Traveling Pointing Dogs

I did more dog training on Tuesday morning. The temperature was in the 50’s. It was nice for me and the dogs. I have been running the dogs with a half hitch from the check cord around their flanks but this morning I decided to not use the check cord.

Sally watching the pigeon in my hand.

Betsy watching me.

Tur Bo pointing a pigeon.

I put 3 pigeons, in release traps, in a triangle, about 10 yards apart on the training grounds. I had 2 pigeons in a bird bag when I led Sally out with the piggin’ string. She had e-collars around her neck and flanks. Today there was no check cord.

I heeled her about 20 yards then said, “whoa”. I walked around her then out front and to the rear. She didn’t move so I heeled her away.

After another 20 yards I whoaed her, walked out front, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. I was really watching her and she didn’t move. She didn’t flinch, blink or anything. I stroked her sides telling her what a good girl she is. I heeled her away.

After another 20 yards I whoaed her and took a pigeon from the bird bag, by the feet, as I walked out front of her. I let the pigeon flap for a few seconds, released it, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I went to her, stroked her sides and heeled her away.

A few yards farther and I whoaed her again. I walked in front and took a pigeon from the bird bag, by the feet. I let it flap for a few seconds, released it, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I stroked her sides and heeled her away.

When we got to the retrieving bench I released her to hunt. As we went toward the back of my side, when she came within about 30 yards of me, I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She stopped immediately. She looked at me but didn’t move her feet. I walked to her, stroked her sides and tapped her head for the release.

We went to the back on my side then crossed to the neighbor’s side and went to the back on his side. I had the birds hidden at the very back. She was 10 or 12 yards from the bird that she was pointing but I could tell which one it was. I walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed one of the pigeons that was away from the one she was pointing. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She raised her head a little higher but didn’t move her feet. I went to her, stroked her sides then walked back in front of her.

I walked back in front kicking the cover. After a few seconds I flushed another pigeon. One that was about 15 yards away, that she wasn’t pointing. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I went to her, stroked her sides and heeled her for about 40 yards toward the kennel. I whoaed her then released her to hunt.

Sally pointing a pigeon. Some of these pictures are older and the dogs still hjave a check cord on.

As we headed back to the kennel, when she came within about 40 yards of me I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She stopped, looking at me. I walked to her and tapped her head. We went back to the kennel.

I reloaded the release traps and put a couple of pigeons in the bird bag and heeled Betsy out with the piggin’ string. She had e-collars on her neck and flanks but no check cord. After about 20 yards I whoaed her and walked around her. I tapped her head and heeled her on.

About 20 yards and I whoaed her again. This time when I walked in front of her, I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I stroked her sides then heeled her away.

Another 20 yards or so I whoaed her again. I walked in front, taking a pigeon from the bird bag by the feet. I let it flap for a few seconds then released it, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She turned side ways to watch the bird fly away. I set her back where she was. I went back in front, took another pigeon from the bag, by the feet and let it flap. As it flew away I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. This time only her head turned. I stroked her sides and heeled her away.

When we got near the retrieving bench I whoaed her then tapped her head to release her. Without the check cord she runs a lot bigger but stays in front of me. When she came by at about 40 yards I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She stopped. I stroked her sides then released her.

She went to the back on my side then crossed over to the neighbor’s side. When I got to the back she was standing right over one of the pigeons in the release trap. By the way she was looking at the release trap (her head was twisted around to her middle) I think she didn’t get the scent until she was right on top of it. I set her back about 5 yards.

I walked in front of her kicking the cover. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover, flushed a pigeon about 15 yards from her, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I stroked her sides.

Sally pointing a pigeon.

I went back in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed a pigeon, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I went to her, stroked her sides and heeled her away. After about 40 or 50 yards I released her. As we went back to the kennel, when she came close to me, I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t stop so I hit the button on her flank e-collar. She came to me. Not what I wanted. I carried her back to where she was when I shot the blank pistol. I whoaed her and returned to my spot then walked to her. I stroked her sides then tapped her on the head.

We continued on toward the kennels and when she came close I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. This time she stopped. I went to her, stroked her sides then tapped her head to release her. We returned to the kennels.

Since the raccoons got some of my pigeons I have to wait for some to come back before I could work Tur Bo. The pigeons get smart. They sit on my house until I get through training. They know if they come back too early I may use them again. I went to the house and had a cup of coffee. When I came back I had birds.

I reloaded the release traps and put a couple of pigeons in the bird bag. I put the e-collars on
Tur Bo and heeled him out with the piggin’ string. After 20 yards I whoaed him. I walked around him, stroked his sides and heeled him away.

