Traveling Pointing Dogs

Luke on the ground pointing a pigeon that is asleep.

Blaze pointing a pigeon as she stands beside the whoa board.

Tur Bo on the whoa board pointing a pigeon.

Over the week end I picked up 9 more quail to add to the quail pen. This time I got bob whites instead of the Tennessee reds. The next morning one of the bob whites was dead but the rest seem healthy. These birds are better for the dogs because they are wilder.

I put the e-collars on Luke’s flank and neck and heeled him to the retrieving bench with the piggin’ string. As we left the kennel I stopped him, held a bumper in front of his mouth and said, “fetch”. He took the bumper and carried it all the way to the bench. Before he jumped onto the bench I took the bumper from him. I walked him back and forth petting him every few feet.

I put 4 bumpers on the other end of the bench and sent him to retrieve. He retrieved 3 of them but he is such a hurry that when he picked one up and whirled to come back it shot off the bench. I put it back and he retrieved it, also. I put the 4 bumpers on the other end and he retrieved all 4 correctly. I set him on the ground. I placed all 4 bumper beside the bench and he retrieved them all. I tossed a bumper 5 times and he retrieved it each time.

I put the piggin’ string around his neck and held a bumper in front of him saying, “fetch”. He took the bumper and I heeled him to the whoa board. I took the bumper from Luke and placed him on the whoa board. I put a pigeon to sleep and put it in front of the whoa board. I threw my gloves close to the pigeon but it didn’t wake up. I picked each glove up and shook them then threw them away from the bird. I woke the pigeon up and it flew away. Luke didn’t move.

I put another pigeon to sleep in front of him and threw my gloves close to it. I shook the gloves and threw them back past Luke. I woke the pigeon up and it flew away. He didn’t move. I set him on the ground.

I whoaed him on the ground right beside the whoa board. I put a pigeon to sleep in front. I walked around him and waited for a minute or two then threw my gloves near the pigeon. I shook the gloves and threw them away from him. I woke the pigeon up and it flew away. He didn’t move. I put the piggin’ string on him, held the bumper in front of him and said, “fetch”. He took the bumper and I heeled him for about 30 yards then stopped. I took the bumper and heeled him for another 10 yards. I stopped him, took the piggin’ string off and released him.

He ran to the quail pen and went on point. The new quail are wilder than the Tennessee reds are and when I walked close to the pen some started running but a couple flew to the other end of the pen. I whoaed him when he took a step. I picked him up and set him back. I ran the birds by him again. He didn’t move. I chased them until a couple flew and he didn’t move. I took him back to the kennel.

I heeled Blaze toward the retrieving bench with the e-collars on, carrying a bumper with the piggin’ string. When she heels she is behind me. The bumper had a rope hanging down and every once in a while she would drop the bumper. I would hit the button on the e-collar around her neck and make her pick it up. She was pretty honest about it. When she dropped the bumper she would stop. It finally dawned on me that she was stepping on the rope and it would pull the bumper out of her mouth. I tied the rope around the bumper and she never dropped it again. I really didn’t want to tell that but it happened and I like to be honest about the training. It’s not just the dogs that learn in these sessions.

After petting her on the bench I had her retrieve the bumpers from the other end, twice. A total of 8 retrieves then set her on the ground. I placed the 4 bumpers beside the bench and sent her to retrieve. She retrieved them all and then I threw the bumper for her 5 times. She retrieved it each time. I put the piggin’ string around her neck, held a bumper in front of her and said, “fetch”. She took the bumper and I heeled her to the whoa board. I took the bumper from her and set her on the board.

I put a pigeon to sleep in front of her then took pictures. I threw my gloves then shook the gloves right in front of her and threw them again. She didn’t move so I set her on the ground. I put another pigeon to sleep in front of her. I threw my gloves near the pigeon and it woke up. It took a couple of steps then flew away. She took a step and stopped. I set her back.

I got another pigeon and put it to sleep in front of her. I waited a couple of minutes then threw my gloves near the pigeon. I picked the gloves up, shook them and threw them again. I woke the pigeon up and it flew away. She didn’t move. I put the piggin’ string on her and had her take a bumper. I heeled her about 30 yards then took the bumper from her. After I fixed the bumper where she couldn’t step on the rope she never dropped it. I feel bad about that. She got punished for my mistake. I heeled her about 10 yards and released her.

