Traveling Pointing Dogs

Layla retrieving a bumper.

Rocky retrieving a bumper.

Layla with another bumper.

I wasn’t able to work dogs until late afternoon so I just worked the puppies. I kept them in the shade, most of the time, while they retrieved the bumper. I have been working both Layla and Rocky, most days, on retrieving. When you see them retrieve you can tell they really enjoy it.

After watching George Hickox’s dvd on clicker training I cut a hot dog into about 24 pieces then click each time they retrieve and give them a little bite of hot dog. Today, I took a rope off of one of the larger bumpers and put it on the bumper that the puppies seem to like, so I can throw it farther.

It was about 85 degrees when I turned Rocky loose with the check cord on him. I threw the bumper as far as I was able and he retrieved it about 7 or 8 times, perfectly. The last few times he would run out, pick it up and go lie down in the shade. When he finally came to me I clicked and fed him the last few pieces of hot dog. Most times the dog is smarter than the trainer. I put him on the stake out and turned Layla loose.

She really likes to retrieve but she’s still not bringing the bumper all the way to me. Sometimes, she will drop it about 15 feet from me. I can usually get her to bring it a little closer but she still won’t bring it all the way. When she gets it within 5 or 6 feet of me I click and treat. She, also, retrieved about 7 or 8 times then took the bumper to the shade. I got her to come to me and fed her the rest of her hot dogs. I turned both puppies loose to play for a while.

This morning at 8:00 am it was close to 70 degrees. Warm but much cooler than when I worked the puppies yesterday afternoon. I put both pups on their stakeouts. I worked Rocky on about 6 retrieves then put him back on the stakeout and worked Layla for about 6 retrieves.

On her retrieves Layla still wouldn’t bring the bumper all the way to me. I noticed if I said anything to her as she came to me she would drop the bumper. All I said was here when she got about half way to me. I quit saying anything and she still came to me but she held the bumper until she was closer before dropping it. I worked her on about 6 retrieves then got Rocky back for another 6 retrieves then worked her for another 6 retrieves. This kept them from getting so hot. I put them back in the kennel.

I put a lock wing pigeon in the tall grass on the training grounds and put 3 pigeons in release traps a short distance away. I turned Layla loose with a check cord hooked to her collar. I had hid the lock wing in a strip of grass that I had let grow but it had flopped out in the open. I led Layla on the other side so she couldn’t see the lock wing. She smelled the lock wing pigeon and pointed long enough for me to get a picture but then started toward the pigeon. I flushed one of the pigeons in a release trap. She chased a little way and came back to get the lock wing. I held the check cord and flushed another pigeon. She chased. I led her toward the last pigeon and when she acted like she smelled it I flushed it. She chased a short distance. I took her back to the kennel.

I put the lock wing pigeon to sleep and hid it in the tall grass. I put another pigeon a short distance away in the tall grass. I hid 2 more pigeons farther down on the training grounds then turned Rocky loose. I didn’t have him dragging a check cord. When I walk him to the training grounds I walk in a zigzag fashion. I have read that the normal is for the English cocker spaniel to hunt from side to side in front of you. Rocky seems to do it naturally.

He found the pigeon that I had put to sleep and hid in the tall grass. He pounced on it. The pigeon was in trouble until I restricted Rocky’s movement with my foot long enough for the pigeon to fly away. He chased a short distance then came back.

I walked him toward a pigeon in a release trap. When he acted like he smelled the pigeon I flushed it. Rocky was surprised by the noise from the release trap. He didn’t chase but went to check the release trap out. I let him sniff the trap until he left it.

We went toward the next trap. When he smelled the pigeon I flushed it. The pigeon flew about ten feet and lit on the ground. Rocky was racing toward it when it flew about 20 yards and lit on the ground again. When Rocky got close the pigeon tried to run but didn’t get far before Rocky caught it. I knelt down and called him. I was between him and the kennel. He tried to get by me but I grabbed him and petted him until he turned the pigeon loose. The pigeon wasn’t hurt. When we got back near the pigeon coop and returned it to the coop.

We had one more pigeon hid in a release trap. I walked Rocky toward it. He was hunting into a slight breeze and was quite away from it when he smelled it. I flushed the bird and he chased a short distance. We hunted back to the kennel.

Both of these puppies really enjoy retrieving and they are also crazy about birds. I’m hoping that I can have both of them hunting by the end of the upcoming season. They were both born in June so they will be really young but I think they can do it. We will see.

Layla retrieving.

Rocky retrieving.

Layla on point.

Puppies waiting

Rocky returning with a bumper.

Rocky with another bumper.

Since March the sixth I have had 50,000 views on my blog. For some blogs that is not a lot but for a blog written by someone who just likes bird dogs and quail hunting that’s a lot. Thanks to everyone. Hunting seasons will be here soon and I should have some hunts to write about, real soon.

This morning I staked the puppies out while I cleaned kennels. I keep moving the stakes to different areas. This was the third area I have used. I have been using a clicker and treating the puppies with hot dogs. I cut one hot dog in about 24 pieces. When I treat they just get a taste.

