Traveling Pointing Dogs

I worked the dogs, Abby, Boss and Sally, on the whoa post yesterday. It was pretty windy but nothing compared to today. I have been just letting Mann and Luke run for a little while then petting them on the retrieving bench and at the rock wall around the water faucet. All 5 of the dogs beat me back to the water faucet, where I sit on the rock wall, so I can pet them and tell them what good pups they are.

Boss on the whoa post.

Mann pointing a pigeon.

Abby pointing a pigeon.

I was slow getting out to work the dogs this morning because I hate really strong winds. But I had not worked any of the dogs on birds yesterday and it’s supposed to rain for the next 4 or 5 days so I figured if I was going to work them on birds it would have to be today. The weather people said the wind was just under 40 MPH.

Luke is old and retired but I usually get him out. He still likes to bark when I work the other dogs so I turn him out with a bark collar on. He runs to the retrieving bench and waits for me to help him jump on. I pet him then we go back to the water faucet where I pet him some more. I then put him back in the kennel, leaving the bark collar.

Next I bring Mann out wearing the e-collar and GPS collar. I let Mann run for a little while and then when I get close to the retrieving bench he jumps on. I pet him at several different spots on the bench then set him on the ground. He beats me back to the water faucet for more petting.

This morning I put an e-collar and GPS collar on Abby and led her out with the long check cord. I hooked her to the first whoa post with a half hitch around her flanks. I walked out about 15 feet in front of her and pulled on the check cord until the rope from the whoa post was tight around her flanks. I keep the check cord tight enough that it doesn’t touch the ground. Abby always bites at the knot in the check cord then licks her lips.

The instant she licks her lips I drop the check cord to where there is slack. I go to her, pet her and take the whoa post rope off her flanks. I stroke her sides telling her what a good girl she is, tap her on the head and lead her to the next whoa post. We do all 3 whoa posts.

After the third whoa post I tap her head and lead her a few feet, whoa her then tap her head to let her run. I walk on down to the retrieving bench. After just a few minutes Abby comes back and jumps on the retrieving bench where I pet her. I’m doing a little more with her and Boss. They will be forced to retrieve this year so I have been putting two fingers in their mouth. Right now they are fighting me for a few minutes then when they close their mouth over my fingers and hold for just a second or two I wiggle my fingers and pull them out.

Mann pointing a pigeon.

This morning on both dogs, Boss and Abbie, I made them hold my fingers twice. They only held them for a few seconds before I wiggled my fingers and take them out. Soon I will have them hold a dummy for a few seconds then take it out. Before I start the force retrieve I like to have them “holding” and “giving” the dummy. I think this makes the force retrieve easier on me and the dogs both.

I worked Boss on the whoa posts and he is really easy. I hook him up and pull on the check cord so he can feel the whoa post rope tighten on his flanks and he licks his lips. I worked him on all three then let him run. He likes to jump onto the retrieving bench without me helping. I pet him then stuck my fingers in his mouth, twice. Put him on the ground and we go to the water faucet where I sit and pet him some more.

After I put him up I brought Sally out and worked her on the three whoa posts. Sally will whoa when I tell her to but she doesn’t acknowledge near as quick on the whoa posts, but she’s getting better. This morning the first two were quick but the last one took about a minute. I let her run for a while then put her on the retrieving bench. After some petting there we went to the water faucet for more petting.

Abby pointing a pigeon.

It was really windy, between 40 and 51 MPH, according the television weather people. We are supposed to get rain for the next 4 or 5 days so I wanted to put out some birds for Abby, Boss and Mann.

I put out two pigeons, one on my side of the training grounds and one on my neighbor’s side. I put a GPS collar on Mann and heeled him to the 4-wheeler. (I have 3 e-collars that double as bark collars and 1 regular bark collars. The other 4 dogs will bark when I have pigeons out so they each wore one.) I whoaed him next to the 4-wheeler, got on the 4-wheeler, started it then said, “okay”. He was gone.

I have 2 openings, large enough for the 4-wheeler, between my side and the neighbor’s side. Mann can cross anywhere and he showed that on this run. I followed him to the neighbor’s side then he crossed back to my side. By the time I got to the opening he crossed back then back across. He hit the scent cone and swapped ends, sliding to a point.

