Dogs, Retrieving And Pigeons

Posted on April 6, 2022 by windypointsj1s@aol.com

The rain has been relentless the last couple of weeks. It has my training grounds muddy and when I drive the 4-wheeler it creates ruts. Monday it was dry enough to use the 4-wheeler but I didn’t go onto the neighbor’s side. Their side has more trees that shade it keeping the ground a little wetter than my side. I really don’t want to do anything that might make them say, “We would rather you don’t use our side anymore.” Their side has more areas for hiding birds than mine.

Mann concentrating on a pigeon.

Boss, stretched out, pointing a pigeon.

Abby pointing a pigeon.

I have known for a while that I need to start the forcing part of my force fetch but I hate this part. Usually, it doesn’t last long but it still the part I hate. I took Abby to the retrieving bench. She jumped onto it and I petted her several different times then fed her some treats. I put my fingers under her collar and pinched her ear with my thumb. She started gritting her teeth and didn’t make a sound. I hung on and so did she. After just about a minute I gave up. Abby never opened her mouth.

I have never been able to use the ear pinch. In the past I have successfully used the half hitch around the toes. I decided that I would go back to that. I wasn’t set up for it so one more time I pinched her lips against her teeth and inserted my fingers. I did this six times then set her on the ground to run. I walked to the back then back to the kennel where I petted her for a few minutes then put her in her kennel.

I didn’t even try the ear pinch on Boss when I had him jump onto the retrieving bench. I petted him in several places and fed him some treats. I pinched his lips against his teeth and stuck my fingers behind his canines. After 6 times I set him on the ground to run. I walked to the back then to the kennels. I petted Boss then put him in his kennel.

I worked Sally and Mann on retrieving a thrown dummy. Sally works hard because she really likes the treats. Mann retrieves because he’s been force broke to retrieve. I did Sally and she seems to enjoy retrieving but I paid to have Mann force broke and the force was really heavy. Mann, when the bird drops in his view, retrieves really quickly. I’ve been working him quite a bit on retrieving in the yard and he seems to enjoy it a little. He’s not too crazy about the treats. Hopefully, he will really get to like retrieving.

Sally and Mann both must retrieve 5 times without a mistake before they can be turned loose to run. A mistake is refusing a retrieve, running out and not able to find the dummy, dropping it before they are told to give or trying to leave the area. The last few times they both have completed their retrieving without a mistake. I let them run then pet them for a while before putting them in their kennel.

Boss pointing a pigeon.

I hid 2 pigeons, in release traps, on my side of the training grounds. Sally is in the first kennel so I put the e-collar and GPS collar on her and whoaed her near the 4-wheeler. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it and said, “okay”. The dogs run pretty fast when I just let them run but when they know there are birds, they really go.

I had one bird on the north fence row and Sally ran the south side to the back. The way the wind was she hadn’t hit a scent cone when I first got to the back but she circled in front of me and slammed on the brakes. When I got close to her I noticed her back legs shaking. She’s 5, almost 6 years old and still gets excited about these pigeons. I took some pictures then walked in front and flushed the pigeon. She was steady until I tapped her head.

By the time I got on the 4-wheeler she had pointed the other pigeon. I took some more pictures then walked in front of her. I flushed the bird and tapped her head to release her. I let her run for a while before putting her back in the kennel.

Mann honoring Ally.

I reloaded the release traps and turned Abby out to hunt. Usually I heel the dogs near the 4-wheeler, put them on whoa, get on the 4-wheeler, start it then say, “okay”. Most of the dogs stay pretty well. Except Abby. On this morning even she did it well.

Abby is uncanny about finding the birds I have hidden. By the time I got across my little creek she was on point on the north fence line. A few times ago she took a step or two on her birds but not today. I took some pictures then went in front and flushed her bird. As soon as it came out of the release trap the race was on. She chased it until she saw she couldn’t catch it then went back to hunting.