After I cleaned the kennels I came back to the stake outs and turned Rocky loose. As I walked to him on the stake out he was jumping and rearing up to get me to release him. I waited until he calmed down before releasing him. I went about 5 yards in front of where Layla was staked out and threw the bumper. Rocky raced out, grabbed the bumper and ran back. He really wants to run by me to tease Layla with the bumper but I grab the check cord and he comes to me. I click and treat. Without the treat he doesn’t like to give up the bumper. The last time I worked him he marked some of the throws short so I stood as I threw to get as much distance as possible. He never marked any of them short this morning.

On one of my throws he was going to pass me and I started walking away and calling him at the same time. He ran to me. He retrieved until I ran out of treats. I put him back on the stake out and released Layla.

Layla has been retrieving about twice then just touching the bumper with her nose and expecting a treat. This morning I threw the bumper and she raced to it, picked it up and returned almost to me before dropping it. She brought it close enough for me to reach. I clicked and treated. I threw it again and again she raced out, grabbed the bumper and raced back to me. She dropped it about 2 feet before she got to me. I clicked and treated. She retrieved each time, until I ran out of treats, this morning. The last 2 times she brought it all the way to me instead of dropping it a couple of feet away. I think seeing Rocky retrieve and get a treat caused her to start bringing the bumper to me. We’ll see how she does from now on. I didn’t throw it as far for her as I did for Rocky but she retrieved it each time. I put her back on the stake out.

I put some pigeons in a bird bag and released Rocky from the stake. We walked to the back of the training grounds. Rocky knew that I had birds in the bag and he didn’t want to get very far from me. I have several strips of tall grass that I have let grow all year that I hide the pigeons in. When I got close to one of the strips I put a pigeon to sleep, grabbed the cord that I have on the pups collar, distracted him and hid the pigeon in the tall grass. I led him away for a ways then turned back so he would have to use his nose to find the bird. He was still watching me until he smelled the pigeon I had hidden. He charged toward the pigeon and grabbed it before it could awaken. He didn’t hold it tight enough and it flew away. He chased a short distance then came back.

We got to another strip of tall grass and I put another pigeon to sleep. I grabbed his cord, hid the pigeon and led him away. We turned and came back. He smelled the pigeon and leaped at it. He grabbed it and it got away but before it could fly away he grabbed it again. It got away and flew off with him right behind it. We continued on to the back then started back to the kennel.

As we got close to the front of the training grounds I hid another pigeon in a grass strip. I led him away then turned back. He smelled the pigeon and charged. The pigeon awoke before he got to it and flew away with him chasing a short distance. At 14 weeks old he is slow enough that the pigeons get away easily. I took him back to the stake out.

I released Layla and we started to the back of the training grounds. She gets a little farther out than Rocky does but she knew I had birds. She went out about 30 yards then came back wanting me to throw a pigeon. We got to one of the strips of tall grass and I put a pigeon to sleep. I grabbed her cord, hid the pigeon and led her away. We turned back and she smelled the pigeon. Her tail was cracking when she went toward the pigeon. She rolled it around with her nose and the pigeon flew away. She chased a short distance. We went on toward the back.

I put another pigeon to sleep, distracted her and hid it in the tall grass. We went toward the pigeon and she charged when she smelled it. It woke up and started running toward the neighbor’s side of the training grounds. Layla was right behind the pigeon. She caught the bird and it got away. It flew a few feet and landed on the ground right in front of her. She almost caught up and the bird flew a short distance again. She grabbed the pigeon and it got away flying off. By this time we were over on the neighbor’s side.

I put the last pigeon to sleep and hid it after distracting her. She smelled it and started toward it. The pigeon woke up and flew away before she could get close. She chased for a short distance. We returned to the stake outs and released Rocky. I put them back in the kennel.

Rocky does better on retrieving than Layla does because it’s bred into him but this morning made me think she will come around. I really enjoy watching these young dogs learn. Hiding birds for them to find gives them the desire to hunt. Both pups, after finding a couple of birds in the tall grass, checked each strip of grass from end to end. This how they learn to hunt the cover for birds.

Rocky with a pigeon.

Rocky after another pigeon.

Layla chasing a pigeon.

Rocky carrying his check cord.

Puppies on stake outs.

Puppies waiting.

I have been working the puppies on retrieving but it was really cool this morning so I ran the big dogs near Truman Lake on Corp. of Engineers land. But first an update on the puppies.

I have a bumper that is real small that had some feathers tied to it. Earlier I had thrown it for the puppies and both of them barked at it instead of retrieving it. I thought it might be easier for Layla to retrieve so I took the feathers off and used it.

I had both pups on the stake out and released Rocky. I threw the bumper and he grabbed it and ran away. He ran to the fence row and hid. When I got to him he was trying to bury the bumper. I grabbed the short cord that he still has on his collar and the bumper. I led him back to the area we were supposed to be training in. I threw the bumper again and he grabbed it and came back but didn’t want to give it up even for a piece of hot dog. He finally dropped it to take the hot dog and I threw it again. He grabbed it and ran for the fence line. I went to him and pulled him to me with his cord. He dropped the bumper and I got it. We went back to the area we were training in. The cord on his collar is only about 18 inches long but I threw the bumper and held onto the cord. This way he had to return to me. I would throw the bumper and just a small tug would get him returning to me. When he got to me I would click and treat. I used all 12 of his pieces of hot dog then put him back on the stake out.

