Traveling Pointing Dogs

I took Abby and Boss to a Missouri Conservation area where, during the season, I had found a few quail. The nice part about the drive, it was only a short distance out of the way, to go to the Hungry Mule Cafe in Lathrop Missouri. They have a big breakfast that will keep me going most of the day, if necessary. Normally, Vince Dye and I stop by but on this day I was alone.

Boss pointing a pigeon.

Mann pointing a pigeon.

Abby pointing a pigeon.

I was about half way to where I was going when I realized that I hadn’t brought my e-collars with me. I had left them and two GPS collars in the shed where I had been using them, as I trained the dogs, in the yard. I thought I had a couple of older GPS collars in my truck and when I got there found that I did have GPS collars. I seldom use the e-collars except for the tone to call the dogs to me so I could do without them.

I was still 15 miles from the area I was going to run pups on when a rooster pheasant flew up in front of my truck. At first I thought it was coming through the windshield but it narrowly missed my truck. I have hunted this area for a lot of years and never remember seeing a pheasant near here. I’ve seen them quite a way north of this place as well as some a little south of here but never here. Maybe they are moving in.

It’s a pretty time of the year to be running dogs. The redbuds, wild plums and a lot of other trees are blooming. Nice to be alive and able to be out with some dogs. What a blessed life I have.

Someone, maybe the conservation people or whoever farms this land has disked a lot of the area where I found quail during the season. One place was a huge field of giant foxtail. It had been disked but they left the native grass around a draw that ran into the field. A corn field across the road from this had been disked, also, but when I got back in a little way I saw where they had left some corn fields as well as some soybean fields.

We went into a grassy field across from where I parked. There was an old pond with a lot of brush around it and some cat tails around the edge. The red winged blackbirds were thick around the cat tails. As Abby came by the pond she either saw or smelled the black birds and pointed. She was probably 35 yards from the pond. She knew something wasn’t right. She would look at the pond then back at me then wag. Then do it all over again. When I said, “okay” she went toward the pond but didn’t even chase when the black birds flew.

Abby pointing a pigeon.

This area has a lot of deer and although I’ve never seen a turkey, I see lots of droppings. The fields, both soybean and corn, this time of year have almost no seeds left. They have pretty well been picked over.

There was another pond that was larger than the first that was in the open but had a lot of grass, weeds and brush growing around it. A hedge row ended real close. Several times I found a covey in this area, last season, but they weren’t at home today. We went through the north west side on the way in and across the dam and into south east side on the way back.

We circled a small corn field that had a soybean field next to it. This is another area where a few times I found a covey last season but with almost no grain in these fields the quail were probably using another area.

Boss pointing a pigeon.

Both young dogs, Abby and Boss, were hunting really well and staying to my front. We went on to the east edge of this property. Along the fence row on the east is a draw about 50 yards wide that runs to the north. Both pups were out of sight inside the draw. We made it to the end and as I got to the top of the hill both pups were 250 yards or more ahead running along the woods on the other side. We went along this edge to the south then back toward the truck.

There was another draw in the center of a disked field that I had found some singles in a couple of times, so we checked it out.

When we got back to the road we were south of the truck and we went farther south and crossed the road. This had been giant foxtail last season and a covey of quail had flushed before I had even got the dogs ready to hunt, last season. I had watched them down but when I chased them they got up and flew again before the dogs could get close. I thought they may have moved into a short draw with a lot of grass cover that wasn’t disked.

Mann pointing a pigeon.

We went through this area without finding anything. When we got back close to the truck it was getting warm and I decided that was enough for the pups. They were still wanting to go and I figured that was a good time to quit. I loaded them and we started home.

With the lack of seeds in the fields that were left standing and the other fields disked, I think the quail have moved. I’m hoping that’s what happened. I hope the cold, ice and snow we had this winter didn’t hurt them.

That was yesterday, today it was supposed to be raining all morning. I waited until about 9:30 to clean pens and it wasn’t raining so I worked the dogs on the whoa posts. All except Luke. I just let him run for a while. His birthday is coming up this month. He will be 11 years old. That’s not old for some but I think he’s had some strokes. If I try to hunt him he doesn’t stay with me. Although, if I turn him loose he will go just not where I go. When I drive to wherever he is he’s always happy to see me. He’s been retired for a while.

