another 25 yards I whoaed her again. I reached into the bird bag for a pigeon and saw Sally take a couple of steps. I left the pigeon in the bag and set her back. I heeled her for another 25 yards and whoaed her again. This time she stopped and stayed. I took the pigeon from the bird bag by the feet. She became a lot more intense when she saw the pigeon. I turned the pigeon on it’s back and placed it on the ground. When it flew away I shot the blank pistol. She turned her head to watch it fly away but didn’t move her feet. I stroked her sides and heeled her away.

I heeled her a few more yards then released her to hunt. I got almost to the back on the neighbor’s side when I remembered that I didn’t have the transmitter for the release traps with me. Sally went on point. I took some pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I had to hand release the pigeon, that was farthest from her, in the trap. I shot the blank pistol as it flew away. Sally didn’t move. I stroked her sides then put the piggin’ string around her neck and heeled her away.

Since I got old and forgetful I get more exercise. I heeled Sally all the way back to the shed, got the release transmitter, heeled her back to the training grounds. I whoaed her and released her to hunt. I had a pigeon hidden on each end of a long strip of grass that I haven’t mowed all year. When she started down the strip she hit the scent cone and whirled into a point. I took pictures then walked in front of her kicking the grass. I flushed the pigeon that was on the other end of the strip, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She didn’t move. I stroked her sides then heeled her away.

I turned her loose to run on the way back to the kennel. She came close and I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She stopped before I could say, “whoa.” I stroked her sides, tapped her head and let her run. When we got to the kennel I put her in her pen.

I reloaded the release traps and got Betsy out. I heeled Betsy about 25 yards and whoaed her. I walked in front of her, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She didn’t move. I heeled her another 25 yards and whoaed her again. This time I walked in front, took a pigeon from the bird bag by it’s feet letting it flap. I turned the pigeon on it’s back and placed it on the ground. When it flew away I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She didn’t move. I heeled her away after stroking her sides. I released her to hunt.

When I got to the back on the neighbor’s side I thought I saw Betsy point then move so I flushed the pigeon she was near. She took a couple of steps to follow the pigeon and I whoaed her. She stopped. I set her up where I thought she should have pointed. She was still 10 yards from the other pigeon. I flushed it, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She didn’t move. As I started to her she started moving. I whoaed her again and she stopped. I set her back where she had originally pointed. I kicked the cover but she didn’t move again. I released her.

When we crossed back to my side of the training grounds she went on point. I stood behind her for several minutes to see if she was going to move but she didn’t. I walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon on the other end of the strip of grass, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She didn’t move. I stroked her sides then walked back in front of her.

I kicked the grass. I took more pictures then flushed the pigeon that was right in front of her, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” The pigeon was evidently a young bird. It flew to a nearby tree and tried to light but fell to the ground. Betsy didn’t move until the pigeon fell to the ground. When she started to it I yelled, “whoa” and she stopped. I set her back, stroked her sides then heeled her away. After 35 yards I released her. She ran back to the kennel.

Dog training is always fun for me and most times fun for the dogs but it’s time to get them into some wild birds. Next month prairie chicken and turkey season starts in Kansas. If the weather will cool down about the first of September I may try chicken hunting in Nebraska. Anything to do some dog training on wild birds.

Sally pointing a pigeon.

Betsy

Sally this morning.

We don’t get many mornings in August, for dog training, as cool as Friday morning was. The temperature was in the low 50’s and it was almost cold riding the 4-wheeler. My kind of morning.

Sally pointing a pigeon.

Betsy watching a pigeon fly away.

Sally on a pigeon.

I couldn’t let such a cool morning go by without working dogs but I had some work I had to get done so I only worked Sally and Betsy. After the raccoons got through with my pigeons I only have about a dozen good flying birds. On days when I’m not busy I can wait for some to get back and work more dogs.

Dog training is doing the same thing over and over until the dogs do what is expected of them, most of the time. I hid 4 pigeons in release traps on my training grounds. I have a long strip of grass that I haven’t mowed all year and I hid a bird on each end. I put 2 more in a fence row about 10 yards from the others.

I had a pigeon in the bird bag when I heeled Sally out with e-collars on her neck and flanks. All of my dogs heel, usually pretty well, but just working them once a week or so they are really anxious when they know there are birds to be found. Sally started trying to pull me but after I made a few 180 degree turns she decided I could be in charge.

After a few turns I whoaed her. I walked in front, kicked some branches that had fallen from my trees, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She kind of flinched when I kicked the branches but didn’t move. I stroked her sides then heeled her away.

