Traveling Pointing Dogs

Tur Bo

Tur Bo

It was warmer this morning than it has been but it was just back to normal. I hid 3 pigeons, in release traps, on the training grounds. I put them in a triangle, about 20 yards apart, for Tur Bo.

I brought him out, of the kennel, with e-collars on his neck and flanks. I whoaed him near the 4-wheeler. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it and put it in gear. He really wants to go but he knows he will have to ride on the 4-wheeler if he takes off. I sat there for about 20 seconds before saying okay.

The wind was out of the south east at about 5 miles an hour. He ran all the way to the back, circled around and started back. He was about 10 yards from the center bird, in the triangle, when he went on point. He had a pigeon on his left about 20 yards from him and one about 20 yards to his right. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. I said whoa and flushed the pigeon that was about 20 yards to his right. He turned to the right but didn’t try to chase. I picked him up and set him back. He went back on point.

I continued to kick the weeds in front of him. I said whoa, flushed the pigeon to his left and he turned to the left. He didn’t try to chase he just turned to watch the pigeon fly away. I picked him up and set him back. He went on point again. I continued to kick the weeds. I said whoa and flushed the pigeon that was in front of him. When the pigeon came out it hit a limb or something but it fluttered for just a second and I thought Tur Bo was going to catch it. Finally the pigeon got going and was just ahead of him. When he started moving I held the button, on the transmitter, to the e-collar around his flanks down on level 3. That was not having any effect on him so I turned it to level 5 and he stopped. He had chased about 25 yards before he stopped. I carried him back and set him where he had originally pointed. He went on point so I kicked in front of him then came back and tapped him on the head for the release. I let him run before taking him back to the kennel.

Blaze

Blaze

I brought Blaze out with the e-collars on her neck and flanks. I whoaed her next to the 4-wheeler. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear and Blaze took a step. She only moved one step but I shut the 4-wheeler off, picked her up and set her back. I got back on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear and after about 15 seconds said okay.

I had separated the pigeons instead of having them the way I had them for Tur Bo. She hunted to the back before she pointed. I walked in front of her kicking the weeds after taking pictures. I flushed the pigeon and she didn’t move. I kicked in front of her, then came back and tapped her on the head to release her.

I was going to flush a pigeon before she could point it because sometimes she gets too close to her birds. She pointed and when I pushed the button I had it on the wrong bird. I didn’t flush the bird she was pointing but she wasn’t too close anyway. I kicked in front of her then flushed the pigeon. She never moved. Since I had flushed her other bird when neither of us were close I let her run for a while before taking her back to the kennel.

Luke, I wanted to show the intensity in his eyes.

Luke

I heeled Luke out of the kennel with the e-collars on his neck and flanks. I whoa him near the 4-wheeler. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it , put it in gear, and released him with an okay.

We are coming into the bird field from the east and the wind is out of the south east so the dogs are running to the back and starting back before they smell the pigeons. Luke did the same, he pointed the farthest bird. I took pictures, walked in front of him then flushed the pigeon. He didn’t move. I kicked in front of him then came back and tapped him on the head.

He went to the other end of the bird field and pointed. I took more pictures, walked in front of him and flushed the pigeon. He didn’t move. I kicked in front of him then tapped him on the head.

He missed the middle bird by going to far to the north to get the scent but he finally came around and hit the scent cone and pointed. Luke always does a good job and he hasn’t moved on wing or shot. I took pictures and walked in front of him kicking the weeds. I flushed the pigeon and he never moved. I let him run for a while then back to the kennel.

About all I’m doing for Luke is getting him in shape. He needs some birds shot over him. The other two are getting better but they need a lot more birds. I have the birds and I enjoy working them so I guess I will keep training these young dogs.

Tur Bo

Tur Bo

I decided to change things this morning. I put 3 pigeons out, in a triangle, about 20 yards apart. I set this up near where I usually put the middle pigeon. That way if they hunted the first part of the bird field I would be able to catch up and see them point the pigeon.

I put the e-collars on Tur Bo’s neck and flanks. I heeled him near the 4-wheeler and said whoa. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear and said okay. When I got to the area where I usually put the first bird Tur Bo was just leaving. I made it into the next section in time to see him slam into a point. The way the birds were hidden, he had a release trap about 20 yards to his right and behind him. He had another about 20 yards to his left and behind him. I took some pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. I said whoa, flushed the pigeon to his right and behind him. He was steady to flush but when I said whoa and shot the blank pistol he took a couple of steps. I carried him back.

When he went back on point, I walked in front of him kicking the cover, said whoa and flushed the pigeon to his left rear. He took a step when I said whoa and shot the blank pistol, again. This pigeon lit in a tree not far away and when he heard it fly he took a step. I carried him back. When he went back on point I went in front of him again, kicking the cover. I said whoa and flushed the pigeon. He didn’t move until I shot the blank pistol. This bird also landed in a tree real near us. I carried him back. He went back on point and the pigeon flew out of the tree and he never moved. I stroked his sides then tapped him on the head to release him. I let him run some before taking him back to the kennel.