Boss pointing a pigeon.

I got off the 4-wheeler, took some pictures, went to him and stroked his sides telling him what a good boy he is. I went in front kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and he didn’t move. When I tapped his head he went back to hunting.

He’s really fast and before I could get to the other side he was on point. I took more pictures then stroked his sides. There was an old log lying on the ground. I kicked the log breaking a chunk off. I kicked the bushes then flushed the pigeon. The pigeon hit a limb and came back down then flew away. He didn’t move. I tapped his to release him. We went back to the kennel.

I brought Boss out next with an e-collar and GPS collar strapped on. He and Abby are just learning that when I put them on whoa next to the 4-wheeler they have to stay on whoa until I release them. The first time I tried t with Boss I had to go get him and haul him back on the 4-wheeler. I was able to stop Abby with a loud “whoa” and then I called her back. She started the second time but she whoaed quicker. I called her back again and she stayed until I said, “okay”.

Boss pointing a pigeon.

This is the third time and Boss stayed until I released him. These dogs know there are birds to be found and they go in a hurry, when released. Boss crossed onto the neighbor’s side but then crossed right back to my side. He ran the edge and hit the scent cone and whirled into a point. I took some pictures then stroked his sides telling him what a good boy he is. I kicked the cover in front of him and flushed the pigeon. He followed the bird for a little way and went back to hunting.

The neighbor’s side has more clumps that the dogs have to check out than my side. Boss was on point by the time I found him. I took some pictures then went to him. I stroked his sides then walked in front kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and he chased a little way then went back to hunting. We went back to the kennel.

I put Abby on whoa next to the 4-wheeler, got on the 4-wheeler, started it and said, “okay”. She is fast. By the time I found her she was on point at the back of my neighbor’s side. Just as I saw her she moved up a step and went back on point. I took some pictures then set her back. I petted her then went in front. I did more kicking because she had moved. I flushed the pigeon and it went up then came down a little and she almost caught it. She chased it back toward the kennel.

This was in Arizona. I wish I knew the story.

When I got back on my side Abby was right on top of the next bird. I didn’t see her but I think she pointed then moved up. I picked her up and set her back about 10 yards. I kicked the cover in front of her then stopped. I went to the 4-wheeler and stood for a while. I went back in front of her kicking the cover, again. I flushed the pigeon and she chased it toward the pigeon coop. We went back to the kennel.

These young dogs, Boss and Abby, try different things to see what they can get by with. Both of them pointed wild birds and held them just fine. Abby was real steady on some chukars that we worked them on but Mann the first day flushed a lot of birds. On pigeons, I think he knows what I want so he doesn’t move. Most of the time Abby doesn’t move, either. But she’s trying different things to see what she can get by with.

Sally on point.

If all of my dogs did everything perfect I wouldn’t have anything to do. And too, they might expect me to be perfect too. And like my dogs I’m a long way from perfect.

I read quite a bit about shotguns and dog training. I read that sometimes when dogs wag, when they are on point, it’s because they were stopped from chasing birds before they were ready to stop chasing. Boss, when he’s a long way from the birds will sometime wag. Abby never does. She usually looks good on her points. Mann doesn’t wag but sometimes his tail is not as nice as it is other times. I decided I would start working Boss and Abby on 2 pigeons each day. Then I decided to put two out for Mann, also.

Abby pointing a pigeon.

Boss pointing a pigeon.

Mann pointing a pigeon.

Sunday, Monday and Tuesday I worked Sally, Abby, Boss and Mann on the whoa post. Yesterday after working Mann on the whoa post I let him run for a little while then put him on the retrieving bench. I could tell he was still stressed from the whoa post. I took him for another run then had him get on the retrieving bench again. He was much better.

Early this morning I got to thinking about what I was doing. For some reason the whoa post stresses Mann out. I was asking Mann to do something that he really didn’t need. I have had dogs for over 50 years and he’s the best I’ve ever had. He will whoa whenever and wherever I ask him to now.