By the time I got to the back on the 4-wheeler she was pointing the second bird. It’s like Sally told her where they were hidden. There was a long limb that had dropped from one of the trees and I used it to beat on the bush where the pigeon was hidden. The first time she flinched but after that she stood for each stroke on the bushes. I flushed the pigeon and it had a little trouble getting out of the bush but she didn’t catch it, although it was close. I let her run for a while then took her back to the kennel.

Boss pointing a pigeon.

Boss was next. All of the dogs are fast but he’s really fast. He went down the south side of the grounds and was still moving when I got to the back. The weather station said that the wind was out of the north but all of these dogs were on the west side of this bird when they pointed. Boss was really stretched out on his point. The long limb was still laying close so I beat the bushes. He flinched and I never noticed at first but he moved his back legs where he was no longer stretched out. Had I known I would have flushed his bird. I smacked the bush several times then flushed his bird. He doesn’t try to catch the birds as Abby does. He went back to hunting.

He came back around to the north fence row but was a long way from this bird when he pointed. I took some pictures then walked in front of him kicking the ground. I flushed his bird and it came right over his head and never got very high. He chased almost back to the kennel then came back and ran some more. I put him in his kennel.

After I reloaded the release traps I brought Mann out. Mann usually does a good job and this was no exception. He pointed both birds and was steady on them both until I released him. I let him run for a few minutes then put him in his kennel.

Abby concentrating on a pigeon.

This morning I decided if I couldn’t use the ear pinch it’s time I continued their force fetch, with the string on the toes. I’ve used it in the past and I understand how to use it.

I heeled Boss down to the retrieving bench and whoaed him about 15 yards from the bench. I took the Wonder lead off and tapped his head and said, “up”. He jumped onto the retrieving bench and I walked him up and down petting him. I put the string on his foot, pulled on the string and held a dowel rod in front of his mouth. He went ballistic. Screaming and turning his head like I was killing him. I led him to the end of the retrieving bench and circled the post with his chain so he couldn’t move his head, much.

I let him settle down for a few seconds then pulled on the string. This time when he opened his mouth to yelp I thrust the dowel in his mouth and let off the string. I had him hold for a few seconds then said, “give”. He held on. I pushed the dowel back and twisted it and he released it. I let him settle for a few seconds then pulled on the string. He still fought but not as hard. I had him hold the dowel 5 times then gave him some treats and let him run for a while.

Abby on point.

Actually, I let him run for a good while. I walked to the back of my place and he was about 150 yards west of me. When I started back to the east I called him and hit the tone on his e-collar. He kept going west. I kept walking but I toned him again. I looked at the GPS and he was farther to the west. I hit the tone then stimulated him on low 2. He was getting farther and farther away. Usually, he pretty good about coming back when I tone him.

I went to 2 high but he kept getting farther away. I started turning the e-collar up. When I got to level 5 I remembered that his e-collar was still on bark collar mode so all I had been doing he didn’t feel. When I ride the 4-wheeler he will get in front of it, most times. I got the 4-wheeler out and he came to me. When we got to the kennel I put him up.

I heeled Abby close to the retrieving bench and whoaed her. I took the Wonder lead off, tapped her head and said, “up”. She jumped onto the retrieving bench. I petted her before putting the string on her toes. I circled the end post with the chain so she couldn’t move her head. I pulled on the string and she clinched her teeth. I held a steady pull on the string. Finally after a few seconds she opened her mouth to yelp and I placed the dowel in her mouth. She is tough. There was no shaking of her head, yelping or anything. She just ground her teeth. But finally I won.

Mann after the pigeon had flown.

The next time was easier and before the fifth time she was opening her mouth to receive the dowel. She’s not only tough she’s extremely smart. I let her run for a while then put her in the kennel.

Most of the time I’m going to do these two young dogs twice a day, when the weather permits. I’ve started this and I need to get the job done without stopping.

