Traveling Pointing Dogs

Tur Bo

Tur Bo

For July, the weather was really nice this morning. The temperature was about 68 degrees with a light wind from the south. I hid 3 pigeons, in release traps, on my neighbors side of the training grounds. I put the e-collars on Tur Bo, heeled him near the 4-wheeler and told him whoa. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it and Tur Bo took off. I held the button on the transmitter down, on level 3, on the e-collar on his flanks until he stopped. He went about 50 yards before he stopped so I rode the 4-wheeler to him, picked him up, and got back on the 4-wheeler. I hauled him back to the original spot he had been on whoa at but I didn’t go the closest way. I set him on the ground and told him whoa. This time he let me get on the 4-wheeler, start it then say okay before he moved.

When he got to the first pigeon he pointed then took a couple of steps and I flushed the bird. He started chasing and I yelled whoa but he didn’t stop so I held the button on the transmitter down, on level 3, on the flank e-collar until he stopped. I picked him up and carried him back to where he should have pointed. I kicked in front of him then got on the 4-wheeler and started it. He never moved until I said okay.

He was about 15 yards from the next pigeon when he pointed. I got off the 4-wheeler, kicked in front of him and took some pictures. I held his collar and flushed the bird. He made a half hearted effort to move then stopped. I waited until he went back on point then got on the 4-wheeler and started it. He was watching me until I said okay then he took off.

He was a little closer on the third pigeon but he was still 7 or 8 yards from it when he pointed. I started toward him and he took a step and stopped. I picked him up and set him back. I took some pictures then held his collar while I flushed the bird. He never moved. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it and he waited for me to say okay before he moved. He hunted back to the kennel.

Blaze

Blaze

I brought Blaze out of the kennel with the e-collars on and whoaed her near the 4-wheeler. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it and Blaze took off. I held the button on the transmitter down, on level 3, on the e-collar around her flanks but she didn’t even slow down. I caught up with her about half way through the training grounds and held the button down, again. She finally stopped. I picked her up and got back on the 4-wheeler. I, slowly, rode back to the starting point. I carried her to the spot, set her down and told her whoa. She waited for me to get on the 4-wheeler, start it and say okay before she moved.

Blaze is really fast and she was going all out when she hit the scent cone on the first bird. She whirled into a point. I got off the 4-wheeler and took some pictures then kicked in front of her. I flushed the bird and shot the blank pistol. She never moved. I stroked her sides and told her what a good girl she is then got on the 4-wheeler and started it. She never moved until I said okay.

She pointed the next pigeon and I took more pictures. These may be the most photographed dogs in history. I kicked in front of her then flushed the bird and shot the blank pistol. She never moved. I got back on the 4-wheeler, started it and let her wait for a few seconds before I said okay. She didn’t move until I said okay.

The first pass Blaze made on the third bird was on the wrong side for the way the wind was blowing but she came around on the opposite side and went on point. I got off the 4-wheeler and kicked in front of her, flushed the pigeon and fired the blank pistol. The pigeon came out real low, right over her head and she turned around to watch it fly off. I picked her up and turned her around. I stroked her sides and told her what a good girl she is. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it and after a few seconds released her with an okay. She hunted back to the kennel.

Luke

Luke

I put the e-collars on Luke and heeled him out near the 4-wheeler. I put him on whoa, got on the 4-wheelernad started it. Luke didn’t move but it was hard on him. He got lower and lower waiting for me to say okay. Finally, I released him with an okay.

When I got near the first bird, Luke was already on point. I got off the 4-wheeler and took some pictures. I walked in front of him kicking the cover, flushed the pigeon, and shot the blank pistol. He never moved. I stroked his sides telling him what a good boy he is. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it and after a few second released him with an okay.

He went to the back and pointed the farthest pigeon. I got off the 4-wheeler, kicked the cover in front of him then flushed the bird and shot the blank pistol. He never moved. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it then said okay.

He was gone in a flash. I knew where the remaining pigeon was at so I was watching Luke when he hit the scent cone. He was going so fast that he wound up right on top of the trap but he wasn’t moving. I picked him up and set him back a few yards. I let him point for a minute or so then kicked in front of him then flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He never moved. I stroked his sides and told him what a good boy he is. He stayed on point until I got on the 4-wheeler, started it and released him with an okay.