I worked Sally on the whoa post first. Some of the time she acknowledges really quickly but today wasn’t the day. On the first post she wasn’t real slow but on the next two I waited probably 2 minutes on each one. She would look away then stare at me. She was licking her lips quickly but this morning she just moved her feet to get comfortable. As soon as she did I gave slack in the check cord and went to her. After the 3 whoa posts I heeled her away, whoaed her then tapped her on the head to release her.

She ran toward the back and I walked to the retrieving bench. I had the GPS on her so I could watch how far she ran. She came back and jumped onto the retrieving bench. I petted her for a while then set her on the ground. We went back near the kennels. I sat down on the rock wall that surrounds my water faucet and petted her some more. I took her to her kennel where she jumped onto her house. I petted her some more after taking the e-collar and GPS collar off.

Abby jumped onto her house and I put the e-collar and GPS collar on her. I petted her for a short while before heeling her out of the kennel. Abby acknowledges pretty quickly on the whoa posts but every time when I tighten the check cord she bites at the knot near the snap on her collar. A couple of bites then she straightens up and acknowledges. After the third whoa post I heel her a short distance, whoa her then tap her head to release her.

My 20 year old retrieving bench.

She’s off like a shot. It wouldn’t do to have the check cord around your leg or foot. I walk to the retrieving bench and wait. All of the dogs like the retrieving bench. They get lots of attention. After I pet her for a while I set her on the ground, whoa her then release her to run. We go back to the kennel where I sit on the rock wall around the faucet and she comes to be petted. I took her to her kennel where I pet her again after taking the e-collar and GPS collar off.

Boss was next. He also acknowledges really quickly on the whoa post. I let him run. He was back to the retrieving bench really quick today. A few days ago I ran him first and when he went toward the back he chased a deer for a while. I was still a little way from the retrieving bench when he jumped onto it.

I went through my petting routine on the bench then we went to the water faucet for more petting. A few days ago Boss went to the north off my place and didn’t want to come back. Now he’s ready to go to the water faucet area to be petted. I petted him some more after taking the e-collar and GPS collar off.

The rock wall around the water faucet.

Luke is old and retired but I let him run for a few minutes then pet him. He doesn’t run far but he does beat me to the retrieving bench. He can’t jump on the bench without my help but he wants on it. I pet him for a while then put him on the ground. He just barely beats me back to the water faucet area but he does get there first. I pet him just like the others.

Mann was next. I petted him after putting the e-collar and GPS collar on. He was already tightening up as we left the kennel. I walked him out close to the whoa post, whoaed him then tapped his head to release him. He couldn’t believe he was free. He ran off a little way then came back. I tapped his head again. He ran off a little way but didn’t really decide to run until we passed the last whoa post.

I walked to the retrieving bench but Mann didn’t go much past it. I wanted him to run farther than that so I walked on toward the back. Finally, he went on to the back on my side then to the back on the neighbor’s side. He jumped onto the retrieving bench when he came by. I petted him then set him on the ground and we went back to the kennel area. I sat on the rock wall and petted him. He laid his head on my knee and seemed content just to stand there. I was content too.

One of the whoa posts.

I came to the house and drank a cup of coffee to let them simmer down a little. Then I hid two pigeons in release traps. One on my side and one on my neighbor’s side.

Abby and Boss are getting too fast for me to keep up walking so I decided to run them from the 4-wheeler. I brought Abby out first with the e-collar and GPS collar on. I put her on whoa near the 4-wheeler. I usually run them pulling a check cord. Today no check cord. I whoaed her and got on the 4-wheeler. Before I could start it she was off like a rocket.

I shouted whoa but she never broke stride. I held the transmitter button on the e-collar down on 2 high. She never slowed down. I went to 3 high and she stopped and looked at me. I knelt down and called her. She came about as fast as she went down the field. I put her on whoa in the same place. Before I could start the 4-wheeler she was gone again. This time she didn’t get as far. I called her back. I set her in the same place and got on the 4-wheeler, started it and said, “okay”. She was off like a flash.

Another whoa post. I have 3.

It’s been a while since I have worked them on pigeons but she hasn’t forgotten. She pointed the first and looked good. I tried to get pictures but for some reason the camera wouldn’t work. I went to her and stroked her sides and told her what a good girl she is. I kicked in front of her then flushed the pigeon. I didn’t try to stop her from chasing. We went to the neighbor’s side.