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A Day In the Life Of An Amateur Dog Trainer

Posted on March 30, 2022 by windypointsj1s@aol.com

It rained most of last week and I wasn’t able to work dogs very much. Monday morning, this week, dawned bright and sunny. I was excited of the prospect of being able to get out of the house and do what I like to do. I have been boarding my friend’s GSP, Allie. Vince Dye is gone on vacation to an area with no cell phone service.

Vince’s GSP Allie.

Boss pointing a pigeon.

Abby pointing a pigeon.

I started out cleaning the pens before working the dogs. I turn them all loose into a big pen while I clean their individual runs. Sallie hates Allie. I don’t know why but it may be because Allie has almost no hair in comparison to an English setter. She also has a very short tail. For whatever reason Sally has never liked her. Other GSP’s are alright but not Allie.

As I was almost through cleaning pens I heard Sally growling and when I looked she had Allie on the ground. She wasn’t biting but she was holding her to the ground. I had my, full of dog droppings, pooper scooper in one hand and a scraper in the other hand as I went to break them up. My feet got tangled in a garden hose and down I went, face first, in the gravel. As I lay there trying to sort things out Mann came up and started licking me in the face.

Sally saw me on the ground and let Allie up and came toward me, too. The only way to keep Mann out of my face was to press on his back as I stood. My glasses were hanging by one ear and I noticed blood dripping from my nose. I finished cleaning pens and went to the house to check out my damages.

My glasses had taken just a little chunk out of the side of my nose. Not a big deal. I cleaned the cut and went back and worked dogs. Later that night I found some gravel rash on forehead, too.

I worked Abby and Boss on the retrieving bench and then let them run for a few minutes. I worked Sally and Mann on retrieving and then let them run. I felt sorry for Allie. I knew that she sometimes retrieved when we were hunting so I threw a Dokken quail dummy for her. She ran out smelled the dummy and came back to me without picking it up. I let her run but she was dragging a check cord. I was hoping if she tried to run off I could get ahold of the check cord.

John and Vince flushing a single that was pointed by Ally.

Allie did a good job. She stayed right in front of me. When I got to the end of my property and turned back toward the kennels I called her. She came right to me and went in front all the way to the kennel. I couldn’t have asked for any better handling.

When I had been walking through the grass in my back, near the kennels, I thought it was ready to be mowed for the first time this year. I did a little work on the mower and mowed the back. A little more than an acre.

I was feeling pretty good about what I had got done. Worked all of the dogs, worked on the mower and mowed a bunch of my yard. About 5:30 I went out to clean pens and feed the dogs and Allie was gone. She has got out of my big pen before but never out of her kennel. When she gets out of the big pen I’m close so I just call her and she comes back. I wasn’t too worried. I cleaned pens and put dog food in each kennel, calling Allie occasionally.

Boss honoring Ally.

I finished and still no Allie. I got the 4-wheeler out and rode to the back. I called and called. I rode my neighbor’s side and from the highway in front to the very back. She has always been good about coming to me. I was really getting worried now. Vince was in an area where he couldn’t get phone reception. She had Vince’s collar on. If someone had her and called Vince’s number there would be no answer.

June and I drove the roads looking. We saw nothing and it was getting dark. We went by the dog pound but it was closed. I went back to the kennels and left the big gate open and the gate to her kennel in case she came back in the night. Every time there was a bark out of one of the dogs I went to the kennel to check. Still no Allie.

Sally pointing a single.

About 8:30 I got a message on messenger from Vince. Some way or other someone had been able to get a message to him that they had his dog. He had their phone number. I called the number and they were just about a half mile from me. When I found them they were walking Allie on a leash. They had seen her around the complex they lived in since about noon. So the whole time I had been mowing near the kennels she had been gone. When I didn’t see her in the kennel while mowing I just figured she was in her house.

The people who found her had given her a bath or two. They said she had got into some really smelly trash. They also said she really didn’t like being in the house. No wonder. She’s never been an inside dog. I got her back in her kennel and put a snap on the latch so she couldn’t raise it again.

