Traveling Pointing Dogs

The string on TurBo’s foot.

Tur Bo pointing a pigeon. Check out the eyes.

Tur Bo after the pigeons have flown away.

It was in the mid 70’s when I went out to train dogs this morning. I decided to only train Tur Bo. He has only been worked on the force fetch 3 times before this morning. When I start the force fetch I like to work them nearly every day. It has been so hot or its been raining where I can’t get out every day.

I heeled Tur Bo to the retrieving bench with e-collars on his neck and flanks. He jumped onto it and we went up and down with me petting him every few feet. I hooked his collar to the cable that runs from end to end on the bench. I placed the slip knot above the joint in his leg then a clove hitch above the foot then circled the two middle toes. I held a bumper in front of him and said fetch. He tried to look away but as I tightened the string he snatched the bumper. After he held it for a few seconds I said give and he dropped it in my hand. I said fetch and he took the bumper but dropped it. I pulled on the string and picked up the bumper. When I got close to him he grabbed it. That was the only time today that he dropped the bumper. It was worth a try to see if he could get away with it. I used 5 different bumpers several times each and he grabbed each one. Some of the time he would take it when I said fetch and sometime I had to tighten the string then he would take it. I held the bumper above his head sometimes and down by his feet at other times. We are through the hard part of the force breaking. He knows that taking the bumper keeps him from getting his toe pinched. I still need the string on him for a while but we are through the hard part. I set him on the ground and said whoa.

I had hidden 4 pigeons, in release traps, in a large square with each trap about 20 yards apart. I also had 3 pigeon in a bird bag. I released him to hunt. I got on the 4 wheeler to follow him down the training grounds. He ran by the first bird and whirled into a point. He was about 10 yards from the pigeon. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the tall grass. I took a pigeon from the bird bag, dropped it behind me and shot the blank pistol. He only turned his head to watch it fly way then looked toward where the bird he had pointed was. I continued to kick the tall grass then flushed a pigeon that was several yards behind him and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover then dropped another bird from the bird bag and shot the blank pistol. He never moved.

I continued to kick the tall grass then flushed another pigeon from a release trap that was behind him and shot the blank pistol. He hardly noticed, he was tuned in to the bird he was pointing. I walked back and forth in front of him then dropped the last pigeon from the bird bag. He watched it fly away but didn’t move. I continued to walk back and forth. I flushed a pigeon that was to his right but was closer than the bird I had flushed behind him. He whirled to watch it fly but didn’t take a step even when I shot the blank pistol. I continued to kick in front of him then flushed the pigeon he had been pointing and shot the blank pistol. He took a step and stopped. I set him back then released him to run.

I picked up the 2 release traps that were close to me and put them on the 4-wheeler. I pulled the 4-wheeler closer to the other 2 traps and got off to load them. As I got on the 4-wheeler I noticed Tur Bo lying on the ground, in the shade, waiting on me. Another time that a dog shows he has more sense than I have. It’s too hot to work dogs. When I put it in gear he took off. He ran in front of me all the way to the kennel.

It is pretty hot to be working dogs but the retrieving bench is in the shade so it’s not oppressive and he doesn’t have to go very far to point his birds. He will learn to like retrieving and we both really enjoy him pointing birds.

Tur Bo after the birds have flown.

Tur Bo

Tur Bo pointing a pigeon.

Tur Bo pointing some pigeons.

Tur Bo pointing pigeons.

Tur Bo pointing pigeons.

When I went out to work dogs this morning it was cool, misty and foggy. I decided to only work Tur Bo. I am force breaking him to retrieve and the other dogs have been through it. He’s also still moving on his birds so I wanted to work on that, also.

I heeled Tur Bo to the retrieving bench with an e-collar around his neck and another around his flanks and he jumped onto it. I walked him back and forth petting him every few feet. I hooked him to the cable that runs from end to end on the bench. I put the string around his leg with a slip knot above the lower joint in his leg, slipped a clove hitch below the joint then circled the two center toes leaving about 12 inches of string hanging down.