She found that pigeon too. I stroked her sides then walked in front of her kicking the cover. She held fine until I flushed the pigeon. This bird hit a limb and she almost had it but it managed to escape. She chased it back close to the pigeon coop. I petted her at the water faucet before putting her up.

I reloaded the release traps then brought Boss out with the e-collar and GPS collar on. I whoaed him near the 4-wheeler and before I could even get seated he was gone. The e-collar slowed him down but didn’t stop him. I rode down and caught him before he got to the first bird. I think he knew he had screwed up. I think he was coming back but when I caught him I held him on the 4-wheeler and took him back to the starting place.

Boss on a pigeon.

I set him on the ground and whoaed him, again. I got on the 4-wheeler but before I could start it he went to the other side of the 4-wheeler. I whoaed him then went to him. I picked him up and carried him back to the place where he had been on whoa. I whoaed him again. This time I got on the 4-wheeler, started it, put it in gear then said, “okay”. He started off then stopped but I was gaining on him with the 4-wheeler and he went on toward the back.

On his way down he crossed over to the neighbor’s side. When he got near the bird he started slinking along. I don’t want that so I flushed the pigeon. He stopped and watched it fly away. I encouraged him to chase. We went toward the next bird.

He was going fast when he hit the scent cone and whirled into a point. I took some pictures. When he got stopped his back legs were spread out where it looked uncomfortable. I went to him and picked his back end up and dropped it. I stroked his sides and told him what a good boy he is. I went in front kicking the ground and cover. I flushed the pigeon and he didn’t move. I said, “okay” really quick so he could follow the pigeon. He did. I petted him at the water faucet then put him up.

Abby.

I put the e-collar and GPS collar on Mann after reloading the release traps. I whoaed him near the 4-wheeler, got on the 4-wheeler, started it and put it in gear then said, “okay”. Mann was off like a rocket. He, too, crossed over to the neighbor’s side. He nailed the bird at the back and I took pictures before stroking his sides and telling him what a good boy he is. When I flushed the pigeon it just lit in the tree right above him.

Mann just moved a few feet and went back on point. I led him away and sent him on. I followed him as he checked the neighbor’s side out then went over to my side. He was past the pigeon when he got the scent and slid into a really nice point. I stroked his sides then kicked in front of him. I flushed his pigeon and it lit in the tree right above him. About the time I said, “okay” the pigeon came out of the tree and only flew about 2 feet above the ground back toward the pigeon coop. Mann was right behind it. It stayed ahead of him but not by much.

My side by side and a quail.

When I got back to the kennel area Mann was ready for more petting. I sat by the water faucet and petted him for a while. I petted him some more after taking the e-collar and GPS collar off.

I know this sounds like a lot of petting for the dogs but I want every one of them to think they are my favorite dog. And it’s already paying dividends. Two weeks ago, I doubt if Abby would have come back to me when she knew there were birds on the training grounds. She came back not once but twice. And the dogs enjoy it and so do I.

I didn’t know how bad my retrieving bench looked until I put the picture on this post. I may have to rebuild that thing. But the dogs are happy to get on it.

I have really took this whoa post work to heart. I’m working the two young dogs, Abby and Boss, still, but I have decided to do Mann and Sally, also. I’m even turning Luke out to run. He’s old and retired but I want him to get some exercise, too. I have been having each of the dogs jump on the retrieving bench, after they work on the whoa post, just so I can pet them. I want each of the 5 dogs to think they are my favorite.

Abby on point, peeking through the milo stalks.

Mann.

Sally on point.

I want to work through the whoa post drill as quickly as possible without short changing any of the dogs. Normally, I don’t work the dogs on days where we hunt or on Sunday. Last week was an exception. One of the days I took Abby and Boss to the Hardens Game Farm I worked them on the whoa post. Today is Sunday and rather than skip a day I worked them.

I, probably, won’t work them next Sunday but I didn’t want to have a skip day in Sally and Mann’s work. I have only worked them two times before today.