Another twenty yards and I whoaed him again. I walked in front of him, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. He does a little dance with his front feet but doesn’t really move. I stroked his sides and heeled him on.

Another 20 yards or so and I whoaed him again. I walked in front of him taking a pigeon from the bird bag by the feet. After it flapped for a few seconds I released it, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. He did his dance with his front feet but didn’t chase. I went to him and raised his front end up and told him, “whoa”. I heeled him away.

A few more yards and I whoaed him again. I walked in front taking a pigeon from the bird bag by the feet. After it flapped for a few seconds I released it, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. He did his dance but didn’t really act like he wanted to chase. I raised his front end and then heeled him away.

When we got to the retrieving bench I released him to hunt. When he ran back close to me I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. He slowed but didn’t stop. I held the button on his flank e-collar down until he stopped. I went to him and carried him back to where he was when I shot the pistol. I whoaed him and walked around him. I tapped his head for the release.

Betsy on point.

He hunted to the back on my side then crossed to the neighbor’s side. He was 20 yards from the pigeons when he went on point. I walked in front of him kicking the cover. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. He did his dance. I raised his front end up then went back in front. I kicked the cover then flushed a pigeon. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. He didn’t move. I stroked his sides then went back in front.

I continued to kick the cover, flushed another pigeon, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. His head came up and he did his little dance. I raised his front end up. I went back in front of him, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. This time he didn’t move.

I continued to kick the cover, flushed the last pigeon, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. I noticed that he didn’t do his dance until I shot the blank pistol. I raised his front end up then went back in front. I shot the blank pistol 5 more times saying whoa after each time. The last two times he didn’t do his dance. I think he may have to have more shots from the blank pistol to break him of his dance. I released him to go back to the kennel. On the way back when he came close I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. He didn’t slam on the brakes but he stopped before I could press the button on his flank e-collar. So he’s learning. We went back to the kennel.

I know these posts all sound about the same but dog training is about repetition. All 3 dogs are doing better. I don’t do field trials and I’m not a pro trainer. I’m a bird hunter that writes a blog. So I don’t need my dogs to be steady to wing and shot but I do need something to write about in my blog. I enjoy dog training and teaching anything to my dogs.

Betsy pointing a pigeon.

Sally pointing a pigeon..

Tur Bo watching a pigeon fly away.

The temperature was in the low 50’s when I got up this morning. Not normal for late June but really welcome for dog training. I put 3 pigeons, in release traps, in the tall grass on the training grounds. I spaced them about 10 yards apart in a triangle. No matter which bird the dogs point I can release the other two.

Sally pointing a pigeon.

Betsy pointing a pigeon.

Sally as the pigeon flies away.

I had 2 pigeons in the bird bag when I put the e-collars around Sally’s neck and flanks, put a half hitch around her flanks with the check cord and snapped it to her collar and heeled her out with the piggin’ string. After 20 yards I whoaed her and started to walk around her. As I came by her side she decided to walk with me. I continued to walk and held the button down on the flank e-collar. She looked surprised but she stopped. I set her back then tapped her head and heeled her on.

After another 20 yards I whoaed her again. I walked around her then out front. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I stroked her sides then heeled her on.

I whoaed her again and walked out front. I took a pigeon from the bird bag holding it by it’s feet. After letting it flap for about 15 seconds I released it, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I stroked her sides and heeled her away.

After another 30 yards I whoaed her again. I walked in front of her, took a pigeon from the bird bag holding it by it’s feet. I let it flap for about 15 seconds, released it, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I stroked her sides and heeled her away.

I heeled her past the retrieving bench, whoaed her then released her to hunt. I run the 4-wheeler to the very back on both sides of the training grounds to make sure the dogs don’t just follow the 4-wheeler to where I’ve hid the pigeons. The pigeons were hidden on the first part of the neighbor’s side. We hunted to the back of my side then crossed over near the middle of the neighbor’s side and went to the back of his side. As she came within about 30 yards of me I shot the blank pistol and she stopped before I could say, “whoa”. We hunted back to the front on his side where she went on point. She was 10 or 12 yards from the pigeon but I could tell which bird she was pointing.

I pushed the stake in the ground and tied the check cord to it. I walked in front of her kicking the cover. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover and flushed a pigeon that was directly in front of her but about 25 yards away. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I stroked her sides then went back in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed another pigeon that was to her right front about 15 yards away. She had her right foot up and when the bird was flushed she put her right foot down and lifted her left front foot. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. she didn’t move.

I pulled the stake, untied the check cord and stroked her sides. I put the piggin’ string on her and heeled her away. I never flushed the pigeon she was pointing. After getting her well away from where she was pointing I released her to hunt. When she came close I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. As soon as the pistol went off she stopped.

