Traveling Pointing Dogs

It’s rained almost every day for the last week. Finally, today it is warm and no rain, so I got the dogs out for a little training. I have moved the puppies to their new raised pen. I was hoping they would use the outside run but they haven’t been. This morning I placed their food pan at the far end of the pen and carried a couple of puppies to the food. Once the others saw them eating, some started that way. I carried several down but they all had to walk back to their house after they were through eating.

Puppies using the run.

Abby on whoa with me walking around her.

Josie on whoa with me walking around her.

Later, I’m feeding the puppies 4 times a day, June and I got the puppies out and let them play on the driveway and then the lawn. This was the first time they had been out of confinement and allowed to just run. When we first put them on the driveway they were in the shade. The puppies would go to the edge of the shade but hesitate to go into the sunlight. Then after they were all playing in either shade or sunlight we moved to the grass. Again, it was a learning experience for the puppies to go into the grass.

June and I sat on the ground and let the puppies crawl all over us. It’s hard for them to be frightened by something that can be crawled on, chewed on or just fall asleep on. When a couple of puppies tried to go to sleep we put them back in their kennel.

Earlier in the day I had put the e-collars on Abby’s neck and flanks and heeled her toward the front of the yard, stopping her every few yards with a “whoa” and walking in front and all around her. Abby wants to be dominate and always tries to lead me. Instead of keeping her head even with my leg she wants to be out front. If I let the piggin’ string tighten she will start pulling. When she gets a half step in front of me I, pop the piggin’ string and do a 180 degree turn. After a few steps or sometimes 40 yards I do another 180. This reminds her who is really in charge of these walks.

I have been putting the e-collars on them but haven’t used them at all. So far, I just want them to think that fun starts after the e-collars are buckled up. Well this morning was a little different. When we came to the air line crate that I have near the retrieving bench I took the piggin’ string off and attached a long check cord.

I held the check cord and heeled her toward the crate. When we got close I said, “kennel”. She went in the kennel. I worked her a couple of times then I checked to see what level she felt on the e-collar around her neck. She had a small reaction to 2 low.

I held the button on the e-collar down on 2 low and moved her toward the kennel saying, “kennel”. She went right in. As soon as she went in the kennel I let off the button. To turn the e-collar off she had to get in the kennel. On about the fifth time when I hit the button on the e-collar she started toward the kennel. I didn’t say anything. She understands how to turn the e-collar off. That was a good place to stop. I put her on the retrieving bench.

After walking her around the bench petting her I threw my glove down the bench and she ran after it. These pups really enjoy this, I think. She runs down the bench, grabs the glove, races back and as soon as I touch the glove she releases it. I throw the glove 5 or 6 times and then we go to the whoa barrel.

Abby on the whoa barrel.

When I put them on the whoa barrel I expect more from them. I make them stand with their tail and head up. Because these dogs are whoaing, the barrel is just another place that they have to whoa. I style them up and walk around them, then set them on the ground. I then style them up right beside the barrel before I heel them away. I put her in the kennel.

I put the e-collars on Josie and heeled her out. Josie is much better at heeling than Abby. She almost never tries to lead. The weather was warming and when we got close to the front of the house I put Josie on whoa, took my coat off and walked maybe 40 yards to the front of the house and laid the coat on a patio chair. I watched Josie and she didn’t move until I got almost back to her. She was happy for me to be back with her. She came to me wagging her tail. It was cute but I picked her up and set her back.

I heeled and whoaed her until we came to the airline crate. I took the piggin’ string off, hooked the check cord to her collar and heeled her toward the crate. When she got to it she refused to go in. A few weeks ago she was going every time. Something I was doing was different. I can’t start using the e-collar on her until she’s going in the kennel most of the time. I forced her into the kennel 4 or 5 times.

Josie on the whoa barrel.

I knew this wasn’t working. I needed to do something different. I moved a little farther from the crate and taking the check cord I started running to the crate. When we got close I said, “kennel” and she went right in. If you would have asked last week I would have said I never run, ever. We ran at that kennel 5 times and just before we got to it I said, “kennel”. She went in each time. One more time, I learned that if the dog knows the command and isn’t doing it, it’s the handlers fault. I didn’t use the e-collar. After she is used to going in the kennel, I will start using the e-collar.

I put her on the retrieving bench. After I walked down both sides of the bench petting her I threw the glove for her. She ran down the bench, grabbed the glove, raced back and dropped it as soon as I touched it. I think they have figured out that as soon as they give it to me I’ll throw it again. I heeled her to the whoa barrel.

The chains and harness were almost 16 pounds.

I styled her up on the barrel then when I took her off the barrel I styled her up beside the barrel. People who use the barrel a lot say you must do on the ground what you do on the barrel. I took her back to the kennel.