After I got back from the game farm and was working Abby and Mann is when I decided to just work all of the dogs. When I take each dog out of their kennel I make them jump onto their house where I pet them before leading them out. I worked Abby and she did fine other than she bites at the check cord when I cue her on the flanks. There is a big knot right in front of her mouth so she uses that to get even.

The cue on her flank isn’t hard but she doesn’t like it. I wait for her to quit biting the rope and wait for her to acknowledge by sighing, getting more comfortable by moving her legs, licking her lips or yawning. I’m holding the check cord where it’s off the ground but not pulling on the dog. The half hitch around her flanks is taut but not uncomfortable. It doesn’t take very long, 15 seconds or so, for Abby to lick her lips.

After we do all 3 whoa posts I let the dogs run for a few minutes. I wait at the retrieving bench. When they come back or sometimes I have to call them back I have them jump on and pet them. I have a block wall around my water faucet that makes a good seat. I pet the dogs some more as I sit. When I take them into their kennel I have them jump on their house and I pet them some more.

Boss is easier than Abby. When I put the half hitch around his flanks and walk to the end of the check cord he usually acknowledges right away. Boss isn’t real comfortable with the check cord. He thinks he is being heeled any time he has a check cord on. Sometimes he puts himself on whoa, too. When he does this I have to go to him and tap him on the head to get him to move. This is just a young dog trying to figure the system out.

Abby honoring Dottie.

A couple of days ago he went across the fence to the north. As he came through a big clump of brush he decided he was on whoa. I could see him but when I called he just stood there. I had to cross the fence and go to him. I tapped him on the head and we went to the kennel area where I petted him by the water faucet then in his kennel.

I wasn’t sure what Sally and Mann would do. I brought Sally out first and she acted like she had done this for years. As soon as I cued her she licked her lips. I was really surprised on the first one but she did it on all 3 whoa posts. I turned her loose to run, petted her on the retrieving bench and beside the water faucet then petted her in her kennel.

Sally pointing a covey of quail with Dottie honoring.

I brought Mann to the first whoa post. He stood for me to put the half hitch around his flanks and move to the end of the check cord. I gently cued him on the flanks then stood watching him for an acknowledgement. And I waited and waited. Mann was easy to train on most things but his hard headedness showed up when he was force broke to retrieve. I saw it again on the whoa post.

On all 3 of the whoa posts I waited at least 5 minutes for any sign of acknowledgement. He looked to the left and then he would look to the right. Any direction except at me. He never moved for a long time then on the first two he moved his feet to get more comfortable. When he did I dropped the check cord and started to him. He would immediately lick his lips. I never once got frustrated with him or lost my temper. Actually, it was kind of funny. Once I had to change my leg position because I was getting tired.

This morning, Sunday morning, I worked them all again. I worked Boss first. I turned him loose to run after working him on the whoa posts, where he did really good. He went off me to the west and I had to go get him. I brought him back and petted him on the retrieving bench. I turned him loose to go back to the kennel and he went off me to the north.

Jim’s Dotty and Mann’s mother.

That’s the place where he had put himself on whoa and I had to go get him. I think this morning he finally figured the check cord out. He never went on whoa. I finally got him to come back to my property but it really may have been the neighbor’s big dogs chased him home. Something worked though. He came home and I petted him at the faucet and in his kennel.

I just turned Luke loose. I put him on the retrieving bench and petted him then went to the faucet. Luke doesn’t care what I do as long as I pet him. I petted him in his kennel and took the check cord off.

I took Abby next. She was still biting at the knot on the check cord but it’s kind of half hearted now. Abby is a yawner. After just a few seconds she acknowledges with a big yawn. She also stays closer to me than most of the others. When I let her run I just sat on the retrieving bench until she came back. I petted her then we went to the faucet area where I petted her some more. Then into her kennel for more petting.

Sally honoring Mann.

Sally was next. She had been really quick to acknowledge on the first two times I worked her but after the first one this morning she slowed down. I think the dogs do different things to see what will work. On the first one Sally licked her lips real quick as she had done the first two times. On the second one she wouldn’t even look at me for a while. She tried to make me think she was smelling something off to the north. I just waited. Finally, she licked her lips. I petted her then took her to the third whoa post.