This was the third time to work him with the string around his toes. I picked up a bumper and said fetch holding it in front of him. He turned his head and I pulled on the string. He turned back and grabbed the bumper. I petted him for several seconds then said give. He dropped it into my hand. I have been working him on hold and give for several weeks. I held the bumper in front of him again and said fetch. He didn’t try to take the bumper. I pulled on the string and he took the bumper. As soon as he took the bumper I released the string letting the pressure off on his toes. I petted him for several seconds then said give and he dropped it in my hand. After a few tries he started taking the bumper when I said fetch. He didn’t just gingerly take it, he grabbed it. That’s what I was looking for. That means he knows how to keep his toes from being pinched and that he wants to do what I want. He reached for the bumper even when I held it above and below his eyes. After about 20 fetches and gives I set him on the ground saying whoa.

I had 4 pigeons hid, on my side of the training grounds, in a square about 20 yards apart. I also, had 3 pigeons in a bird bag that I had slung over my shoulder. I tapped his head and said okay. The wind was out of the north east and he ran past the first bird then slid to a stop. He was in the middle of the square with 2 birds in front of him and 2 behind. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. He’s been standing pretty good for a pigeon that I drop from my hand and this was no exception. I dropped the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover then flushed a pigeon, that was behind him, from a release trap and shot the blank pistol. He just turned his head a little. He knew the bird he was pointing was still there. I continued to kick the cover, flushed the other pigeon, in the release trap, behind him and shot the blank pistol. Again, he just turned his head. I went back to kicking the tall grass, dropped a pigeon from the bird bag behind me and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. The bird bag didn’t close when I took the bird out and the last pigeon flew from the bag. He watched the bird but didn’t move his feet.

I went to him and stroked his sides telling him what a good boy he is. I went back in front of him kicking the cover. I threw my hat but he didn’t move. I flushed the pigeon that was off to his right and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover and threw my hat, again. He didn’t move. Finally, I was down to the last bird. I kicked in front of him then flushed the last pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He moved his front feet but didn’t really take a step. I stroked his sides then released him to hunt. I let him run for a while before going back to the kennel.

This is a really good exercise for pointing dogs. Last year I guided a church group near Macon, Missouri. I took Luke and Dolly. Luke has been worked on this exercise several times. According to my Garmin GPS he was on point off to my left at about 175 yards when Dolly went on point about 25 yards from us. Because Dolly was closer we went to her. I kicked a quail up in front of her and one of the guys shot it. She retrieved it and we started toward Luke’s point. Dolly pointed again. We went back to her and kicked up another quail that one of the guys shot. Dolly retrieved it and we went to Luke. After shooting both of Dolly’s birds, according to the GPS, Luke was still on point. Both of Dolly’s birds had taken us farther from Luke. We made the walk to him and he was still on point. We walked in front of him and a cock pheasant flushed that one of the guys killed.

Lucky and Dolly have not been worked on this exercise. If Dolly had been on point and we had gone to Luke’s point first she may not have stayed on point. I don’t know but before the next season I’m going to work all of my dogs on this exercise.

I went back and found some nice, old pictures of Tur Bo for these last 3. Thanks for clicking on the ads on this blog.

Tur Bo after the pigeon has flown.

Tur Bo pointing a pigeon.

Tur Bo

Tur Bo pointing a pigeon.

Luke pointing a pigeon.

Dolly in the bushes pointing a pigeon.

Another wet morning to work dogs but the dogs don’t mind. It has rained most days of the last two months and water is standing everywhere but it has kept the temperatures down. Any day I can work dogs is a good day.

This is the second day to work Tur Bo on the force fetch. I heeled him to the retrieving bench and he jumped onto it. We walked back and forth with me petting him every few feet. I hooked his collar to the cable that runs the length of the bench and put the string around his toes. I held a bumper in front of him and said fetch. He tried to look away instead of open his mouth. I pulled on the string and he took the bumper. I had to pull pretty hard the first time but after that I just had to tighten the string on his toes and he would open his mouth. I have worked him a lot on hold and give and it’s paying dividends. I used 4 different bumpers several times each to teach him that he has to retrieve anything I tell him to fetch. Before we quit he was reaching down a short distance to take the bumper. That means he is learning what he needs to do to stop the toe pinch. I set him on the ground and said whoa.