We walked for 30 or 40 yards before she would get away from my side. Finally, she took off for the pigeon coop. Maybe too many whoas. I took her back to the kennel.

Betsy looked good this morning.

I reloaded the release traps, put 2 pigeons in the bird bag, put all of the stuff on Betsy and heeled her out with the piggin’ string. After about 20 yards I told her to whoa. I walked around her then out front. I stroked her sides then heeled her away.

After another 20 yards I whoaed her and walked out front. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I heeled her away.

Another 20 yards and I whoaed her again. As I walked out front of her I took a pigeon from the bird bag and held it by the feet letting it flap. After about 15 seconds I released the bird, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She turned sideways to watch the pigeon fly away. I walked to her and set her back. I walked back in front of her, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I went back to her, stroked her sides then heeled her away.

After another 20 yards I whoaed her. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I heeled her on for another 20 yards then whoaed her again. I took a pigeon from the bird bag as I walked in front of her. I held the pigeon by the feet letting it flap. I released the bird, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I went to her and stroked her sides then heeled her to the training grounds.

Sally pointing a pigeon.

I released her to hunt. We went to the back of my side then crossed to the neighbor’s side. We went to the back then started back to the front. When she went on point there was no doubt which of the three birds she was pointing. I pushed the stake into the ground and tied her check cord to it. I walked in front of her, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move.

One of the release traps was to her left front. As I walked in front of her, kicking the cover, I flushed that bird. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I stroked her sides then walked back in front of her kicking the cover.

She was between the pigeon she was pointing and a bird on her left. I continued to kick the cover then flushed the bird on her left, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. The pigeon was a young one. He flew just above her head and lit in a tree about 3 yards in front of her. Her head moved but her feet stayed. I stroked her sides, pulled the stake, untied the check cord and heeled her away. I released her to run.

I was going to work Tur Bo but it started raining. I used 6 blanks on each dog. I got by with less shooting because they are getting better. Other than moving the first time I whoaed her Sally was about perfect. Betsy did better than usual.

Dog training is just taking small steps forward especially if you train without putting a lot of pressure on the dog. Dog training without a lot of pressure is fun for the dogs and me as well.

Betsy watching a pigeon in a tree.

Sally, really concentrating.

Betsy watching a pigeon in my hand.

Wow! It was 57 degrees when I got up this morning. A perfect morning for dog training. It was cool riding the 4-wheeler but it felt good. I put 3 pigeons in release traps about 10 yards apart and had 2 birds in the bird bag.

Sally pointing a pigeon.

Betsy pointing a pigeon.

Tur Bo pointing a pigeon.

I put the e-collars on Sally’s neck and flanks, put a half hitch around her flanks with the check cord and heeled her away from the kennel with the piggin’ string. About 20 yards out of the kennel I said, “whoa” and walked out front of her. I walked all around her, tapped her head then heeled her away. After another 20 yards I said, “whoa” and I walked in front of her I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I heeled her away.

After another 20 yards I whoaed her and walked in front of her. I took a pigeon from the bird bag and held it by it’s feet. I moved the bird back and forth to make it flap as much as possible. I released the bird, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I heeled her away.

We went another 20 yards and I whoaed her again. I walked in front of her and took a pigeon from the bird bag holding it by the feet. As it flapped I released it, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I heeled her on toward the training grounds. I whoaed her and released her to hunt.

As she ran through the field I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She turned to look at me but stopped. I’m just wanting her to think the blank pistol is another whoa command and I think she is getting there. I tapped her head and she went back to hunting.

I had 3 birds in release traps in a diamond pattern about 10 yards apart. She went on point on the west side of of one of the release traps. I pushed the stake into the ground and tied the check cord to it. I walked in front of her, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I continued to walk in front of her, flushed a pigeon but not the one she was pointing, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move.

I continued to walk around in front of her. I flushed another pigeon but not the one she was pointing, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I pulled the stake, untied the check cord and heeled her away. I whoaed her, placed the piggin’ string around her neck and heeled her away. After we were 40 yards away from the release traps I released her to run.

On the way back to the kennel I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She turned to look at me but she stopped. I tapped her on the head and we went back to the kennel.

I reloaded the bird bag and the release traps, put the stuff on Betsy and heeled her out with the piggin’ string. After about 20 yards I whoaed her and walked around her. After another 20 yards I whoaed her, walked out in front of her, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She did a little dance with her front feet but didn’t move her back feet. I moved her front end back, walked out in front of her, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. This time she didn’t move. I heeled her away.

Tur Bo after I dropped a pigeon in front of him.