These 3 young dogs are progressing. Neither Blaze or Tur Bo like to ride on the 4-wheeler. Blaze was trying to hold on with everything she has. She even tried to curl her tail around my arm. Picking dogs up and setting them back teaches them not to move. I think hauling them back on a 4-wheeler may teach them faster.

Luke watching a pigeon fly away.

Luke

This morning wasn’t as hot as yesterday but it was still warm for the dogs, so I trained at home. I hid 3 pigeons, in release traps, on my neighbors side of the training grounds. I put e-collars on Luke’s neck and flanks then heeled him to the area where I had left the 4-wheeler. I whoaed him, got on the 4-wheeler and started it. I let him stand there for a few seconds then released him with an “okay”.

By the time I got close to the first pigeon he was already on point. I got off the 4-wheeler and walked in front of him kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He never moved. I kicked in front of him then went to the 4-wheeler and started it. Luke took a couple of steps when the 4-wheeler started so I shut it off, went to him and set him back. I kicked in front of him, then got on the 4-wheeler and started it. He stayed on point so I released him with an “okay”.

He went all the way to the back of the training grounds and pointed the farthest pigeon I had hid. I got off the 4-wheeler and kicked in front of him then flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He never moved. I kicked in front of him then got on the 4-wheeler and started it. He stayed on point until I released him with an “okay”.

Luke had missed the middle bird on his way through because of where I had hid it. He was on the wrong side to smell it the first pass as well as this time so I called him in and told him to “hunt close”. He pointed and I kicked in front of him then flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He never moved. I got on the 4-wheeler and started it. He stayed on point until I released him with an “okay”. He hunted back to the kennel.

Tur Bo

Tur Bo

I put the e-collars on Tur Bo and heeled him near the 4-wheeler. I said whoa and he stopped. I got on the 4-wheeler and started it. As soon as I started the 4-wheeler, yesterday, he went all the way to the back but today he didn’t even move. I let him stand there a few seconds then said “okay”. He wasn’t sure, so he started slow to, see if I was going to say whoa. After a few steps he was gone.

He came around the corner on the first bird and swapped ends. I got off the 4-wheeler, kicked in front of him then went to him and held his collar. I stroked his sides a few times then flushed the pigeon. He flinched but didn’t move his feet. When he went back on point I kicked in front of him then got on the 4-wheeler. As soon as I started the 4-wheeler he took off. I yelled whoa but he never slowed. I held the button on the transmitter down, on level 3, on the e-collar on his flanks until he stopped. He finally stopped, I rode to him and carried him back on the 4-wheeler. I set him up in the same spot he had originally pointed. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it and he started moving, again. I held the button on the transmitter down, on level 5, until he stopped. I carried him back and set him up in his original spot. I went back to the 4-wheeler, started it and he never moved until I said “okay”.

He passed the second without coming close to it and went to the back where he pointed the farthest pigeon. I went to him and kicked the cover in front of him then held his collar as I flushed the bird. He never moved. He watched the pigeon fly away then went back on point. I kicked in front of him then got on the 4-wheeler and started it. He didn’t move until I said “okay”.

On the way back through the field he went far enough south to hit the scent cone on the second bird and pointed. I went to him, kicked in front then grabbed his collar. He never moved when I flushed the pigeon. He watched the pigeon fly away then went back on point. I kicked in front of him then got on the 4-wheeler and started it. As soon as it started he did too. I held the button on the transmitter down, on level 5, and it didn’t slow him down so I turned it up to level 7 then to level 9. He had run a circle and was almost back to me when he stopped. I carried him back and set him up. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it and he didn’t move. I let him stand there a few seconds then told him “okay”. He hunted back to the kennel.

Blaze

Blaze

I brought Blaze out with the e-collars on and stopped her near the 4-wheeler. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it and she never moved. When I said “okay” she took off. She went straight instead of making the bend where the first pigeon was but she pointed the second. I walked in front of her, kicking the cover then flushed the pigeon. The blank pistol was empty when I tried to shoot it but she never moved. I kicked in front of her then got on the 4-wheeler and started it. When the 4-wheeler started she took off. I held the button on the transmitter down, on level 3, until she stopped. I carried her back to the original spot. I kicked in front of her then got on the 4-wheeler and started it. She never moved until I said “okay”.