I had hidden a pigeon, in a release trap, at the back of my side of the training grounds and had 3 pigeons in a bag on my side. I had ridden the 4-wheeler on the neighbor’s side of the grounds but hidden the bird on my side. If I don’t do this the dogs learn to just follow the 4-wheeler tracks to the bird. I released him to hunt. As we started toward the back he made a swing onto the neighbor’s side then right back onto my side. When he got to the back fence line he pointed. I took pictures then went in front of him kicking the cover. I dropped a pigeon behind me, from the bag and shot the blank pistol. He took a step. I picked him up and set him back. I continued to kick the cover, flushed the bird in the release trap and shot the blank pistol. He took 4 or 5 steps then stopped. I held the button on the e-collar down, on level 3, picked him up and carried him back. I continued to kick the cover then dropped another pigeon from the bird bag and shot the blank pistol. He took a step and stopped. I held the button on the e-collar down, on level 3, and set him back. I kicked the cover, threw my hat then threw a stick that was lying on the ground, dropped the last pigeon from the bird bag and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I stroked his sides then led him away. I let him run for a while before going back to the kennel.

I heeled Luke to the retrieving bench and he jumped onto it. We went back and forth with me petting him every few feet. I put 4 bumpers on the other end and sent him to retrieve. He’s always in a hurry and when he grabbed a bumper and whirled to come back the bumper flew out of his mouth. It hit another knocking them both to the ground. He started back to me then decided he should bring a bumper with him. He turned back around, grabbed a bumper and brought it to me. I took it and sent him for the remaining bumper. He brought it back and dropped it in my hand when I said give. I picked up the two bumpers on the ground and had him retrieve them, also. I replaced the 4 bumpers on the other end of the bench and sent him to retrieve, again. This time he did it correctly and I set him on the ground saying whoa.

My new rule is they have to retrieve the bumper, that I throw, 5 times correctly before we go to the next step. I threw the bumper and said fetch. He retrieved it 4 times then on the fifth retrieve he went out, touched it with his nose and came back. I held the button on the e-collar down, on level 3, and walked out with him to the bumper. When he saw it he picked it up and we walked back. I let off the button on the e-collar as soon as he picked up the bumper. I threw the bumper for him and again he did it perfectly 4 times. On the fifth retrieve he just put his nose on it and came back without it. He does this really fast and is pretty happy about it. I walked him out holding the e-collar down, on level 3 and when he saw the bumper he picked it up. We went back to where I had thrown it from. I petted him for several seconds then said give and he dropped it in my hand. I threw the bumpers 5 times and he did it correctly all 5 times, finally. I released him to hunt.

He made a short cast onto the neighbor’s side then right back onto my side. At the back he pointed the pigeon in the release trap. I took pictures then walked in front kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I stroked his sides then led him away. I let him run for a while before going back to the kennel.

I heeled Dolly to the retrieving bench and she jumped on. We walked up and down the bench with me petting her every few feet. I put the 4 bumpers on the other end and sent her to retrieve. She runs down the bench, scoops up a bumper, races back to me and sits in front of me wanting me to pet her. I do. When I say give she drops it in my hand. She retrieved all 4 correctly and I set her on the ground saying whoa.

I threw the bumper and said fetch. She retrieved it and sat in front of me holding the bumper wanting to be petted. I threw the bumper 5 times and she retrieved it correctly all 5 times. I released her to hunt.

Dolly, too, made a short cast onto the neighbor’s side then right back to my side. There is no fooling these dogs although I still try. She was buried in the brush when she hit the scent cone and pointed. I took pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I stroked her sides then led her away. I let her run for a while before returning to the kennel.

I heeled Lucky to the retrieving bench and he jumped onto it. I petted him every few feet as we walked back and forth. Lucky was one of the hardest I have ever force broke. He was natural retriever and in the off season I shot a pigeon that he had pointed. He ran out, picked the pigeon up then spit it out and never retrieved again until he was force broke. I started with him and quit then came back about 6 months later and started over. The second time I had made up my mind he was going to do it and we got through it. Now he enjoys retrieving as most dogs do after they get used to it. He retrieved all 4 bumpers, correctly. I set him on the ground and said whoa.

I threw the bumper and said fetch. He trotted out , scooped up the bumper and trotted back holding it until I said give. He dropped it in my hand. He retrieved the bumper all 5 times, correctly. He’s not real fast but he brings it back. I released him to hunt.