She ran to the quail pen and went on point. I ran the quail in front of her but they weren’t flying. I went inside the pen and they went crazy. But so did she. A quail tried to fly through the wire right in front of her and she reared up on the side of the pen trying to get it. I held the button on the flank e-collar down and set her back. I went back in the pen and this time when they flew she didn’t move. I went to her and petted her telling her what a good girl she is. I went back into the pen and flew the birds again. She didn’t move. I took her back to the kennel.

I brought Tur Bo out and he carried the bumper to the retrieving bench with no problem. I took it from him before he jumped onto the bench. I put the 4 bumpers on the other end and he retrieved them each, twice. I set him on the ground and placed all 4 bumpers beside the bench. He retrieved each one. He is comical. If I hold the bumpers that he’s retrieved in my hand while sending him to get one on the ground he tries to take one from my hand. I threw the bumper for him 5 times. He retrieved it each time. He and Blaze act like they are starting to enjoy retrieving. I put the piggin’ string on him and had him hold a bumper.

I heeled him to the whoa board. I took the bumper and placed him on the whoa board. I got a pigeon and put it to sleep in front of the whoa board. I walked around him taking pictures and the pigeon woke up. It walked around and he was getting excited. When the pigeon flew he fell off the whoa board. I helped him back on and got another pigeon. I put it to sleep in front of him. I let him stand for a while then threw my gloves. Falling off the bench steadied him up some. I woke the pigeon up and he didn’t move when it flew away.

I set him on the ground and said, “whoa”. I got another pigeon and put it to sleep in front of him. I took pictures and walked around him. I threw my gloves then picked them up and threw them again. I woke the pigeon up and it flew away. He didn’t move. I put the piggin’ string on him and had him hold a bumper. I heeled him about 30 yards, took the bumper and heeled him about 10 more yards and released him. He ran to the quail pen and went on point.

The quail must have still been crazy from me being in their pen before because 2 birds started flying in circles when I got close to the pen. They were right in front of Tur Bo and he didn’t move. Those two landed then another bird flew to the other end of the pen. I run them back to the end Tur Bo was on then went inside the pen. I drove the quail to the very end and a couple flew back in front of Tur Bo to the other end. He didn’t move. I went to him, stroked his sides and told him what a great dog he is. I took him back to the kennel.

Blaze stepping on the rope to the bumper is just one more time when I’ve made a mistake when training dogs. I’m glad they don’t hold my mistakes against me. That just proves, there are no perfect trainers and there are no perfect dogs.

Luke at the quail pen.

Blaze beside the whoa board.

Tur Bo on the whoa board.

Tur Bo on the whoa board pointing a pigeon.

Luke pointing a pigeon walking around under the whoa board

Tur Bo pointing a pigeon on the whoa board.

I put the Sport Dog e-collars on Tur Bo’s neck and flanks and heeled him to the retrieving bench with the piggin’ string. He jumped onto the bench and we walked back and forth with me petting him every few feet. I held a bumper in front of him and had him fetch. He held it until I said, “give”. I placed the bumpers on the other end of the bench and sent him to retrieve. He retrieved the bumpers twice with no problem. I set him on the ground.

I held a bumper in front of him and had him fetch then give. I tossed the bumpers beside the bench and told him to fetch the first one. He ran down, scooped it up and came back but dropped the bumper before I said, “give”. I made him fetch and told him to hold. He held it until I took it from him. I had that bumper in my left hand when I sent him to fetch the other bumper and he tried to take it from my hand instead of going for the one on the ground. It’s easier that way. I tossed it on the bench and sent him for the one on the ground. I tossed it for him 5 or 6 times. He retrieves it real well but he doesn’t always hold until I say give.

I heeled him away from the bench holding a bumper. After about 50 yards I whoaed him and took the bumper. I tossed it 4 or 5 times and he retrieved it each time. I had him hold the bumper and heeled him to the whoa board. He held it until I said, “give” near the whoa board. I set him on the board.