Abby pointing a pigeon.

I didn’t work Mann for a while on the whoa post because it put some stress on him. I decided he needed to work through the stressful part so I went back to working him. When I first went back to working him he would make me drag him to the whoa post. After a while he would walk to the whoa post but his tail was tucked tightly underneath.

Mann has always liked to smell my breath when I bend over him but on the whoa posts he wouldn’t even look at me. Well today on the first two whoa posts he smelled my breath. I think this may be a big break through. He didn’t smell my breath on the third one but it was almost like he was bored with the whole session. That’s better than being stressed.

After the third whoa post I let him run then he jumped onto the retrieving bench. I petted him as he walked up and down the bench. I held a bumper in front of him and said, “fetch”. He held the bumper until I said, “give”. We went to the water faucet where I sat on the rock wall and petted him. Mann lays his head on my leg and would stand all day, I believe. I put him in his kennel.

Sally pointing a covey.

Boss was next. I pulled him until the whoa post rope was taut around his flanks. I waited for just a second for him to acknowledge. He is fast. He licked his lips. I set him back and kicked in front of him then tapped his head and led him 180 degrees away from where he was used to going on the whoa post. When the whoa post started to get taut in the opposite direction from usual he stopped. I waited for him to lick his lips. I took the rope off and went to the next whoa post.

On the second whoa post, when I went in the opposite direction, he only went about half of the rope and stopped. I’m not sure but I think that’s a good sign. He knows the rope will tighten and he’s supposed to stop. I think that is the object of this exercise. He did the same on the third whoa post. He’s done with the whoa post for life, unless he regresses.

After he ran for a few minutes he jumped onto the retrieving bench. I petted him several times then got a retrieving dummy. I had him hold and give 5 times. He’s not perfect but he’s getting better all the time. I set him on the ground and we went back to the rock wall. I petted him for a few minutes before putting him in his kennel.

Sally honoring Mann.

I brought Abby out next. Abby is a fun dog. I hook the whoa post rope to her collar with a half hitch around her flanks and she walks with me until the rope tightens. Then she bites the Bolen knot in the check cord. Just two times, usually. Then she licks her lips. Today after I set her back and kicked in front of her I led her in the opposite direction until the rope tightened around her flanks. She got in a couple of extra bites on the Bolen knot.

On the second whoa post we did the same. She went all the way with me until the half hitch on her flanks stopped her. I let her stand until she licked her lips to acknowledge. Then we did the same at the third whoa post. Each of them, she went until the whoa post rope tightened on her flanks but as soon as she felt it she stopped. She is through with the whoa post, too.

Luke

I let her run for a few minutes then helped her jump on the retrieving bench. She and Sally aren’t as confident of their jumping as Mann and Boss are. I petted her then had her hold and give 5 times with the retrieving dummy. I set her on the ground and we went to the rock wall where I petted her for a couple of minutes. I put her in the kennel.

Sally was waiting, not very patiently. Mann and most of the time Boss stand real still while I put the e-collar and GPS collar on them. Abby and Sally want to lick me and move their head around. To stop this I have been moving back a little way and waiting on them to calm down. Both of these girls try everything to get me to go ahead but the only thing that works is for them to stand still.

I out waited Sally and took her to the whoa posts. She’s pretty fast at acknowledging. I went in the opposite direction on all three whoa posts. As soon as the rope got a little taut she stopped. She’s through with the whoa post, too.

Luke pointing a pigeon.

I petted her on the retrieving bench after letting her run for a few minutes. I put a couple of dummies for her to retrieve on the other end of the table. She races down the table and brings them back. I just had her do two then set her on the ground. We went to the rock wall where I petted her for a couple of minutes then put her in her kennel.

Now that they all, except for Mann, are through with the whoa posts I’m going to have to think of something else to do with them in the yard. I don’t have enough pigeons to work each one on several pigeons but I’ll think of something.