It was the same. She looked every where except at me. I just waited. On both of these it took about 2 minutes for her to acknowledge. I can out wait her. After she licked her lips on the third whoa post I turned her loose to run. She likes being petted so she came to the retrieving bench after just a short run. We went to the faucet then into her kennel. Lots of petting.

Now it was Mann’s turn. I put him on the first whoa post and he licked his lips almost immediately. We went to the second post where he did the same. I thought, “alright. He’s got this.” We went to the third post and he wouldn’t look at me. Finally, after about 2 minutes he yawned. I dropped the check cord and went to him. Just as soon as I dropped the check cord he licked his lips. We went through all of our petting spots then I put him in his kennel.

Allie on point with Abby honoring.

Some times the hardest thing a dog trainer has to do is nothing. When I’m working puppies for the first time on birds and they point I don’t do anything or say anything. I wait for the puppy to make a move and I flush the pigeon. The same thing on the whoa post. Stand and wait for the dog to acknowledge. When it takes a long time it’s hard but the proper thing to do is, nothing.

Vince Dye had called Harden Game Farm in Ridgeway Missouri in December to see if we could get some birds to work our young dogs. They were all sold out and wouldn’t even take his name, in case someone canceled. Then we got a couple of weeks of really bad weather with snow, ice and extreme cold. Vince called back a few days ago and with a bunch of cancellations they now had birds.

Abby on point.

Another picture of Abby on point.

Vince’s short hair, Ally.

Vince and I have a stop we have to make, most times, before going to the game farm. We stop by the Hungry Mule Cafe in Lathrop Missouri for breakfast. They serve a big breakfast that consists of 3 eggs, hash brown, two sausages and two bacons with toast. With a breakfast like that we can hunt for a long time.

I wasn’t too sure what to expect out of Abby and Boss, although they had both pointed wild quail during the hunting season. At a hunting preserve there is feathers and probably blood spots from the day before plus the smell of all the birds that have been planted for us. Sometimes the scent overwhelms the young dogs and they flush everything from the field.

Vince’s dog Ally is about a year older than Abby at 18 months and Boss is only a year old. We decided to run Abby and Boss before running all 3 together. We knew the area where the birds had been planted so we ran the pups for a quarter of a mile before turning back to the bird field.

We had a strong north west wind and we went into the bird field with the wind in our face. Abby came in front and in the first food plot went on point. Rather than walk beside her Vince went around and came back toward her. Abby was solid until after the chukar flushed. The bird went Vince’s way but he waited for me to shoot as I waited on him. By the time Vince shot the bird was out a long way and kept going.

Boss was way out front. We went on a short distance and Abby pointed again. Now I was expecting her to hold and she didn’t disappoint me. Vince and I walked in front of her and she didn’t move. A chukar flushed going almost straight up. I shot and it bounced when it hit the ground. Abby ran to it and rolled it around a little then picked it up. I went to her and petted her until she dropped the bird.

Boss was still running a long way in front. We saw a chukar in the air with him right under it. He stopped the chase and I watched where the chukar flew. As we started toward the truck I saw Boss on point and as we went toward him Abby pointed again. Vince said he would go to Boss and I could check on Abby.

Maggie, the English cocker spaniel.

Before I got to Abby I saw Boss move and his bird only flew a short distance with him right behind it. I went on to Abby. She was looking through the stalks in the food plot. I went through the food plot to her. When I kicked right in front of her she moved about 10 yards and went back on point. This time when I went in front of her a chukar flushed. Abby saw it go down and raced to it. I walked close to her and the bird but she picked the chukar up and started away from me. I whoaed her and she stopped. I petted her for a few seconds then blew in her ear. When I blew a big puff in her ear she opened her mouth. I took the bird.

Vince said that Boss had caught the bird he had been pointing. We went on down the field. I had marked one of the chukars that Boss had flushed and when we got close Boss went on point. I whoaed him. Usually, I don’t say anything to my dogs when they are doing what they are supposed to be doing but he had been moving on his birds. His head and tail were up. I walked to him and nothing flushed. I tapped his head to release him but he only turned his body sideways. I walked out in front but more in line with where he was looking now. I saw the chukar and got it in the air after a short run on my part. Boss and Abby both were on it when it hit the ground. Abby wound up with it but dropped it after I petted her a few seconds.