Sally pointing a single.

Before he left Vince had bought a set of books about the frontier and the old days that he was going to give me for taking care of Allie. I told him I would pay for them. He really didn’t owe me anything for taking care of Allie. He has done a lot for a lot of people without pay. But when I lost his dog I knew he would still give me the books. If I didn’t get her back it would be like he was giving me a set of books for losing his dog. I was really glad to have her back.

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Rainy Week, Little Dog Training

Posted on March 26, 2022 by windypointsj1s@aol.com

I worked dogs on Monday and it’s rained ever since. Rainy days drive me up the wall but we need the rain. I sold Bodie to a horse back field trialer. Although he had broken his leg earlier, Bodie not the field trialer, he was running pretty well. Because the rain moved in Monday afternoon I just worked Bodie on three birds. I didn’t work any of the others on birds.

Bodie running on a big ranch in Kansas.

Boss running on that big ranch in Kansas.

Abby the first time she jumped onto the bench, peeking around the tree at me.

When the guy that bought Bodie came to look at him Bodie wagged his tail on a couple of the pigeons he pointed. He had never done that before and I was surprised. It may have been because the buyer and his wife were there and it had always been just me watching. I don’t know. But anyway I put three birds out, in release traps.

I went ahead and worked Bodie on the whoa boards then put him on the bench and worked him. I don’t count a dog sold until he’s been paid for and left my kennel. After the retrieving bench I set him on the ground and tapped him on the head saying, “okay”.

The dogs run harder when they know there are birds out. I followed him on the 4-wheeler. I had put all three birds about 40 to 50 yards apart near the back of the property. The first bird he scented he pointed. He looked good for a few seconds then started moving his tail. I flushed the bird. Some times young dogs try different things to see what will work. That may be what he’s doing on the tail wagging. He didn’t chase much then went back to hunting.

He hit the scent cone on the next bird and pointed. His tail didn’t move. I watched him until he moved a foot then flushed the pigeon. The pigeon came out of the trap without flying. It landed right beside the trap. Bodie only went a couple of steps and pointed again. The pigeon was unconcerned. It walked around pecking at the ground. Bodie was on point with his right rear leg raised. He held this point, with a twelve o’clock tail, for about 45 seconds. As the pigeon walked around he couldn’t stand it any longer. He moved and the pigeon flushed. He chased this one back toward the coop and when he was about 45 yards away I shot the blank pistol. He had no reaction to the shot.

He came back really cracking his tail. He was running, at the very end of the place, when he hit the scent cone on the last bird and slammed into a point. He didn’t hold it long but his tail wasn’t wagging. When he took a step I flushed the pigeon. He only chased a short distance then went back to hunting.

Bodie and his mother Abby.

I let him run for a while in front of the 4-wheeler. When we got back to the kennel he wouldn’t come close to me. He didn’t want to go back in the kennel. I got back on the 4-wheeler and went toward the back. He came in front of the 4-wheeler. We went to the back then back to the front of the house and back to the back. When we got back to the kennel his tongue was about to his knees and he was ready for a drink. He came to me. I put him in the kennel.

I had videoed both the pigeon that walked on the ground and the next bird that he had pointed, with my phone. I can’t put videos on the blog and I don’t know how to move pictures from my phone to my blog. But I texted them to my buyer of Bodie. I thought he was coming over Tuesday to get him but he showed up a couple of hours after I sent the videos, on Monday. He was pleased with what he saw.

Bodie circling the multi-floral-rose.

I may regret selling Bodie. I think he’s going to make a really nice dog but I have wanted a field trialer to run some of my puppies. This same field trialer is wanting a pup out of my next litter, too. I hope they work out for him.

The weather next week is supposed to be some better. I hope I can get back to working dogs. The dogs miss it too, I think.