After another 20 yards I whoaed her and took a pigeon from the bird bag holding it by the feet. I released the bird as it flapped, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. Betsy turned sideways to watch the bird fly away. I went to her and turned her back where she was originally. I walked back in front of her, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I heeled her away.

Another 20 yards and I whoaed her again. I took a pigeon from the bird bag as I went in front of her holding it by the feet. I let it flap then released the pigeon. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. This time she didn’t move. I heeled her toward the back, whoaed her then tapped her head for the release.

As she moved through the field I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She stopped. As I walked toward her she started toward me. I tapped the button on her flank e-collar and she stopped. I moved her back. I walked in front of her, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I tapped her head and she went back to hunting.

She was on the north side of the triangle of pigeons when she went on point. I pushed the stake into the ground and tied the check cord to it. I walked in front of her, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover, flushed a pigeon but not the one she was pointing, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move.

I continued to walk in front of her. I flushed another pigeon that she wasn’t pointing, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I pulled the stake and untied the check cord and heeled her away. I released her about 40 yards away.

Sally and I are working on heel and whoa.

On the way back to the kennel I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She stopped. I walked to her, tapped her head and sent her on. We went back to the kennel.

Dog training is fun when I’m not sweating and the dogs aren’t panting really hard. I reloaded the release traps, put 2 pigeons in the bird bag and heeled Tur Bo out with all of the stuff on. After about 20 yards I whoaed him. I walked around him then heeled him away.

After another 20 yards I whoaed him and walked in front. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. His front feet moved but the back feet didn’t. I set him back then heeled him away.

I whoaed him again after another 20 yards. I took a pigeon from the bird bag as I walked in front of him holding it by the feet. His head and tail came way up as the bird flapped. I released the pigeon, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. He didn’t move. I heeled him away.

We went toward the back for another 20 yards. I whoaed him, walked in front of him and took a pigeon from the bird bag holding it by the feet. As it flapped I released it, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. He didn’t move. I heeled him away.

Luke pointing a single.

When we got to the edge of the training grounds I whoaed him. I tapped his head to release him to hunt. I haven’t worked him as much on whoaing when I shoot the blank pistol as the other two dogs. As he came close to me while hunting I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. He stopped when I said, “whoa” but then started to move. I held the button on the flank e-collar down on low 2 until he stopped. I picked him up and carried him back to where he should have stopped. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. He didn’t move. I tapped his head for the release.

When I put the 3 release traps out I thought it would be easy to tell which bird the dog was pointing. And it usually is but Tur Bo pointed equally between two pigeons. I walked in front of him but still couldn’t tell which pigeon he was pointing. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. He didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover. I flushed the farther pigeon, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. He didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover and flushed another pigeon. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. He still didn’t move.

It dawned on me that I hadn’t tied his check cord to anything as I had on the other dogs but he wasn’t moving anyway. He has been worked on this exercise several times. I continued to kick the cover, flushed the last pigeon, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. He didn’t move. I went to him and tapped his head for the release.

On the way back to the kennel when he came close I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. He just kept going until I held the button down on the e-collar around his flanks. I set him back where he should have stopped. I walked around him then tapped his head to release him. A minute or so later I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. He stopped. It wasn’t perfect but it will do until I work him some more on it. I took him back to the kennel.

I always enjoy dog training but it’s a lot more fun when it’s cool, for me and the dogs. These dog training blogs are all almost the same because dog training is repetitive. I have worked Sally and Betsy the most and they neither one have been hunted very much. They haven’t been able to chase after the birds flush as much as Tur Bo, at 4 years old, has.

This is an after thought. I’m adding this a day after but I’ve been telling how many shots from the blank pistol for each dog. For Sally and Betsy I shot twelve times each. For Tur Bo it was fourteen. Immediately after the shot I said, “whoa” hoping to get them to use the sound of the blank pistol as another whoa command.

All 3 dogs are making little steps in the right direction and it’s a long time until hunting season. I will continue to work them on cool mornings. I expect to have them ready for hunting season.

Sally pointing a pigeon.

Betsy pointing a pigeon.

Tur Bo pointing a pigeon.

Monday morning was cooler, not as cool as the weather guy said, but it was cooler. I worked Sally and Betsy on 2 pigeons each from the bird bag and 2 hidden in release traps. Anytime you can do a little dog training as hot as it’s been it’s a plus. I had a raccoon get in one of my pigeon pens and it killed all but four birds. I think I had ten pigeons in that coop.

Sally pointing a pigeon.

Betsy watching a pigeon fly away.

Sally on another pigeon.