We have had some really nice weather for working the pups, for a change. The mornings have been cool this week without any rain and I’ve been out Monday, Tuesday and will be out later today. I have worked all of the dogs on the whoa post with the exception of Luke. Mann needs a little more on the whoa post but the others are through. Mann does the whoa post correctly but he still shows a little stress. I need to work him until he’s bored with it as the others are.

Boss pointing a pigeon.

Mann pointing a pigeon.

Abby pointing a pigeon.

I had quit working Mann on the whoa post then decided he needed to be worked on it and started back with him. He’s gone through several phases of showing he doesn’t like it but now he’s tolerating it. His tail is still tucked under when I hook him up and he won’t look at me but he doesn’t try to plant his feet and make me drag him to the whoa post.

Abby doesn’t mind the whoa post and she does exactly what she’s supposed to do but she still bites the Bolen knot on the check cord each time but she doesn’t move her feet. She just bites the knot twice then licks her lips. She knows when she licks her lips I will set her back then kick in front of her for a minute or so then take her to the next whoa post. After the third one she gets to run. They know the routine.

All of the dogs jump on the retrieving bench after the whoa post work and I pet them. Besides the petting Abby and Boss are also worked a short time on the retrieving bench. I started having them hold my fingers in their mouth then Abby picked up a retrieving dummy as if to say, “hey, we’re ready to move on”. Now I have them hold a dummy for a few seconds then say, “give”. While they are holding the dummy I pet them telling them what good dogs they are.

When we get back close to the kennel I sit on the rock wall around my water faucet and just pet each dog. I want each one of them to think they are my favorite dog. And I think it’s working. Most of the time they beat me back to the kennel area and get between me and the rock wall. They are ready to be petted. I, probably, enjoy the petting more than they do.

After I hide pigeons, in release traps, on the training grounds I heel the dogs out near the 4-wheeler and put them on whoa. I’m not fast enough to keep up with the dogs when they go to the bird field, when they know there are birds hidden, so I ride the 4-wheeler and still can’t keep up. I do get to see them go on point most of the time, though.

But putting them on whoa and making sure they stay until I say, “okay” reinforces the whoa command. Between the whoa post and me whoaing them close to the 4-wheeler they learn that when I say, “whoa” they must stand until I either tap them on the head or say, “okay”. Standing, knowing there are pigeons on the bird field winds there rubber bands pretty tight. They are fast to the bird field.

There’s a pigeon in a release trap in there.

I was telling a friend how well the dogs were doing on pigeons and he said, “what will they do if another bird gets up close that isn’t the one they are pointing”. I wasn’t sure although I’ve worked them some in the past on this exercise.

My total pigeons are down. Abby caught a couple but the hawks have really done a number on my birds. I bought 24 birds and a friend gave me 5 and I had 6 to start with, last year. Not counting a couple of babies in my coop I have 10 pigeons. I think some of the birds didn’t like the working conditions and just didn’t return.

I know that Mann will hold if it isn’t his bird I flush. Even as a puppy if he was on point and another dog was pointing another bird I could go to the other dog, shoot it’s bird and as long as Mann’s bird didn’t flush he wouldn’t move. So I just worked Abby and Boss on this exercise, yesterday.

Abby on point.

Three of my pigeons are nesting so that only leaves 7 that I can use. I have some long strips of grass at the back on my side of the training grounds. I hid a pigeon in this strip then put another about 15 yards from the first. I had one pigeon by itself at the front of the training grounds.

Abby is real steady until the bird flushes then she’s after it. I have to make sure I have good flying birds for her. She caught one that hit a limb then didn’t fly away fast enough last week. She gave it to me without hurting the bird but I don’t want her catching them.

When I lead her out of the kennel and put her on whoa next to the 4-wheeler she watches, waiting for the okay to go. I usually let the 4-wheeler run a few seconds before I let her go so she doesn’t use the sound of the 4-wheeler starting for a release. The only release is a tap on the head or an “okay” from me.

Mann when a pigeon lit in the tree above him.