Boss in the berry vines.

We went back to the truck and got Vince’s young German Short haired pointer, Ally, out. With three dogs we had points pretty often. All 3 of these dogs will honor as far as they can see a dog on point. That makes it nice. We worked the area back and forth a couple of times until we were no longer finding birds. We loaded dogs and headed home. A little while after I got home Vince called and asked if I wanted to go back the next day. Of course.

After our breakfast at the Hungry Mule Cafe in Lathrop Missouri we decided to put a check cord on Boss and work him on 3 birds then put him back in the truck. I had brought a bird carrier with me so before they put our birds out I got 3 birds that I could put out for Boss.

I dizzied the birds and hid them in the tall grass. Actually, the second one was hidden in some black berry vines. When Boss is being check corded he thinks he’s being heeled. He doesn’t get out very far. I got him close to the first bird but he was too busy heeling so I moved on to the second. It was in the black berry vines. He smelled it when we got close but he was a long way from it. I tapped his head and he started through the vines. He lowered his head and body to go under some vines and got a strong scent of the chukar. When he pointed his belly was almost on the ground but his tail was straight up.

Allie on point with Abby honoring.

I turned loose of the check cord because I didn’t want to cause him a problem with the berry vines. Vince came around in front and flushed the chukar. When he shot I was watching Boss. He didn’t move until the shot. Vince said he had dropped a leg on the bird. I thought the chukar had flown away but it had dropped, just after the shot. I grabbed the check cord and went toward the next bird.

Boss was 10 yards from the next bird when he pointed. This time I knelt by his side as Vince came around to flush. This bird didn’t make it very far before it dropped. Boss ran to it and I followed. He was just rolling it around on the ground. Finally, he picked it up and I started praising him and petting him. I let him drag the check cord.

He came back around and pointed the first bird. It was awake and walking around. Boss went on point and didn’t move. I knelt beside him so Vince could shoot in any direction. Vince flushed the chukar and when it hit the ground Boss ran to it and picked it up. I petted him until he dropped the bird. Vince told me the other bird should be close.

Abby on point with Ally honoring.

That was the first I knew that we had a dead bird, close. We worked Boss close and he was still a long way from the dead bird when he pointed. Vince and I both looked but couldn’t see anything so I tapped Boss’s head. He moved up a few yards and went back on point. We looked again and saw nothing. I tapped his head and he moved up again. Finally, we saw the bird. I tried to get him to go get it by telling him it was dead but he wouldn’t move any closer. Vince picked the bird up and tossed it out a ways. Boss ran to it and picked it up. I petted him until he dropped the bird.

We put Boss in the truck and got Abby, Ally and Vince’s English cocker spaniel, Maggie, out. Maggie had been getting a hair cut the day before and didn’t get to hunt. The energy level on all 3 dogs was really high.

Abby on point, peeking through the milo stalks.

Ally went on point in a food plot and Abby couldn’t see her. When she got too close the bird flushed. We were still a long way from the dogs. Then Maggie did her job and flushed another bird too far away.

Finally, Abby went on point and we started toward her and Vince’s GPS alerted him that Ally was on point. He went to Ally while I went to Abby. Trying to pen the bird between us I walked into the front of Abby. I got all the way to her and nothing flushed. I tapped her head and she moved about 10 yards and went back on point. This time when I got in front of her a chukar flushed. Feathers jumped on the first shot but the bird kept going. It hit the ground when I fired the second barrel. Abby pounced on it and started away from me. I whoaed her. She stopped and I petted her until she dropped the bird.

My plan had been to work the field with Ally, Abby and Maggie then get Boss out and make another pass with all of the dogs but we had most of the birds by the time we got close to the truck. We didn’t think we would move anything so we loaded dogs and headed home but it had been a good day for the dogs and their owners.

Abby on point.

We won’t be able to find any more birds to shoot over the pups for a while but Vince and I are going to try to run dogs on some private land next week to see whether the quail made it through the really cold, icy weather. We haven’t had really bad winters for a few years but in north Missouri some of the areas had ice and snow for a long time. I’m hoping the quail are strong enough to make it to breeding season.