I put the e-collars on Sally’s neck and flanks, hooked the check cord to her collar with a half hitch around her flanks and heeled her away with the piggin’ string. I whoaed her and walked about 20 yards. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I talked to her and stroked her sides then heeled her away.

I heeled her a few more yards and whoaed her again. As I walked in front of her I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I took a pigeon from the bird bag and held it by the feet as it flapped it’s wings. That really perked her up but she didn’t move. I released the pigeon, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. The pigeon flew low and to her left and she turned to watch it fly away. I set her back and walked back in front of her. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I heeled her away.

I whoaed Sally. I walked in front of her, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I took another pigeon from the bird bag and held it by the feet. Sally really watched the pigeon as it flapped but didn’t move. I released the bird, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I heeled her away.

I released her to hunt. When she pointed the pigeon, in the very back of my neighbor’s side I thought she had pointed then moved up because she was close to the bird when I saw her on point. But the check cord was straight showing that she had run the edge then pointed. I pushed the stake in the ground then tied her check cord to the stake. I walked in front of her, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She knew that wasn’t her bird. She didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover. I flushed the pigeon, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She moved up a step. I set her back. I walked in front of her, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I released her to hunt.

She was way ahead of me when she got to the next pigeon. When I saw her she was about 65 yards ahead of me on point. I watched her until I got close and she never moved. I got in front of her, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I tied her check cord to a tree. I walked back in front of her, kicking the cover. I really kicked some of the taller weeds, hard. I flushed the pigeon and it got tangled in the weeds. If I hadn’t had the check cord tied she would have caught this bird but the check cord tightened around her flanks and stopped her. I set her back. I kicked the cover in front of her, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I untied the check cord and released her.

On the way back to the kennel Sally was about 25 yards ahead of me. I shot the blank pistol and yelled, “whoa”. She turned to look at me but she stopped. I turned her around, stroked her sides and told her what a good girl she is. When I do dog training I like to train without stress or pain on the dog’s part. If these dogs get to where the sound of the blank pistol is another whoa command that should make them more staunch.

Sally, really concentrating.

I reloaded the release traps, put a couple of pigeons in the bird bag and put all of the stuff on Betsy. I heeled her out with the piggin’ string. I whoaed her, walked out in front of her, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. As we moved down the yard I whoaed her again. This time when I walked out in front of her I took a pigeon from the bird bag. I held it by the feet and let it flap. I released the bird, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I stroked her sides then heeled her away.

I whoaed her, walked in front of her, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I took another pigeon from the bird bag, held it’s feet and let it flap. I released the pigeon, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. The pigeon flew almost right over her head. She turned sideways and watched it fly away but didn’t try to chase. I set her back, stroked her sides and heeled her away.

I heeled her on toward the back, whoaed her then released her to hunt. Betsy stays pretty close to me with the check cord on her flanks. But that is what I want from her. She has been a big runner and I’m trying to rein her in a little. She was about 30 yards in front of me when she went on point. I pushed the stake into the ground an tied the check cord. I walked in front of her kicking the cover. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover, flushed the pigeon, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I stroked her sides then pulled the stake from the ground. It was taking me longer than she thought it should so she came to help. I picked her up and carried her back. I untied the check cord, tapped her head to release her.

Betsy looked good this morning.

After she finds the first bird the check cord doesn’t slow her down. She was checking all of the cover as we moved through the field. She was on point when I saw her well ahead of me. I watched her as I walked to her but she didn’t move. I pushed the stake into the ground and tied the check cord. I walked in front of her, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover, flushed the pigeon, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I pulled the stake and as I untied the check cord she started to me. She only took a couple of steps then remembered that she wasn’t supposed to move. She stopped and I set her back. I untied the check cord then released her.

As we started back to the kennel, with her about 30 yards ahead of me I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She stopped but then she didn’t want to get away from me. She likes to point the pigeons sitting on their house so when we got close she finally left my side and ran to the pigeon coop. I put her in her kennel.

It was pretty warm by the time I finished with her so I didn’t work Tur Bo. Dog training is a lot of repetition for the dogs. I shot the blank pistol 10 times for Betsy and 12 times for Sally. They are starting to stop at the sound of the shot. They aren’t perfect but they are getting better.

Some trainers turn their e-collars up as high as it will go and if the dog moves at the flush or shot they hold the button down until they stop moving. This works on some dogs but some will quit. Dog training shouldn’t be painful for you or the dog. The way I’m doing it doesn’t put a lot of stress on the dogs. It does take a lot longer but you don’t take anything out of the dog. Just my opinion.

Betsy watching a pigeon in my hand.

Sally pointing a pigeon.

Betsy pointing a pigeon.