She was going all out to the back and was on the wrong side for the first bird. I haven’t used the grass strip for quite a while and she stayed close to the tree line as she went around the end. She must have got a little whiff of the pigeon as she came around the end because she came off the edge and moved toward the grass strip. She hit the scent cone and locked up.

The light wind must have been swirling. She very slowly turned her head to where the bird was hidden in the grass strip. I took some pictures then went to her and stroked her sides. I walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon that was about 15 yards from her. She turned her head to watch it but turned right back to the bird she was pointing. She never moved her feet.

I went to her and stroked her sides. I went back in front kicking the cover and flushed the pigeon she was pointing. Lucky for the pigeon, it flew well although it came right back over her head. She jumped as high as possible but the pigeon kept going. She chased it back toward the pigeon coop.

Boss pointing a pigeon.

I rode toward the front as she came back to check the rest of the bird field. She hit the scent cone on the next bird and pointed. I took pictures then went to her and stroked her sides. I walked in front of her kicking the cover and flushed the pigeon. She chased it back toward the pigeon coop. I took her back to the kennel.

After I reloaded the release traps I brought Boss out. He is cool, standing waiting for me to release him. He doesn’t show how amped up he is but when I say, “okay” he’s as fast as Abby to the bird field. They can cross my creek faster than I can. He got some scent as he came around the end but lost it. He circled the field and went back toward the front.

When he came back down the side he hit the scent cone but he was quite a distance from the pigeon. I should have tapped his head and let him move up but I didn’t. I stroked his sides after taking pictures. I went in front kicking the cover then came back and stroked his sides. When I went back in front I flushed the pigeon about 15 yards from the one he was pointing. He left his bird and chased the one in the air.

Mann pointing a pigeon.

Maybe, if I had of let him move up he would have not chased that bird. He was far enough from the bird to not really know the exact location. When he came back he pointed and this time was closer. I stroked his sides then walked in front and flushed the pigeon. He chased. We went toward the front.

As he came around the end of a clump of brush he hit the scent cone and pointed. Again, he was a long way from the bird. As I started to get off the 4-wheeler he was wagging. I flushed the pigeon. After thinking about it, I should have let him move up. I will start doing that. He’s pointing at the very first little bit of scent and doesn’t really know where the bird is.

Oh well, this is just April. We have a long time before our next season. With enough birds I should have both of these young dogs where I need them. Most of the time they learn what they need to do despite what we do to them.

My dog training this week has been sporadic at best. Monday and Tuesday, I worked the dogs on the whoa post but by the time I was through it was too warm to work them on birds. Finally, on Friday, I was able to put some pigeons out for the dogs. The dogs are happy with anything I do with them and I enjoy it, too.

Mann on point.

Sally on point.

Abby pointing a quail.

Mann usually raises his head and smells my breath when I’m bending over petting him. Except when I work him on the whoa post. For some reason this puts a lot of stress on him. He’s getting better the more we work on it but he still doesn’t like it.

I started working him on the whoa post when I started all the others but noticed the stress he was showing and quit for a while. It didn’t seem to bother the others but it did him. I decided that he really needs to have this and he will get over the stress.

The first few times I took him to the whoa post he tried to stop before we got close. I had to drag him to it. Now, he’s still tucking his tail as we get close, but he does walk to the end of the rope. After I put the half hitch around his flanks and hook the rope to his collar I pull him until the whoa rope is taut. I let the check cord, that I’m holding, sag a little but not lie on the ground.

Usually, his front feet move a little to get more comfortable and I go to him and stroke his sides then set him back a couple of steps. I hold the check cord as I kick in front of him. I go to him and touch his collar then go back in front kicking the cover. He doesn’t try to move. I go back, stroke his sides then unhook him, tap his head and lead him away.

But when I’m stroking his sides he doesn’t try to smell my breath. In fact, he doesn’t even look at me. After we finish the third whoa post I lead him away, whoa him then tap him on the head to release him. He runs toward the back as I wait for him near the retrieving bench. I have a GPS collar on him so I knw where he is. After a few minutes he comes looking for me and jumps onto the retrieving bench. We’re buddies again. I pet him and he smells my breath.