I had some pigeons on the 4-wheeler. I got one out and put it to sleep in front of the whoa board then walked around. I sat in front of Tur Bo and threw my gloves close to the pigeon. I picked the gloves up shaking them then threw them away from the pigeon. Anything to get him to understand that he should stay on point no matter what I do. I flushed the pigeon. He didn’t move. I used 3 pigeons on the whoa board then put him on the ground.

I heeled him away with a bumper in his mouth. We went about 20 yards and I whoaed him. I said, “give” and he dropped the bumper in my hand. I heeled him about 10 yards and released him. He ran to the quail pen and went on point.

I moved the quail back and forth in front of him and dropped a pigeon. He didn’t move when the pigeon flew away. The second pigeon only flew a few yards and lit in the yard about 20 yards from him. I got a fish net to catch the pigeon with and by the time I got there the bird had run into some bushes that grow along the fence row. Tur Bo had turned to watch but he didn’t come to help. I caught the pigeon and replaced it in the box on the 4-wheeler. I turned Tur Bo back around to watch the quail. I moved them back and forth and dropped two more pigeons. He never moved as they flew away. I took him back to the kennel.

I brought Luke out with the e-collars on his neck and flanks. On the way to the retrieving bench I stopped him and had him carry the bumper. After about 15 yards he dropped the bumper. I held the button down on the neck e-collar until he picked the bumper up. We started back toward the bench and he dropped the bumper. I held the button down until he picked it up. I turned back toward the kennel then after about 20 yards turned around and went to the retrieving bench. He held the bumper and jumped onto the bench.

After walking him up and down the bench petting him I put 3 bumpers on the other end and had him retrieve. He did all three correctly holding until I said, “give”. I set him on the ground and put the 3 bumpers on the ground near the bench. He retrieved them, holding until I said, “give”. I threw the bumper a few times and he retrieved it.

I put the piggin’ string on him then had him hold a bumper. I started heeling him to the west then turned and started to the whoa board. He dropped the bumper. I held the button on the neck collar down until he picked the bumper up. We turned away then back toward the whoa board. He dropped the bumper again. I held the button down on the neck collar until he picked it up. This time we made it all the way to the whoa board without him dropping the bumper. I took the bumper and set him on the whoa board.

The first pigeon that I put in front of him was a young one. After I threw my gloves at it I woke it up and it just walked around in front of him. I just kept the pigeon close to the whoa board for a minute or two then tried to flush it. It flew a few feet so I got my fish net. It stayed just out of my reach and finally went under the shed. I flushed another two pigeons in front of him on the whoa board. He never moved all through me chasing and the other two flying away. I set him on the ground.

I put the piggin’ string on him and had him hold the bumper and heeled him away. He dropped the bumper. I held the button down on the neck collar until he picked the bumper up. I heeled him back to the whoa board then went toward the quail pen. We went about 50 yards with him holding the bumper. I stopped him and took the bumper then heeled him another 10 yards. I took the piggin’ string off and released him. He ran to the quail pen and went on point.

I moved the quail back and forth then dropped a pigeon. He didn’t move as the bird flew away. I continued to move the quail around and dropped two more birds. He didn’t move as they flew away. I carried him away and released him to go back to the kennel. He kept trying to go to the shed where he knew there was a pigeon hiding but I was able to call him back. I put him in the kennel.

It’s hard for me to tell a young pigeon from an older bird once they get grown. The first few times they don’t fly real well but they get better.

Blaze is in her heat cycle so I didn’t work her. I’m going to breed her to a son of Erin”s Hidden Shamrock that has been doing pretty well in his derby year on the all age field trial circuit. I’ll report on her being bred and on the puppies when they come.

Tur Bo’s head as he points a pigeon.

A pigeon walking around in front of Luke.

Luke’s head as a pigeon walks around in front of him.

One pigeon I put to sleep only flew to the trailer in front of Tur Bo

Luke on the whoa board.

Blaze at the quail pen.

I put the Sport Dog e-collars on Tur Bo’s neck and flanks and heeled him to the retrieving bench with the piggin’ string. A few feet from the kennel I stopped him with a whoa, held a retrieving dummy in front of him and said, “fetch”. The last time I worked him he kept spitting the bumper out but today he carried it all the way to the bench and even jumped onto the bench without dropping it. I had him give me the bumper then walked him back and forth petting him every few feet.