Blaze

Blaze

I left one of the pigeons where they were set for Tur Bo and moved the other two on toward the back of the training grounds. They were about 50 yards apart. I put the e-collars on Blaze and heeled her out near the 4-wheeler. I said whoa, got on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear and said okay to release her.

The last time I worked Blaze, she was right on top of her birds when she pointed so my game plan was to flush her pigeons before she could point. She didn’t even hesitate, on her first bird she slid to a point about 10 yards from it. I took pictures, went in front of her kicking the cover, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She never moved. I kicked the cover, then went to her, stroked her sides and tapped her on the head to release her.

When she got close to her second pigeon I flushed it. It came up real near her and the bird caused her head to raise and she sat. I walked to her and stood her up. I kicked in front of her then tapped her on the head to release her.

When she hit the scent cone on the third bird she pointed. I walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I walked in front of her kicking the cover then went to her and stroked her sides then tapped her on the head to release her. I let her run a while before going back to the kennel.

Luke

Luke

I whoaed Luke near the 4-wheeler after putting the e-collars on his neck and flanks. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear and released him with an okay. Luke is always fast to his birds and he was on point when I got to the first pigeon. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I kicked in front of him then stroked his sides and tapped his head to release him.

He went straight to the second bird and went on point. I took more pictures then walked in front of him kicking the weeds. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I kicked the weeds then stroked his sides and tapped him on the head for the release.

He pointed his third bird and I started kicking the weeds then noticed a log just barely sticking out of the weeds. I decided to kick the log for a little more noise. When I kicked the log it rolled where the end I kicked went to the ground and came back up. When it came back up the wasps came boiling out. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He never moved. I released him with an okay and went to my 4-wheeler. I let him run for a little while before returning to the kennel.

When I went back for my release trap I didn’t see any wasps but I won’t kick that log again. Tur Bo is still moving when I shoot the blank pistol but he’s not chasing. He only moves a few steps then stops. But just a few days ago he was moving when I got on the 4-wheeler and started it. Blaze is not moving now on the flush of the bird or the shot. If I continue to flush some birds before she can point them she will point her birds from a distance. Between now and th
e start of quail these young dogs should be doing good.

Blaze

Blaze

The mornings are getting warmer so I’m going out to work the dogs earlier. I clip the hair on my setters 3 or more times a year so they can run a little cooler. It also keeps them from picking up burrs as bad. I hid 3 pigeons on the training grounds.

I heeled Blaze out with the e-collars on her neck and flanks. I put her on whoa near the 4-wheeler. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear and said okay to release her. By the time I got to the first bird she was on point but she was standing right on top of the pigeon. I picked her up and set her back. After she went back on point I kicked in front of her, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She never moved. I got back on the 4-wheeler, wrote on the note pad, started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and released her with an okay.

When I got to the next pigeon she was on point and again she was right on top of the pigeon. I think she is smelling the bird then moving up and getting too close. I carried her back. When she went back on point I kicked in front of her, flushed the bird, and shot the blank pistol. She never moved. I got on the 4-wheeler, wrote on the note pad, started it, put it in gear and released her with an okay.

When she got close to the next pigeon and she acted like she was smelling the bird I flushed it. She stopped to flush and I shot the blank pistol. I’m going to flush her birds before she can point for the next few sessions. This should make her more cautious. I got back on the 4-wheeler, wrote on the note pad, started it, put it in gear and released her with an okay. I ran her to the back and then to the kennel.

Luke

Luke

I put Luke on whoa after putting the e-collars on his neck and flanks. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it and released him with an okay. He was on point on the middle pigeon when I got there. I took pictures, kicked in front of him then flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I stroked his sides telling him what a good dog he is. I got on the 4-wheeler, wrote on the note pad, started it, put it in gear then released him with an okay.

He pointed the farthest bird next. There was almost no wind but he was at least 15 yards from the pigeon when he pointed. I took pictures, kicked in front of him then flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He turned his head to watch it fly away but he didn’t move his feet. I got on the 4-wheeler, wrote on the note pad, started it, put it in gear then released him with an okay.

He had passed the first bird on the way down but he pointed it on the way back. I took more pictures, kicked in front of him, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He never moved. He needs some birds shot over him now but it’s too early in the year for the game preserves. I got on the 4-wheeler, wrote on the note pad, started it, put it in gear and said okay. I let him run to the back and then to the kennel.

Tur Bo

Tur Bo

I put the e-collars on Tur Bo and heeled him out near the 4-wheeler where I put him on whoa. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear and waited. I waited for about 15 seconds after putting the 4-wheeler in gear before saying okay to release him. He pointed the first pigeon and I took pictures. I walked in front of him kicking the cover. I said whoa and flushed the pigeon. He was steady on the flush and I said whoa and shot the blank pistol. He took about 3 steps and stopped. I carried him back. When he went back on point I kicked in front of him again, got on the 4-wheeler, wrote on the note pad, started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and released him with an okay.

He pointed the middle bird and I walked in front of him kicking the cover. I said whoa and flushed the pigeon. He took a step. I said whoa and shot the blank pistol. He took 2 more steps. I picked him up and carried him back. He went back on point and I kicked in front of him. I got back on the 4-wheeler, wrote on the note pad, started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and released him with an okay.