Abby does some funny things, also. She goes right to the whoa post but turns sideways, most times. When I hook the whoa post rope, lead her to the end and start to tighten the check cord she bites the bolen knot in the check cord, twice, then licks her lips. When I set her back a couple of steps and tighten the check cord she doesn’t bite at it.

Click on this picture and you can see some of the feathers, the pigeon Abby caught, lost.

Sally and Boss are pretty normal on the whoa post. Sometimes, Sally is slow to acknowledge but Boss usually acknowledges real quick. They all get to run for a few minutes then I pet them on the retrieving bench and when we get back close to the kennel I sit on the rock wall around the water faucet and pet them again.

I’ve been sticking my fingers behind the canine teeth on Abby and Boss when they are on the retrieving bench and having them hold them without fighting or chewing. Friday when Abby was on the bench she got to nosing around a box that holds some retrieving dummies. She actually picked one up and dropped it. I took it, opened her mouth and placed it behind her canine teeth telling her to hold. She did. I had her hold for just a few seconds then said, “give”. She opened her mouth. Just another case of the dogs being smarter than their trainer.

Abby pointing a pigeon.

After Abby taking the wooden dummy I tried Boss. After petting him for a while on the bench I put my fingers in his mouth and had him hold. I did that three times then got the wooden dowel retrieving dummy. When I opened his mouth and placed it right behind his canine teeth and said, “hold” he did. When I said, “give” he opened his mouth. That will be easier on my fingers. I will only use a dowel from now on.

When I put two pigeons, in release traps, on the training grounds, the first two looked like good flying birds so I worked Abby first. If a bird hits a limb or for some reason doesn’t fly away pretty fast she will catch it. She’s getting real steady until the flush but at the flush all bets are off. And she is fast.

I led her out with the piggin’ string wearing an e-collar and GPS collar. When we got close to the 4-wheeler I said, “whoa”. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it and said, “okay”. She was off like a shot. Because of the wet ground I haven’t been using the neighbor’s side and the dogs know. They may cross to his side but when they don’t smell the 4-wheeler they cross right back.

Boss pointing a pigeon.

She was on the wrong side to smell the first bird but was about a hundred yards ahead of me when she hit the scent cone on the pigeon at the very back. I had the release transmitter in my hand ready in case she moved a foot but she didn’t. When I got close I took pictures then went to her and stroked her sides. I went in front of her kicking the cover then went back and stroked her sides, again. I walked back in front kicking the cover and flushed the pigeon.

The pigeon came out and hit a limb. Abby had it by the tail feathers and it lost a lot of them but got away. But it only flew to a limb right above the trap. She jumped and got it but it got away again but didn’t fly very fast. She caught it. I knelt down and called her. She came out of the brush right to me. I petted her for a few seconds then blew in her ear. She released the bird.

Mann pointing a pigeon.

The birds she has caught before were in really bad shape. Usually, they were dead but this one didn’t look hurt. We had shot quite a few chukars at the game farm over her and she found them and picked them up tenderly. This may have been the reason she didn’t clamp down on this bird. I don’t know but it was fine later that evening.

I took the bird back to the pigeon coop then we went back for her to find the next bird. I wasn’t sure what she would do with the next one. I was close when she pointed. I watched her but she didn’t move. I stroked her sides then kicked in front of her. When I flushed this bird it got away in a hurry but Abby didn’t move until I flushed the bird, then she chased. I took her back to the kennel.

Boss pointing a pigeon.

I led Boss out next. All 3 of these dogs are now waiting for me to get on the 4-wheeler, start it and then say, “okay”. They know there are birds on the training grounds and this is hard for them but they know they must wait. I always put the GPS and e-collar on them but I can’t remember when I had to stimulate one of them. I do use the tone, occasionally, to call them.

Boss also was on the wrong side to find the first bird and went on to the back. When he pointed I was quite away behind. I kept an eye on him. He hasn’t been moving but he does occasionally wag his tail. If I see him wagging I flush the pigeon.