I held a bumper in front of him and said, “fetch”. He grabbed it and held it until I said, “give”. I put 3 bumpers on the other end of the bench and he retrieved all 3 and held them until ordered to give. I set him on the ground and held a bumper in front of him and said, “fetch”. He grabbed the bumper and I petted him for a while then said, “give”. He dropped it in my hand. I put 3 bumpers right beside the bench, a few feet away, and pointed and said, “fetch”. He ran to get the first one, grabbed it, ran back and held it until I said, “give”. I sent him after the second one and he ran to it, scooped it up, ran back and held until I asked for it. I had both of the bumpers in my left hand when I pointed and said, “fetch” and he grabbed one of the bumpers that was in my hand. At least when I say, “fetch” he will take something. I put the 2 that were in my hand on the retrieving bench then sent him for the third one. He ran to it, scooped it up, ran back and held it until I asked for it. I threw the bumper 4 or 5 times and he retrieved it each time.

I put the piggin’ string on him and held a bumper in front of him and said, “fetch”. He took the bumper and I heeled him to the whoa board. Today, he carried the bumper all of the way. I set him on the whoa board. I let him stand for a little while then went to the 4-wheeler and got a pigeon. I put it to sleep and placed it on the ground in front of the whoa board. I sat on the trailer for a
while then threw my gloves near the pigeon. I went to Tur Bo, petted him then walked back to the trailer. The wind was blowing pretty hard and the pigeon woke up. It flew away but Tur Bo didn’t move. I got another pigeon from the 4-wheeler, put it to sleep and placed it in front of the whoa board. The first pigeon had lit right above Blaze’s pen and she was barking at it. I went to the kennel with a stick and beat on her pen yelling for her to be quiet.

When I got back to Tur Bo the second pigeon was awake walking around in front of him. When the bird saw me he started away from the area so I got in front of him and moved him back close to Tur Bo. When it got right in front of him I decided to make it fly. I threw my glove close to it and it flew about 10 feet and landed on the trailer. This had been the perfect pigeon. It had ran around in front of him and we were going to get at least 2 flushes from it. I waited for a few seconds then walked toward the pigeon. When I got close it walked toward the other end of the trailer. I tossed a glove close to the pigeon and it flew away. Tur Bo didn’t move. The last time he had fallen off the board but today he didn’t move.

I placed him on the ground, put the piggin’ string on him, held a bumper in front of him and said, “fetch”. He took the bumper. I heeled him about 20 yards then whoaed him and had him give me the bumper. I heeled him a few feet then whoaed him, took the piggin’ string off, tapped him on the head to release him. He ran to the quail pen and went on point.

I walked the quail back and forth in front of him then went to the 4-wheeler and got a pigeon. As the quail ran in front of him I dropped the pigeon and it flew away. He didn’t move. I continued to move the quail around the pen and got another pigeon. Tur Bo wasn’t moving and I dropped the second pigeon. He still didn’t move. I walked the quail back and forth in front of him a few more times then picked him up carrying him away. I took him back to the kennel.

I put the e-collars on Luke’s neck and flanks and heeled him away from the kennel. I stopped him and held the bumper in front of him and said, “fetch”. He took the bumper and I heeled him toward the retrieving bench. Within 15 yards he dropped the bumper but only took one step and stopped like he knew he had messed up. I held the button down on the e-collar around his neck and held the bumper in front of him. He took it with out me saying anything. We heeled on to the bench and he jumped onto it without dropping the bumper. I took the bumper and petted him. I walked him back and forth, on the bench, petting him every few feet.

I held a bumper in front of him and said, “fetch”. He took the bumper and held it until I said , “give”. I placed a bumper a few feet away and said, “fetch”. He grabbed the bumper but dropped it when he got close to me. I held the button down on the neck e-collar and slowly picked the bumper up from the ground. When the bumper got close to him he grabbed it. The instant he grabbed it I let off the button. He held the bumper until I asked for it.