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More Training With The Young Dogs

Posted on March 18, 2022 by windypointsj1s@aol.com

I have been working all 5 dogs on retrieving this week. The 3 young ones, Boss, Abby and Bodie, I have started force breaking them on the retrieving bench. For Sally and Mann I have been throwing dummies, actually Dokken quail, dove and chukar retrieving dummies. Yesterday, I worked Abby, Boss and Bodie on pigeons hidden in release traps after I worked them on the retrieving bench.

Bodie pointing a pigeon.

Boss pointing a pigeon.

Abby on point.

Usually, I take Bodie first. Monday I heeled him with a roading harness pulling some chains to the front of my yard. On December the 14th 2021 he leaped into the air trying to catch a pigeon and landed wrong, breaking his left rear leg. He was in a cast for 31 days. I think pulling the chains will strengthen his rear legs. We also work on heeling and whoaing as we traverse the yard.

After he pulls the chains for about a quarter mile we take them off. I heel him to some place boards that I have in the yard. When I’m heeling him and say, “whoa” I keep walking and expect him to whoa. Usually, he does. In the last couple of weeks I can only remember one time that he kept walking with me. I set him back. When he walks onto the place boards I say, “whoa” as soon as he gets all 4 feet on them. I drop the Wonder Lead and keep walking. I return and grasp the Wonder Lead, tug and say, “whoa”. He pulls back without moving his feet. I work him on all three place boards.

After we leave the place boards I have him jump onto the retrieving bench. I pet him and give him a couple of treats. I walk both sides of the bench petting the dogs. When I got back to the start I gave him more treats. I pinched his lips against his teeth and inserted my fingers into his mouth. I’m following the force breaking routine from Tom Dokken’s book, “Retriever Training”. I keep checking the book and noticed that I have been putting my fingers in the opposite side of their mouth than what Tom does in the book. Probably not a big deal but when I changed to what he was doing all 3 dogs fought me.

Bodie jerked his head to the side trying to get rid of my fingers. I held on saying over and over, “hold, hold, hold”. He fought the first three times then he was okay for the next three. That is the reason I walk both sides of the retrieving bench. Just to get them used to being petted on both sides of the bench. When I whoa them I walk out front, to the sides and even behind them.

After Bodie finished the 6 times of holding my fingers I fed him a few treats then set him on the ground. I let him run for a few minutes before putting him back in his kennel.

Bodie on the retrieving bench.

I brought Abby out with the Wonder Lead whoaing her a couple of times before we got to the place boards. I whoaed her on the place boards and tugged on the Wonder Lead saying, “whoa”. She pulled back without moving her feet. I pulled on the Wonder lead and said, “here”. She came to me and we went to the next place board and did it all over again.

After the last place board I heeled her close to the retrieving bench and whoaed her. I petted her then took the Wonder Lead off waved my hand toward the retrieving bench and said, “up”. Abby just started jumping onto the bench last week, without help from me, but she loves it. She jumped onto the bench.

Mann after the pigeon had flown.

I gave her some treats as I petted her. I walked both sides of the bench petting her. I gave a few treats then squeezed her lips against her teeth and when she opened her mouth I placed my fingers behind her canine teeth but on the opposite side than ever before. She tried to move her head away from my hand. I held on saying, “hold, hold, hold”. After a few times she quit fighting and held my fingers. Animals like the same routine. Even small changes are hard for them.

After she held my fingers 6 times I gave her some more treats then set her on the ground. I let her run for a few minutes then put her back in her kennel.

I heeled Boss out with the Wonder Lead. He knows whoa real well but the dogs seem to enjoy doing anything they have been trained to do so I always whoa a time or two before we get to the place boards. On the place boards I tug on the Wonder Lead a few times while saying, “whoa” then say, “here” and have them come to me.

Abby really concentrating on this honor.

When we got close, about 10 yards, from the retrieving bench I whoaed him and took the Wonder Lead off. I petted him for a few seconds then waved my hand in the direction of the retrieving bench and said, “up”, loudly. Boss ran to the bench and jumped on. He seems really proud to do this.