Mann pointing a pigeon.

I took pictures then stroked his sides. I walked in front of him kicking the cover then went back and stroked his sides. I walked back in front, kicking the cover, then flushed the pigeon. This bird flew to the south west instead of back toward the pigeon coop. Boss watched for a few seconds then followed the bird.

When he came back we went back toward the front. He was moving pretty fast when he hit the scent cone and whirled into a point. I stroked his sides then walked in front of him kicking the cover. I try to hide the release traps really well but I think he saw this one. As I kicked he didn’t watch me. He kept his eyes on the bird. I flushed the pigeon and after a few seconds he chased. I took him back to the kennel.

Mann was next. This may be another case of the dog being smarter than the trainer. On wild birds I’ve never seen Mann move. I’ve never seen him flush a bird. But on these training birds he takes a step. Sometimes more than one step although he takes one step waits a few seconds then takes another. I’ve been watching him real close and if he points with a foot up and lowers it to the ground, I flush the bird. If he takes a step, I flush the bird. That’s the way we trained on wild birds. If the dog moved the birds flew.

Abby pointing a pigeon.

When Mann went to the back he was on the right side to point the first bird. I watched him from the 4-wheeler and he took a step. I flushed the pigeon. I went to him and set him back. I kicked in front of him, went to him and stroked his sides then tapped his head to release him. He went back to hunting.

He pointed the next bird. I took pictures from the 4-wheeler and waited a few seconds. He didn’t move. I went to him and stroked his sides before kicking in front. I went back and stroked his sides. I walked back in front kicking the cover then flushed the pigeon. He didn’t move until I said, “okay”. We went back to the kennel.

Abby honoring Dottie.

Sometimes I wonder who is the trainer and who is the trainee. I, usually, learn as much from the dogs as I teach them. I know that a lot of times I move on too slowly. The dogs on the retrieving bench was a good example. They were ready to go to the dummies but I had to have them show me. It will be a long hot summer, probably, and I’ll have plenty of time to work them on the retrieving bench. We will start the force fetch in earnest, pretty soon.

I worked the dogs yesterday on the whoa post and again today. But today I also put out some pigeons for Abby, Boss and Mann. Yesterday, when I took Mann to the whoa post he tried to stop before we got to the rope. Today he went to it just fine. He is still a little stressed but when I release him he’s fine. So he’s making some gains.

Mann pointing a pigeon.

Boss pointing a pigeon.

Abby pointing a pigeon.

Abby.

Boss.

Mann.

This is Jim Smith’s dog Bay Lee, I think.

The rock wall around the water faucet.

Jim Smith walking in on a point.

Abby on point.

Boss pointing a pigeon.

Vince with Sally pointing.

Sally on point.

This morning I let Luke run for a few minutes. He’s old and may have had a stroke at sometime. When I let him out he used to run to the back, hunting. Now he just goes from place to place near the kennel. That’s okay. I just sit on the rock wall around my water faucet and wait for him to come to me. I pet him for several minutes then put him back in his kennel. He’s happy.

I brought Mann out next with the e-collars and GPS collar on and dragging a check cord. This morning he went right to the whoa post. I put the half hitch around his flanks and hooked the rope to his collar. I pulled him until he felt the rope tighten around his flanks. I kept the check cord tight until he moved his feet to get comfortable. I picked him up and set him back a few feet. I kicked the ground in front of him but he never tried to move. I unhooked him and went to the next whoa post.

I worked him on all 3 whoa posts and he did just fine but it’s still stressful for him. His tail is tucked under. I will keep working him on the whoa posts until he loosens up some. He does it correctly and I do lots of petting. I think he will get to accepting the whoa posts soon. I led him away from the third whoa post and whoaed him. I tapped his head to let him run for a few minutes.

He came back to the retrieving bench and jumped onto it. He loves the retrieving bench, now. All we do on it is he runs up and down and I stop him and pet him. After a few minutes I set him on the ground on whoa. I stroke his sides then tap his head to release him. We go to the water faucet where I pet him some more then I put him in his kennel.