She pointed the pigeon that was all the way at the back of the bird field. I walked in front of her, kicking the cover then flushed the pigeon. She never moved. I kicked in front of her then got back on the 4-wheeler and started it. She took off when the 4-wheeler started. I held the button on the transmitter down, on level 5, until she stopped. I carried her back to the original spot. I kicked in front of her then got on the 4-wheeler and started it. She stayed until I said “okay”.

On the way back to the kennel she hit the scent cone on the first bird and locked up. I kicked in front of her then flushed the pigeon. She never moved. I kicked in front of her the got on the 4-wheeler and started it. When it started she went to moving. I held the button down, on level5, until she stopped. I kicked in front of her then got on the 4-wheeler and started it. She didn’t move until I said “okay” and hunted back to the kennel.

Teaching these young dogs not to move until I release them is one more way to teach them that when they are on “whoa” they are not to move their feet until I tell them “okay”. Luke is farther along than the other 2 because he has been run off a horse and I would put him on “whoa” then get on the horse before releasing him. Blaze and Tur Bo should figure it out in a few days. We will see.

Blaze

Blaze

It was warmer this morning so I decided to work dogs here. I placed the first pigeon in the release trap and when I took my hand off the trap, it released the bird. I was already straightening up from being bent over the trap and the pigeon just grazed my face. I have had them release earlier and they hit me right in the face. Hazards of the job.

After I got 3 pigeons, scattered out in the release traps, hidden on the training grounds I heeled Blaze out of the kennel, with e-collars on her neck and flanks. I put her on whoa, then got on my 4-wheeler and released her to hunt. Usually, I walk with them but this morning I ran them from the 4-wheeler. It was warm with almost no wind and when she got to the first bird she stopped, then moved around the cover the bird was in and stopped again. When she started to move again I flushed the bird. She stopped to flush and I took some pictures.

I had flushed the second bird by mistake before she got close to it so she hunted on to the back where the third pigeon was hid. She was about 10 yards from this bird when she pointed. I got off the 4-wheeler and walked in front of her, kicking the cover. I flushed the bird and she never moved. I stroked her sides and told her what a good dog she was then got on the 4-wheeler. I released her and she hunted back to the kennel.

Luke

Luke

I put the e-collars on Luke and heeled him to the 4-wheeler where I put him on whoa. I got on the 4-wheeler and started it. He stayed on whoa until I released him with an okay. He pointed the first bird before I could catch up. When I arrived I got off the 4-wheeler and took some pictures then walked in front kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and he never moved. I went to him and stroked his sides then released him.

He went to the back, without coming close to the second bird, and pointed the third pigeon. He looked really nice on point so I took more pictures then walked in front kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and he never moved. I went to him and stroked his sides then released him.

We hunted back toward the second pigeon but he wasn’t near where I had hid it so I got off the 4-wheeler and told him to hunt close. He started working the cover near me and went on point. He was about 15 yards from the pigeon and I could tell he wasn’t getting the scent very well. He was pointing but his head was moving trying to get the scent better. I stroked his sides and flushed the pigeon. He never moved. I released him and he hunted back to the kennel.

Tur Bo

Tur Bo

I put the e-collars on Tur Bo and heeled him near the 4-wheeler. I put him on whoa and got on the 4-wheeler and he started moving. I whoaed him and he stopped. I let him stand there a little while then started the 4 wheeler and he flew down the field. I knew there was no reason to yell “whoa” so I started after him on the 4-wheeler. I, finally, caught him at the very back. I picked him up, carried him to the 4-wheeler and hauled him back to the area we had started from. No one was there to take a picture (I should have taken a selfie) but imagine what that looked like. He’s 52 pounds, at least, and was hanging off both sides of the 4-wheeler but when we got back and I put him on whoa he never moved until I released him.

He pointed the first pigeon and I took some pictures then kicked the cover. I went to him and held on to his collar when I flushed the bird. He flinched but he didn’t pull on the collar. When he went back on point I walked in front kicking the cover. I got on the 4-wheeler and started it but he stayed on whoa. I told him “okay” and he went back to hunting.

The first 2 dogs had trouble finding the second pigeon so I had moved it. It must have helped because Tur Bo had no trouble. He pointed and I took more pictures, then kicked the cover. I went to him and held his collar. He never moved when I flushed the bird. I kicked the cover then got back on the 4-wheeler, started it and he didn’t move until I said “okay”.