He hunts a lot faster than he retrieves. He made a short cast onto the neighbor’s side then back to my side. He pointed the pigeon in the release trap. I took pictures then walked in front of him. When the dogs go on point I usually don’t touch their tail for these pictures but in this one of Lucky I did. When he pointed he was rigid with a straight tail but it was only about 10:00 0’clock. I brushed it up for the picture. When he was young his tail was almost always high. He’s 11 years old. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He took a step but I didn’t even correct him. He’s got seniority. I led him away and let him run before going back to the kennel.

The last one to be heeled to the retrieving bench was Blaze. She has really been trying to do what I want her to do. She is a good bird dog but she has a strong independent streak. I think a bird dog needs to be somewhat independent but sometime she knows exactly what I want and will do the opposite. But lately, she’s been doing everything, correctly. After we went back and forth with me petting her every few feet I put the bumpers on the other end. I sent her to retrieve and she retrieved each one correctly. I set her on the ground and said whoa.

I threw the bumper and said fetch. She ran to it, scooped it up and raced back. She held it until I said give. She retrieved 5 times in a row without a mistake. I released her to hunt.

She too, made a cast into the neighbors side but came right back to my side. All 5 dogs knew, after just a small cast, that I hadn’t hid the pigeon on the neighbor’s side. I don’t know how they know but they do. She pointed the pigeon in the release trap. I walked in front of her after taking pictures. I threw my hat and she didn’t move. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I stroked her sides then led her away. I released her to run before going back to the kennel.

I may be wasting my time by driving the 4-wheeler on both sides then hiding the pigeon. The dogs seem to know after just a short cast on the side with no birds. I do know that if I just have one set of tracks leading to the pigeon they will learn to follow the 4-wheeler straight to the pigeon. Putting the birds in different places makes them have to use their nose to find the bird.

One more time I want to thank the people that have clicked on the ads that are on these posts. I make a few cents for each click. I don’t get many but I get some and for those, thank you.

Lucky pointing a pigeon. I brushed his tail up for this picture.

Blaze pointing a pigeon.

Tur Bo pointing a pigeon.

Blaze pointing a pigeon.

Tur Bo pointing a pigeon.

Luke pointing a pigeon.

It was raining when I got up this morning but it stayed cool all day so I worked dogs in the afternoon. This may be the first time I have ever worked dogs in the afternoon, in July. It’s usually way too hot.

I try to fool the dogs, most times, when I hide the pigeons. Today, I rode the 4-wheeler to the very back of my side of the training grounds then over to the neighbor’s side where I hid the pigeon. I thought the dogs would hunt all of my side before we went over to my neighbor’s side. The only dog that I fooled was Tur Bo. And he may have hunted my side because he thought that was what I wanted. The older dogs all hunted about half way back then went through to the neighbor’s side. I don’t know how they knew but they did.

I heeled Blaze to the retrieving bench and she jumped onto it. She walked back and forth with me petting her every few feet. I put 3 bumpers on the other end of the bench and sent her to retrieve. She retrieved each one holding them until I said give. I set her on the ground and said whoa.

I threw a bumper and said fetch. She raced out, scooped it up and returned to me. Just before she got to me I said hold. She held the bumper while I petted her then dropped it in my hand when I said give. I threw the bumper a total of 5 times and she retrieved it correctly each time. I have decided that the dogs will retrieve 5 times in a row without a mistake before we go to the next exercise. I released her to hunt.

She checked the cover on my side of the training grounds to about the middle then went across on the neighbor’s side. I had hidden the pigeon at the very back of the training grounds. She pointed the pigeon. I took pictures then walked in front of her. I threw my hat as I went in front of her. She didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I went to her, stroked her sides and led her away. I let her run before going back to the kennel.

I heeled Tur Bo down to the retrieving bench next. He jumped on and we went back and forth with me petting him every few feet. Tur Bo has the hold and give down pretty well and today we started the force breaking. I use the string on the toes. As I put the string on his toes he kept trying to get his foot away from me. I pulled on the string and he tried to do anything except take the bumper. I had hooked him to the wire that runs down the retrieving bench. He didn’t try to get off the bench or move down it. He just moved his head every where except where the bumper was. I kept the pressure on until he took the bumper in his mouth. As soon as he took the bumper I let the pressure off his toes. After 3 or 4 times it took a lot less pressure for him to take the bumper. I made him take the bumper about 10 times. Each time he took the bumper I said hold then after he held for a few seconds I would say give and he would drop it in my hand. I hate the early part of the force fetch but to get a good retriever it must be done. I set him on the ground and said whoa.