I put three bumpers on the other end and sent him to retrieve. He retrieved them all, holding until I told him to give. I had him retrieve the 3 bumpers another time then placed him on the ground. I put the 3 bumpers right beside the bench and sent him to retrieve. He retrieved each one holding until told to give. I threw the bumper 4 or 5 times and he retrieved it each time. I put the piggin’ string on him, held a bumper in front of him and said, “fetch”. He took the bumper and held it all the way to the whoa board. I took the bumper and placed him on the whoa board.

I petted him on the whoa board then went to the 4-wheeler and got a pigeon. I put the bird to sleep and placed it in front of Luke on the whoa board. I sat on the trailer and after a few minutes I threw my gloves and the bumper close to the pigeon. He didn’t move. I flushed the pigeon by touching it with my toe. As soon as it woke up it flew away. He still didn’t move. I got another pigeon, put it to sleep and placed it in front of the board. I threw my gloves and the bumper then picked one of my gloves up and threw it away from the bird. I flushed the pigeon and he never moved.

I set him on the ground, put the piggin’ string on him, held the bumper in front of him and said, “fetch”. He took the bumper and I heeled him away. After about 25 yards, I stopped him and said, “give”. He dropped the bumper in my hand. I heeled him a few feet, stopped and released him. He ran to the quail pen and went on point.

I chased the quail back and forth in front of him, then got a pigeon from the 4-wheeler and as the quail ran in front of him I dropped the pigeon. He didn’t move when it flew away. I got another pigeon and dropped it as the quail ran in front of him. He didn’t move when this one flew away either. I moved the quail around some more then picked him up and carried him away. I took him back to the kennel.

I heeled Blaze toward the retrieving bench with the e-collars on. I stopped her and held the retrieving dummy in front of her saying, “fetch”. She took the bumper and we started toward the retrieving bench. Within a few feet she had the bumper by the end and it was sticking straight out. Then she dropped it. I held the button, on the neck e-collar, down and held the bumper in front of her and she took it. She still had it when we got to the bench but when she jumped onto the bench she threw the bumper to the other side. I held the button down, picked the bumper up and she took it. I held my hand under it and said, “give”. She dropped it in my hand.

After petting her on the bench I had her retrieve 7 or 8 times which she did perfectly. I set her on the ground and placed the 3 bumpers right beside the bench. She retrieved all 3 holding them until I said, “give”. I threw the bumper 5 or 6 times and she retrieved it just fine. In fact she seems to really enjoy retrieving. I put the piggin’ string on her and had her fetch the bumper.

We started toward the whoa board. I looked down and she had the bumper by the end and it was sticking straight out. In a few feet she dropped it. I held the button down on her neck e-collar, slowly picked up the bumper, held it in front of her and said “fetch”. She took the bumper and we started toward the whoa board. We almost made it. We were within 15 feet of it when she had the bumper by the end then dropped it. I held the button down on the neck e-collar, picked up the bumper, held it in front of her and said, “fetch”. She took the bumper and we made a u-turn. We walked almost back to the retrieving bench then turned and went back to the whoa board. She still had a good grip on the bumper when we got to the whoa board. I said, “give”, placed her on the whoa board and petted her.

I sat on the trailer for a while before getting a pigeon from the 4-wheeler. I put the pigeon to sleep and placed it in front of her on the whoa board. I threw my gloves and the bumper. I even took a stick and beat the ground in front of her then flushed the pigeon. She didn’t move. I got another pigeon and put it to sleep in front of her. I threw the gloves and bumper then flushed the pigeon. She never moved. I set her on the ground, put the piggin’ string around her neck, held a bumper in front of her and said, “fetch”.

We started away from the whoa board and within 15 yards she dropped the bumper. I held the button down on the e-collar around her neck, slowly picked up the bumper, held it in front of her and said, “fetch”. She took the bumper and we made a u-turn. We went back to the whoa board turned around and went back toward the quail pen. This time she held it until I asked for it. I heeled her another few feet then released her. She ran to the quail pen and went on point.

I chased the quail back and forth in front of her then dropped a pigeon. Even when it flew away she didn’t move. I continued to chase the quail back and forth then dropped another pigeon. She never moved as it flew away. I moved the quail in front of her several times then picked her up and carried her away. I pick my dogs up and carry them when I want to move them and they are on point. I don’t like to have them walk. It’s easy to do on Luke and Blaze. Luke weighs about 35 pounds an Blaze is smaller than that. Tur Bo is over 50 pounds. I sometimes have him walk. I took her back to the kennel.