When he got close to the third bird I yelled whoa and flushed the pigeon. He took a couple of steps and stopped. I carried him back then said whoa and shot the blank pistol. He took 4 or 5 steps and stopped. He’s only chasing the pigeons a few steps. It’s almost like he can’t contain himself but just a few sessions ago he didn’t want to stay on whoa until I released him. Now he’s doing real well on that. I carried him back then got on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear and released him with an okay. I let him run the field for a little while then we went back to the kennel.

When you get to this point in the training it’s boring to read about because it’s doing the same thing over and over but that’s the nature of dog training. Dogs learn by repetition so I’m repeating the same exercises over and over until they do them right all the time. Luke is doing really well and most times Blaze is too. After this week I may go back to the county park for a while just to give them a different place to run.

Luke

Luke

Another cool morning, good for working dogs. I hid 3 pigeons on the training grounds then put the e-collars on Luke and heeled him out near the 4-wheeler. I whoaed him, then got on the 4-wheeler, started it and released him with an okay.

Luke is always so fast to the birds that he’s on point by the time I get there, even on the 4-wheeler. He had gone past the first pigeon and was pointing the middle bird when I got there. I took some pictures then kicked in front of him. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He never moved but the pigeon flew to a limb right above me. He wanted to move real bad so I said whoa one time. I shook the limb, the pigeon was on, trying to get it to fly. It dropped to the ground in front of Luke. This was one lucky pigeon, had it been in front of Blaze or Tur Bo it wouldn’t have faired so well but Luke didn’t move. I caught the pigeon, walked to Luke and tapped him on the head to release him.

He raced to the back and pointed the farthest pigeon. I took more pictures, kicked in front of him, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He never moved. I kicked the cover then got on the 4-wheeler, wrote on the note pad, started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and released him with an okay.

By the time I got to the other end of the training grounds Luke was on point. I took more pictures then kicked in front of him. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He never moved. I got on the 4-wheeler, wrote on the note pad, started it, put it in gear and released him with an okay. I let him run to the back then back to the kennel.

Blaze

Blaze

I whoaed Blaze near the 4-wheeler after putting the e-collars on her. I got on the 4-wheeler,started it, and put it in gear. When the I put it in gear the 4-wheeler jumped. Blaze took 4 or 5 steps and stopped. She knew she had messed up. I picked her up and carried her back. I got back on he 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear and released her with an okay.

She passed the first bird and pointed the middle pigeon. I took pictures then kicked in front of her, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She never moved. I continued to kick the cover then got on the 4-wheeler, wrote on the note pad, started it, put it in gear and released her with an okay.

She circled back to the area of the first bird. She got birdy but wasn’t getting the smell very good from where she was so she moved and I flushed the pigeon. She stopped to flush. I walked in front of her and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I kicked the cover in front of her then got on the 4-wheeler, wrote on the note pad, started it, put it in gear, and released her with an okay.

She hunted to the back and pointed the pigeon at the back of the training grounds. I kicked in front of her then flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She never moved. I kicked the cover in front of her then got on the 4-wheeler. I wrote on the note pad, started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and released her with an okay. I let her run to the back on my side then back to the kennel.

Tur Bo

Tur Bo

I heeled Tur Bo out with the e-collars on and whoaed him near the 4-wheeler. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it and put it in gear. The 4-wheeler jumped when I put it in gear and Tur Bo took off. I held the button on the transmitter down, on level 4, to the e-collar on his flanks. He kept moving so I turned the transmitter to level 6 and he stopped. He was about 50 yards from the break away point so I carried him to the 4-wheeler and we had a slow ride to the starting point. We got off the 4-wheeler with me still carrying him. I set him up in the original spot and said whoa. I got back on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear and released him with an okay.

He pointed the first bird and I took pictures. I kicked in front of him then flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He took a couple of steps then stopped. I carried him back and he went back on point. I kicked in front of him then got on the 4-wheeler. I wrote on the note pad, started the 4-wheeler, and put it in gear. It jumped and he started to move. I whoaed him and he stopped. I carried him back and when he went back on point I got on the 4-wheeler. I started it, put it in gear and released him with an okay.

He went to the back and pointed the farthest pigeon but he was right on top of it. I moved him back and when he went back on point I kicked in front of him. When I flushed the pigeon he moved and I whoaed him. I carried him back to the original spot and he went back on point. I kicked in front of him then got on the 4-wheeler. I wrote on the note pad, started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and released him with an okay.

When he got to the middle bird he was on the wrong side but he pointed, then moved. I flushed the pigeon and he stopped. Then he started moving and I stopped him with the e-collar. I carried him to the spot that he had stopped at, originally. I got on the 4-wheeler, wrote on the note pad, started it, put it in gear and released him with an okay. I let him have a good run before returning to the kennel.

Today was a lot better day than yesterday. Luke was good on all of his birds and the break away. Blaze stumbled a little on the break away but she was good on her birds. Tur Bo is getting better. August the 7th he will be 14 months old and I haven’t been walking in front of him very long. With more repetition he will get better and better.