After another 50 yards I whoaed her again. I walked in front of her taking a pigeon from the bird bag by it’s feet, letting it flap. I set the pigeon on the ground on it’s back and let it flip up and fly away. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She turned her head to watch the pigeon fly away but didn’t move her feet. I stroked her sides and heeled her away.

When we got to the edge of the training grounds I released her to hunt. I ride the 4-wheeler to the back on both sides of the grounds, when I hide the pigeons, so the dogs don’t just follow the 4-wheeler tracks to the birds. Sometimes instead of dog training it’s dogs training the handler.

Sally hunted to the back on my side then crossed to the neighbor’s side. When I came through a line of trees she was already on point on one of the birds in the strip of grass. I took pictures then stroked her sides. I walked in front of her kicking the tall grass. I flushed the pigeon in the other end of the grass strip, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She raised her head to watch the pigeon but didn’t move her feet. I stroked her sides.

Betsy

I went back in front of her kicking the tall weeds. I flushed a pigeon that was in the fence row, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I stroked her sides telling her what a good girl she is.

I went back in front kicking the tall weeds. I flushed the other pigeon in the fence row and it flew low right between me and Sally. She turned her body to watch it fly but didn’t try to follow. I shot the pistol and said, “whoa”. I stroked her sides and put the piggin’ string on her and heeled her away.

I didn’t flush the pigeon she was pointing. I heeled her for about 50 yards then released her to run. She tried a couple of times to circle back but I kept her in front of me. Once when she was about 45 yards from me I shot the blank pistol and she stopped before I could say, “whoa”. I stroked her sides and we went back to the kennel.

I reloaded the release traps, put a pigeon in the bird bag and heeled Betsy out with the e-collars around her neck and flanks. I only had to make one 180 degree turn to get her to heeling. I whoaed her near the blown down down branches. When I kicked the branches her front feet did a little dance and she turned to the right to watch me closer. I went to her and set her back. I kicked the branches and when she didn’t move I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I heeled her away.

After another 50 yards I whoaed her again. I took a pigeon from the bird bag by the feet, letting it flap. I set the bird on it’s back and when it turned over it ran on the ground for a few feet then flew. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. Her front feet did their dance and she turned to watch the pigeon. She didn’t try to follow. I set her back, stroked her sides and heeled her away.

I released her to hunt when we got to the edge of the training grounds. Betsy was a self hunter when I got her. I’ve been trying to get her to hunt with me. Early this year I hunted her on a hunting preserve with a drop chain on. She would hardly get away from my side. I took the drop chain off and used a check cord. She moved out a little but not much. That worked okay for a training session but I want her to run just not too much. I worked her here for a while dragging a check cord but she still didn’t run much. The e-collar on her flanks restricts her some also. But this morning she ran like I wanted. She stayed in front of me and checked all of the cover.

Sally watching the pigeon in my hand.

When I came through the tree line she was on point at the end of the line of tall grass. I took pictures then stroked her sides. I walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon at the other end of the grass strip, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She did her dance with the front feet and turned a little. I set her back, stroked her sides and went back in front.

I continued to kick the cover, flushed one of the pigeons in the fence row. She was in a position where she couldn’t see this bird but she heard it. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move this time. I stroked her sides.

I went back in front kicking the tall weeds. I flushed the other pigeon in the fence row, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She saw this bird when it came off the ground and did her dance with the front feet turning her body to follow the sight of the bird. I stroked her sides after setting her back.

I haven’t been flushing the bird they have been pointing for a little while but I decided to on this last pigeon. I went back in front of her kicking the cover. Betsy was off of this bird about 7 or 8 yards. I flushed the pigeon, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She did her dance but didn’t try to follow. I set her back, stroked her sides then heeled her away.

On the way back to the kennel I didn’t shoot the blank pistol to see if she would stop. This was the best she had ran for me with the flank collar on and I didn’t want to hinder that. When I got to the kennel she was on point at the pigeon coop. When I walked up the pigeons on their house flew. She didn’t follow. I put her in the kennel.

I don’t field trial and I don’t really care if my dogs are steady to wing, shot and fall but I think if they are trained this way they are steadier on their birds. Also, if they don’t go running in when the birds flush there is sometimes a late bird or birds that can give additional shots. Plus this gives me an excuse to be dog training.

Betsy, after the dance, watching a pigeon fly away.

Sally pointing a pigeon.

Betsy pointing a pigeon.