The last time Tur Bo gave me trouble and the other two did pretty well. This time Luke gave me a little trouble but Blaze was a real pain. I don’t get mad I get even by making them walk farther with the bumper in their mouth. All 3 of them have “give” down. They don’t want the bumper in their mouth anyway and the instant I say “give” they drop it.

Another thing I’ve noticed is that Tur Bo moves less when I drop a pigeon than he does if they come out of the release trap. I’ve quit using the release traps on what I’m doing now. If I run across some wild quail they probably won’t be in release traps anyway.

Tur Bo on the whoa board.

Pigeon on the trailer.

Blaze on the whoa board.

Luke on the whoa board.

Blaze after a pigeon had flown.

Tur Bo I wanted to show the way the whoa board was built

I’m still trying to get my dogs steady to wing and shot and work them on retrieving as well. I put the Sport Dog e-collars on Luke’s neck and flanks then heeled him to the retrieving bench with the piggin’ string. After he jumped onto the bench I walked him back and forth petting him. I worked him on fetch and hold then had him retrieve 3 bumpers from the other end of the bench. I set him on the ground and told him “whoa”.

I threw a bumper and he ran out, scooped it up, brought it back and held it until I said, “give”. I threw the bumper 5 times and he retrieved to hand each time. I whoaed him, put the piggin’ string on him, held a bumper in front of him and said “fetch”. He took the bumper and I heeled him to the whoa board. I whoaed him and said, “give” and he dropped the bumper in my hand. I placed him on the whoa board and told him to whoa.

I had some pigeons in a box on the 4-wheeler. I took one out and put it to sleep in front of Luke. To put a pigeon to sleep, tuck his head under a wing, straighten his legs out and lay him down on the wing that his head is under. Luke acted like he could smell the pigeon that was in front of him. I sat and watched him for a while then took one of my gloves and threw it close to the pigeon. I threw the other glove then a retrieving bumper that I had in my pocket. Luke didn’t move. I picked up the gloves and bumper and threw them again. I touched the pigeon with my foot and it woke up. It took a few steps before it flew away. He still didn’t move. I got another pigeon and put it to sleep in front of him. After a minute or so I threw the gloves and bumper close to the pigeon, picked them up and threw them again. He didn’t move. I touched the pigeon with my foot and it flew away. He didn’t move.

I set him on the ground and said, “whoa”. I put the piggin’ string on him, held a bumper in front of him and said, “fetch”. He took the bumper and I heeled him about 20 yards, whoaed him and said, “give”. He dropped the bumper in my hand. I took the piggin’ string off and tapped him on the head to release him. One of the pigeons had only flown to a tree close to the whoa board and he made a pass trying to find it before going to the quail flight pen. He pointed the quail. I moved the birds back and forth in front of him then got a pigeon out of the box on the 4-wheeler. I went to the other side of the flight pen and as I moved the quail in front of him I dropped a pigeon and it flew away. He didn’t move.

I continued to walk the quail in front of him and I dropped another pigeon. The pigeon flew away and he never moved. I walked the quail back a few more times then picked him up and carried him away. I heeled him back toward the kennel. When I got about 40 yards from the quail pen I let him run back to the kennel.

Blaze was next. I heeled her to the retrieving bench with the e-collars on her neck and flanks. I walked her back and forth petting her several times. I had her retrieve 3 bumpers on the bench then set her on the ground. I tossed the bumper for her 5 or 6 times. She acts like she really enjoys retrieving the bumper, now. I put the piggin’ string on her, held a bumper in front of her and said, “fetch”. She took the bumper and we started toward the whoa board. Without missing a step she dropped the bumper. I popped the piggin’ string and told her to fetch. She picked the bumper up and we started in the opposite direction. After 30 yards I heeled her back toward the whoa board. She held the bumper until we got to the whoa board and I whoaed her. I said, “give” and she dropped it in my hand. I placed her on the whoa board.