He pointed the third pigeon and I got off the 4-wheeler. I stroked his sides then walked in front of him, kicking the cover. I went back and held his collar while I flushed the pigeon. The pigeon was a young one and flew onto a low hanging limb in front of Tur Bo. He wasn’t trying to move until I turned loose of his collar. The instant I turned loose of his collar he started chasing. I whoaed him but he didn’t stop. I held the transmitter button down, on level 3, on the e-collar on his flanks and he stopped. I carried him back to the original spot he had pointed. I whoaed him and kicked the cover then got on the 4-wheeler and told him okay. He hunted back to the kennel.

The mornings are going to be warmer for quite a while so I will work the dogs here, on my training grounds, rather than put them in the box in the truck. This will be easier on the dogs and also easier on the pigeons. If I run them from the 4-wheeler it will be easier on me, too.

Luke

I wasn’t able to train dogs today. My son, Ryan, was having some work done on his home and he needed someone to be there with the workman. I’m it.

Yesterday the counter on the blog went over 50,000. I have had the counter on it for about 9 months. That seems like a huge number to me and I want to thank each one that has clicked on my site.

I have been working Blaze, Tur Bo and Luke on being steady to wing and shot. While I owned her, Whitey was in the class. One of the reasons it is taking so long for the dogs to get this, I have let them chase after I flush the birds. Luke has four years experience chasing, Blaze and Whitey have two years and I hunted Tur Bo last year. They have all chased and saw the other dogs chase after the flush. It’s more fun to chase than stand steady to wing and shot.

I was reading some of George Hickox articles and he said that as soon as the dogs started pointing he quit letting them chase. I broke a pointer, that I tried to run field trials with, steady to wing and shot but I seldom hunted her. I have never cared if my bird dogs chase after the flush, until now. Just to see if I can and to have something to write about on the blog, I am trying.

Blaze

Tur Bo

Luke is doing pretty well on staying steady but I need to go to a game farm and shoot some birds over him. Blaze is fighting me, still, but if I shot some birds over her it might help. She may just be bored with what we are doing at this time, although she acts excited by the training. Blaze has hunted for 2 seasons and if she sees a bird drop she retrieves at a dead run so when she sees birds falling it will be hard to stop her from moving.

Tur Bo only had last season and it wasn’t a very good year so he didn’t have much to chase. He also retrieved one time. At this time, in his training, if I’m standing beside him with my hand in his collar he doesn’t move. With enough repetitions, I think he will stay steady.

I got 7 homing pigeons in May and just started using them this month but I’ve lost 2 already and the others aren’t raising young as they should be. My other pigeon house has a bunch of birds, 16 at last count, but I’m not sure if they will return home from a long distance. At this time they are coming back from about 3 miles away. They may be homers, also. I’m not sure but I haven’t lost any for a long time.

Jack

A friend of mine, Gailen Cooper, bought Jack from me and a few weeks ago brought another dog to his kennels from the south eastern U.S. The other dog was sick when he got it home and a few days later Jack was sick, also. He took him to the vet and they wound up keeping him for about 10 days. After some blood tests they determined that Jack had a parvo that the normal parvo inoculations doesn’t cover. I thought when Gailen told me about this that he had, had 3 shots but Gailen said I had given him 4 shots before he had taken him home.

Two days after bringing the dog from the south east to his kennel it was dead. He had taken him to a vet and the vet had given him some antibiotics. When Jack got sick he took him to a different vet. Dr. Becker at Independence Animal Hospital recognized the seriousness of the disease and kept Jack until he was well enough to go home.

Dr. Becker was not in the day I went to Independence Animal Hospital but I talked to Dr. Wingert who told me that this disease attacked dogs between the ages of 6 months and 18 months, mainly. There is no known vaccine for this parvo. They are seeing this in the young dogs and it is sometimes fatal.

I have friends that bring their dogs over to work them on my pigeons. I asked if I should stop letting people bring dogs by but Dr. Wingert said the disease is every where so that probably wouldn’t make much difference. This morning there was a coyote in my backyard. He could bring something, easier than someone’s dog that is up on it’s shots.

That’s it for my rambling but, please, keep an eye on your dog and if it gets sick get it to a vet right way. Again thank you for clicking on my blog. I had no idea if anyone would read this blog when I started and getting 50,000 hits in 9 months is unbelievable to me, so thanks a lot. I enjoy writing the blog and working dogs and the Lord has blessed me with good health. I feel like the luckiest guy in the world.