I gave him a couple of treats then petted him as we walked both sides of the retrieving bench. I squeezed his lips against his teeth and when he opened his mouth I inserted my fingers into the opposite side of his mouth than usual. He tried to move his head away. I held on saying, “hold, hold, hold” until he settled down and held my fingers. After a few times he accepted me putting my fingers in his mouth. After the 6 times I petted him and gave him some more treats.

Sally honoring.

I set him on the ground and let him run for a few minutes but he took more. He went off of my place to the west. There is a large farm there where he can run a long way. I toned him and called. I have a chair I usually pet the dogs at near the kennels. I sat for a while but he didn’t come right back.

After a while I got Sally out and heeled her just out of the kennel to retrieve the Dokken quail, dove and chukar. Before I could throw the first one I saw Boss coming back. I told Sally to whoa and put Boss back in his kennel. When I went back to Sally she had not moved. I threw a dummy about 20 yards and Sally started after it. I tossed one of the others to my right and one to my left. When she got back to me with the dummy I had her hold for a few seconds then said, “give”. When she dropped the dummy I gave her a treat. I waved at the dummy on my side and she grabbed it and held until I said, “give”. I sent her for the one on the other side. Sally loves the treats and she works hard for them.

Boss pointing a pigeon in the tree above him.

After she retrieved 3 dummies that I threw long and the two short ones three times I let her run for a while. I have a chair near the kennel that I pet the dogs most of the time when we get back to the kennel. I feed them a couple of treats as I pet them. I want each dog to think they are my favorite. I put Sally back in her kennel.

I brought Mann out and threw the long dummy and one on each side of me. Mann is stressed by the retrieving because he was forced with a heavy hand. I paid to have him force broke thinking it would be quicker than what I could do. He retrieves quail that he sees fall really quickly but he doesn’t enjoy retrieving. I’m trying to change that. When I first started on this exercise his tail was always down. Now after the first series he’s wagging. He doesn’t really care whether he gets the treats or not as long as I pet him.

I threw one dummy about 25 yards and then one to each side and he retrieved them all, 3 times. Some of the time he ate the treats and a few times he just leaned against me while I petted him. By the third time his tail was up and wagging but when I released him to run I could see the tension leave. He’s a happy dog when he can run. After a good run I put him back in the kennel.

Bodie pointing a pigeon.

I put 3 pigeons, in release traps, out on the training grounds. After working the dogs on retrieving I let them run for a few minutes and they run but not as hard or animated as when I have birds out. I heeled Bodie out and whoaed him near the 4-wheeler. He stayed on whoa until I got the 4-wheeler started and then he was gone. I followed.

Our wind was swirling around and he missed the first bird on the first pass but seemed surprised by it as he came back from the west. He slammed into a point. I have been trying to get in front of him without him moving. I approached from well off to his side and when I got close he moved. I flushed the pigeon. He doesn’t chase much. After investigating the release trap he went back to hunting.

Since he doesn’t chase much the only fun he gets is from finding the bird and pointing. He should quit moving on his birds as I approach. His second and third birds I got closer but he still moved and when he made the first movement I flushed the pigeon. He will learn. I let him run back to the kennel.

Mann on point with Sally honoring.

Abby and Boss did a good job on their birds. They both are staunch until the bird is flushed. Earlier Abby decided she would get closer to her birds. She pointed then took a step or two. The first time she did this it surprised me because she had been so good for so long. But I kept an eye on her and flushed a few pigeons when she moved. Sometimes, if she pointed with a foot up and then set it down, I flushed the pigeon. It only took a couple of sessions and she’s back to holding her birds.

I have until October to force break these young dogs to retrieve so I have been going really slow. Maybe I will step it up some the middle of next week. They all 3 know to open their mouth before I pinch their lip against their teeth. This is the way they turn the pressure off. The longer I do this the shorter time I will have to do the ear pinch, I hope.

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