I got a pigeon from the 4-wheeler, put it to sleep and placed it in front of her. After a few minutes I threw my gloves and the bumper, in front of her, near the pigeon. It didn’t bother her so I did it again. I touched the pigeon with my toe and it woke up and flew away. She didn’t move. I put another pigeon to sleep in front of her and threw the gloves and bumper. I woke the pigeon up and when it flew away it made a circle and flew back real close to her and she fell off the whoa board. She started scrambling to get back on. She finally got back on but she was cross ways on the 2×6 instead of length ways. I straightened her up and put another sleeping pigeon in front of her. I threw the gloves and bumper then woke the pigeon up. When it flew away she didn’t move. I set her on the ground had her hold a bumper and heeled her toward the quail pen. I whoaed her, took the bumper and released her.

She went to the quail pen and went on point. The quail don’t want to fly in the pen so I just run them back and forth in front of the dog. Since I had used 3 pigeons on the whoa board with Blaze I only had one left to drop as the quail ran in front of her. She didn’t move when the pigeon flew away. I ran the birds around for a while then picked her up and carried her away from the pen. I took her back to the kennel.

I took Tur Bo down next. He has been having trouble holding the bumper so as I heeled him to the retrieving bench I had him carry the bumper. On the way he dropped it. I pinched his lip against his teeth and re-inserted the bumper. He carried it until we got to the bench. After he jumped onto the bench and I had petted him in several spots, on the bench, I put 3 bumpers on the other end and sent him to retrieve. He is big enough to shake the bench as he goes to make the retrieve. He made all 3 retrieves and held them until I said, “give”. I set him on the ground.

I held a bumper in front of him and he took it. I laid it on the ground and he picked it up. I put it about 3 feet in front of him and he retrieved it. I tossed it about 7 or 8 feet and he had no idea what to do. He acted like he was going to retrieve then headed to the quail pen. He really wanted to be in charge. I stopped him with a whoa and the button on the flank collar. I heeled him back to the retrieving bench and I tossed the bumper about 5 feet and he retrieved. I tossed it about 10 feet and he retrieved. I threw the bumper 6 or 7 times and he retrieved it every time. I put the piggin’ string on him, had him hold the bumper and we started to the whoa board. He dropped the bumper. I held the button on the neck collar down and held the bumper in front of him until he took it. We turned and heeled away from the whoa board for about 30 yards then turned and started back. He dropped the bumper. I held the button down on the neck e-collar until he took the bumper. We went away from the whoa board for a few yards then went to the whoa board. This time he held it until we got to the board. I held my hand under his mouth and he dropped it in my hand.

Tur Bo knows all of the things we had done this morning but he wanted to get them over with so he could point the quail. If I had of let him get by with any of this he would have been harder to deal going forward.

I set him on the whoa board and put a pigeon to sleep in front of him. Because of him being in a hurry to get to the quail pen I slowed down. I sat on a trailer I had parked near the board for a while then threw the gloves and bumper near the bird. I sat for a while then threw the gloves and bumper again. I touched the pigeon with my foot and it woke. Instead of flying it walked in front of him until I threw a glove close. Then it flew. Tur Bo came off the bench. He struggled for a few seconds then figured out he was big enough to touch the ground. He waited for me to place him back on the bench.

I let him stand for a while then put another pigeon to sleep in front of him. I sat on the trailer and threw my gloves and the bumper near the pigeon. He didn’t move. I woke the pigeon up and it flew away. He didn’t move. I set him on the ground, had him hold the bumper and heeled him away. He held the bumper until I said, “give”. I released him to run.

He went to the quail pen and went on point. I ran the quail back and forth in front of him and dropped a pigeon. He didn’t move. I continued to move the quail around in front of him and dropped another pigeon. He watched it fly away without moving his feet. I let him point as I walked the birds in front of him then heeled him away. I took him back to the kennel.

Tur Bo is the youngest of the three dogs I’m working but he has done everything, and done it well, that we did this morning. It was just one of those days when he thought just maybe I would let him be in charge. I didn’t get frustrated or mad. We just did it until he got it right. The next training session he may do everything right and it will be one of the others that try me. The lip pinch and the e-collar punishments weren’t hard or severe but there has to be a consequence for behavior we don’t want. Reward good behavior and punish bad behavior.

Luke at the quail pen

Blaze at the quail pens

Tur Bo at the quail pens.