I released Layla and walked her to the area I was training in. I’m training just a short distance from the pup on the stake out so they can watch each other retrieve. Layla usually retrieves once then wants a treat for touching the ball with her nose. I threw the small bumper. She scooped it up and in a dead run brought it back to me. I clicked and treated her. She usually does the first retrieve. I threw it again and she scooped it up and in a dead run brought it back. I clicked and treated. She brought it back all twelve times. Every once in a while she would drop it on the way back but she would pick it back up. I turned them both loose to play.

I don’t know what it is about that bumper but I thought since they liked it so well I would work them again in the evening. I had a real light check cord, about 20 feet long, so I hooked it to Rocky’s collar. I threw the bumper. Rocky grabbed it and I tugged on the check cord. He came to me. I clicked and treated. It seems that I just need to tug and release then he will come to me. After about 6 times I threw it farther than the check cord would reach but he brought it back anyway. I will use the check cord until he’s retrieving with out the tug. On the way back to the stake out he had the check cord in his mouth carrying it.

I put the check cord on Layla and walked her to the shady area just a short distance from the stake outs. I threw the bumper for her and she grabbed it and raced back to me. I clicked and treated her. She drops the bumper more than Rocky does but she usually picks it up and comes to me with it. She retrieved until I ran out of hot dogs and we both quit. I turned them loose to play.

Vince Dye gave me this bumper and I don’t know if he put some quail scent or something on it but these pups really like it. It’s smaller which might be a help to Layla. She didn’t like to pick up the tennis ball but she loves this bumper. I, also, think watching the other pup retrieve makes them want to get the attention and treats.

The weather guy said it was going to be in the forties this morning so I loaded the big dogs up and we went to check out some land near Truman Lake. About 20 years ago, when there were a lot more quail than now, I used to hunt some of these places. Some of these places have really changed.

The first place had wide, thick hedge rows around wheat stubble fields, corn fields and soy bean fields. The wheat fields had been combined and some of the corn had been picked but none of the soy beans had picked combined. Twenty years ago the hedge rows weren’t that thick but the farmers have moved out a little each year and now the hedge rows are really wide. This gives the birds more area to be in.

I turned Dolly, Luke and Tur Bo out with the Garmin GPS on as well as Sport Dog e-collars. We went south down a hedge row then crossed through a break into a wheat stubble field. Luke run one side while Dolly and Tur Bo ran the other side. We turned west on another hedge row that had wheat stubble on one side and soy beans on the other. The GPS showed Luke on point about 75 yards from me. As I started to him it showed Dolly come close and honor him then Tur Bo backed, also. I was fighting my way through the hedge row when the GPS showed all 3 dogs moving. When they got to me they were real excited. I don’t know whether one of the dogs moved or the birds flushed before I got there.

We hunted about 200 yards west down a hedge row then through a fallow field to the south. We came back through the area where the dogs had pointed originally and went up a hedge row to the north. The hedge row ran about 1/4 mile north then turned west. Dolly went on point a few yards after the turn. Luke backed and as I got close to Luke Tur Bo came by. I don’t think he saw Luke but he backed Dolly. I took some pictures then walked in front of Dolly. I was holding the transmitter in my hand to Tur Bo’s e-collar. I was watching him as I kicked the cover. I’ve worked him a lot on pigeons but this is different. After I kicked a few times he started to come in and help me. I didn’t say anything I just held the button on the e-collar down until he stopped. He only took a couple of steps. I continued to kick and a couple of quail flushed out the other side of the hedge row. I let the dogs stand for a few seconds then released them. All 3 dogs worked inside the hedge row expecting a quail at any time. We worked the hedge row to the end then back to the truck without seeing any more quail.

We drove to another area and I turned Lucky and Blaze out with the GPS and e-collars on. This corn field had been combined leaving some rows standing along the edges. It had a hedge row down each side and Lucky hit one side and Blaze the other. They joined up near the end and we went around a meadow that had a lot of weeds growing in it. We crossed into an area with a little taller weeds and a lot of black berry vines growing in it. Perfect quail habitat. About 50 yards into it Lucky pointed and Blaze backed. I took pictures then started in front of Lucky but I could tell he didn’t have anything. I said okay and he started trailing through the berry vines. Blaze came in and trailed, also. I think this may have been some turkeys moving through. Both dogs trailed for a while then went on. It was getting hot so we hunted back to the truck.

One of the places I hunted 20 years ago, that I drove by, was so grown up that I didn’t even get out. It was row crops with draws and hedge rows. Now it is just a thick tangle of worthless trees and brush. It is sad to think of what was and what could still be. I had a lot of good hunts here.

Dolly pointing Tur Bo backing.

Lucky pointing.

Blaze backing Lucky.