I worked Boss, Abby and Sally on the whoa posts. They have all been on the whoa post more than Mann has and are ready to move on but we will probably continue until Mann finishes. When Mann finishes I can take the who posts out until I train another dog which may be a while.

I let all of the dogs run for a little while after the last whoa post then get them on the retrieving bench. Sally and Mann have been force broke to retrieve and Abby and Boss will be this year. I have started putting my fingers in Abby and Boss’s mouth behind the canine teeth and making them hold my fingers. When we first started it was a big fight. Now it’s just a little fight. When they stop fighting and hold my fingers I rub their head then wiggle my fingers and say, “give”. They are ready for me to get my fingers out of their mouth. I make them hold my fingers 3 times for just a few seconds.

Then I set them on the ground and say, “whoa”. When I get clear of the check cord I tap their head and we go to the wall around the water faucet. I sit on the wall and pet them for a couple of minutes. I want each one of the dogs to think they are my favorite.

Then I hid two pigeons, in release traps, on my side of the training grounds. I brought Mann out first, wearing the GPS collar. I put him on whoa, got on the 4-wheeler, started it and said, “okay”. He was gone in a hurry. Mann has been wanting to get closer to his birds. He will point then take a really short step and I have been flushing the bird. He doesn’t chase so pretty soon this will stop the steps, I think.

He was on the wrong side of the training grounds for the first bird and went on toward the back. He was still on the wrong side but went all the way around the end and started back down the other side. He hit the scent cone and slid to a point. I took some pictures from the 4-wheeler then as I got off he took a short step. I flushed the pigeon and made him stand for a few seconds then said, “okay”. He went back to hunting.

Now he was on the right side and as he got near the pigeon he pointed. I took a picture and got almost to him. He had a foot in the air, when he put the foot down I flushed the pigeon. I had him stand for a few seconds then said, “okay”. He went back to hunting. I sat at the water faucet until he came to me. I petted him for a minute or so then put him in his kennel.

I led Boss out next with an e-collar, GPS collar and dragging a check cord. I put him on whoa, got on the 4-wheeler, started it and said, “okay”. He was running all out. He went down the south side and was on point on the first pigeon before I crossed the creek. I got off the 4-wheeler and started toward him and he started wagging. I flushed the pigeon. He didn’t chase so after a few seconds I said, “okay”. He went back to hunting.

We went on to the back and he hit the scent cone on the next bird and pointed. I watched him for a while before getting off the 4-wheeler. He wasn’t wagging or moving. I took some pictures then went to him and stroked his sides. I went in front kicking the cover. He didn’t move. I flushed the pigeon and he still didn’t move. I said, “okay”. He chased a little way then went back to hunting.

I went back to the rock wall around the water faucet but Boss wasn’t ready to quit. I hit the tone on the e-collar and watched the yardage on the GPS. He wasn’t coming closer so I toned him again and held the button on the e-collar transmitter down for a few seconds on medium 2. He came to me. I petted him for a couple of minutes then put him in the kennel.

Abby was waiting but not very patiently. I led her out with an e-collar, GPS collar and dragging a check cord. With her on whoa I got on the 4-wheeler, started it and said, “okay”. She’s fast. When I crossed the creek she was on point on the first bird. As I got close she moved and I flushed the pigeon. She chased but soon went back to hunting.

She pointed the next one and I sat on the 4-wheeler, watching her. She wasn’t moving. I took some pictures then walked to her. I stroked her sides then walked in front kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and she chased. Hard. We went back near the kennel. I petted her at the water faucet for a couple of minutes then put her in the kennel.

All 3 of these dogs messed up. On these training grounds is where I want them to mess up. That’s how they learn. I’ve never seen Mann move on wild birds or flush wild birds. But he’s moving now. And Abby moved on one of her birds. Flushing the pigeon when they move is the way we used to train dogs. We trained on wild birds and if the dog moved they flushed. It will stop these two from moving, also.

Boss was just wagging. He only wags when he’s a long way from the bird and not getting a lot of scent. But I want him to work that out too. I think with flushing enough birds, when he wags, will stop that. Time will tell.