I released him to hunt. At this point in his retrieving I will not work him on the ground. If he refuses a retrieve now there is no way to make him do it. He ran all the way to the back of my side then when I crossed over to the neighbor’s side he crossed too. He pointed the pigeon and I took pictures. I threw my hat in front of him and he didn’t move. I had 3 pigeons in a bag and I tossed one behind me and shot the blank pistol. He moved up a step. I carried him back. I continued to kick the cover and threw another pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He moved up a step. I held the button on the e-collar down on level 3 and carried him back. I went back to kicking the cover, tossed another pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover, flushed the pigeon in the release trap and shot the blank pistol. He went after the pigeon and I held the button on the e-collar down on level 3. As I carried him back I held the button down until I set him where he had been on point. As soon as his feet touched the ground I let off the button. I went back, kicked the cover then went to him and stroked his sides telling him what a good boy he is. I led him away and released him to run before going back to the kennel.

I heeled Luke down to the retrieving bench. He jumped onto it and we went back and forth with me petting him every few feet. I put the 3 bumpers on the other end of the bench and sent him to retrieve. He retrieved the first one and held it until I said give. The second one he dropped before he got all the way back. He retrieved the third holding it until I said give. I put the 3 bumpers on the other end and the second time through he retrieved them correctly. I set him on the ground saying whoa.

I tossed the bumper and said fetch. He raced out, scooped it up and ran back with it. Just before he got to me I said hold. When I said give he dropped it in my hand. The first 4 times he retrieved it correctly. The fifth time he went out but just turned it over and came back. I held the button down on level 3 and walked out to the bumper. Luke followed me out, picked up the bumper and followed me back. He dropped it in my hand when I said give. I tossed it again. He retrieved it 4 straight times then on the fifth he raced out, turned the bumper over and came
back without it. Still not 5 in a row. I held the button down on level 3 and walked to the bumper. He followed me out, picked up the bumper and brought it back to where I had thrown it from. I threw the bumper again and this time he retrieved it 5 times in a row without making a mistake. I released him to hunt.

He went about half way back on my side then crossed over to the neighbor’s side. He pointed the pigeon hidden at the very back. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the grass. I threw my hat and he didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move even when his pigeon hit a limb right above the release trap and fluttered then flew away. I stroked his sides then released him to run before returning to the kennel.

I heeled Dolly to the retrieving bench. She jumped on and we went back and forth with me petting her ever few feet. I put the 3 bumpers on the other end of the bench and sent her to retrieve. She retrieved all 3 correctly and I set her on the ground saying whoa.

I threw a bumper and said fetch. She raced out, grabbed the bumper and came back. She usually sits in front of me holding the bumper until I said give. She retrieved 5 times in a row, correctly. I released her to hunt.

She hunted my sides to about the middle then crossed over to the neighbor’s side. She hunted to the back and pointed the pigeon. I took pictures then walked in front of her. I threw my hat and she didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover then flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I stroked her sides then released her to run before going back to the kennel.

I heeled Lucky to the retrieving bench and he jumped onto it. I walked him back and forth petting him every few feet. I put the 3 bumpers on the other end of the bench and sent him to retrieve. He retrieved all 3 correctly. I set him on the ground saying whoa.

I threw a bumper and said fetch. He trotted out, grabbed the bumper and trotted back. He didn’t get in a big hurry but he retrieved the bumper 5 times in a row, correctly. I released him to hunt.

He hunted back about half way on my side and crossed to the neighbor’s side. He pointed the pigeon and I walked in front of him after taking pictures. I threw my hat and he didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He took a step then stopped. I went to him and stroked his sides then led him away. I should have set him back but at his age I’m just glad he’s still hunting. I released him to run for a while before going back to the kennel.

I don’t know how the dogs figure out where I hide the birds but more often than not they hunt the side I hide the pigeons on. All of the older dogs did this afternoon. Tur Bo was the only one to hunt all the way to the back on my side and he may have just been going with me. These dogs are a lot smarter than we give them credit for.

Dolly pointing a pigeon.

Lucky pointing a pigeon.

Dolly holding a bumper.