I have some roading harnesses and I hooked some log chains to one. I put the e-collar around Mann’s neck and heeled him out. I put the roading harness on him and heeled him toward the front. The older dogs need some exercise and it’s too wet to use the 4-wheeler to road them. Pulling the chains is as close as we can get. I heeled him to the front, across the front then to the back. I took the harness off and had him jump onto the retrieving bench.

I just used the bench for a loving bench. I walked both sides of the bench petting him every few feet. I set him on the ground, connected the roading harness and heeled him back to the kennel.

Josie on the retrieving bench waiting on me.

The other dogs felt left out so I put 7 retrieving dummies in a circle and heeled Sally out with the e-collar around her neck. Sally wasn’t acting right a few days ago and when I took her to the vet he told me to take the pups off her. He gave her some shots and I have her on some vitamins. She’s doing much better. She too wanted to be worked. I whoaed her and tossed a quail dummy into the circle and said, “fetch”. She ran out, grabbed the quail, raced back and held the dummy until I said, “give”. She retrieved them all. I let her have a short run then put her back in the kennel.

While I had the retrieving dummies out I brought Mann out. I tossed the quail into the circle and he grabbed a dummy and brought it back. He retrieved each one. Once he dropped a dummy when he came back without waiting for me to say, “give”. I held the button on the transmitter down on 2 medium until he picked the dummy up and held it. It was about the third dummy that he dropped. He held the rest waiting for me to say< "give". I put him back in the kennel. [caption id="attachment_9916" align="alignleft" width="300"] Mann with his chains.[/caption]

I even put the e-collar on Luke and heeled him out. I tossed a dummy for him and he raced out and picked it up then dropped it. I walked to him and told him to fetch. He picked the dummy up and dropped it again. I tapped his head and let him run for a few minutes then put him back in the kennel. Luke is retired and he doesn’t have to retrieve if he doesn’t want to. I put him back in the kennel.

With this Covid-19 my life hasn’t changed much. The only thing is I worry about family and friends but I never left the house much except to shoot skeet a few times a week. With this virus they have closed the skeet range. I’m having a few withdrawals from not shooting but hopefully this will be over soon.

I hope the Lord blesses each person that reads this as much or more than He has blessed me. Be safe and take care of each other. This too will pass.

For some reason I didn’t train last Friday and I seldom train on the weekends. Then it rained all day Monday and was real muddy Tuesday. This morning there was still plenty of mud but I trained anyway. Sally has her puppies so I lock her in with them so she doesn’t get out and run after us. I feel sorry for Mann. He has to watch me train the pups.

Abby on whoa with me walking around her.

Josie on whoa with me walking circles around her.

Mann on whoa. I had him pull some chains to wear him down some.

This morning I put some chains on a roading harness and hooked Mann to pulling. I could road him off the 4-wheeler but it’s too wet. The tires on the 4-wheeler cuts ruts in my yard.

I heeled Mann toward the front of my yard. I had forgotten my camera so when I got to the front of the house, I whoaed him and went in to get the camera. Actually, I asked June to get my camera for me but she couldn’t find it. I watched Mann for a few seconds from the front door then went in and got my camera. When I came back out he hadn’t moved.

I heeled him on to the front then across the front and across my neighbor’s front, then to the back. When we came back by the retrieving bench I took the roading harness off and had him jump onto the bench. I petted him several different places on both sides of the bench. I put him on whoa and took 3 retrieving dummies to the other end of the bench. He retrieved each one, twice. I set him on the ground, replaced the roading harness and heeled him back to the kennel.

This morning I was going to start using the e-collar on the puppies when I had them kennel, so I turned the neck e-collar on. Both pups have been kenneling every time I worked them on “kennel”. I put the e-collars on Josie’s neck and flanks. I heeled her toward the front of the yard and across the front and across the front of the neighbor’s side, then toward the back.

When I came to the kennel it had a bunch of water from the rain in it. I turned it up and drained the water. I set the kennel in a different place than I have been using it. I heeled her close and said, “kennel”. She acted like she had never heard the term before. I pushed her into the kennel without using the e-collar. Before using the e-collar I was intending to have her kennel without the e-collar a couple of times, then use it. I tried 7 times and had to force her into the kennel each time. I heeled her on to the back.

When we came back close to the kennel I tried to kennel her again. Finally, on the third time she went in. I petted her and heeled her to the retrieving bench.

She is whoaing and heeling just fine. I had her jump onto the retrieving bench. After walking her down both sides of the bench petting her I took one of my gloves and tossed it down the bench. She raced down the bench, grabbed the glove and came back. As soon as I touched it she turned it loose. I threw the glove 5 times and she retrieved it each time. I petted her again then set her on the ground, whoaed her and heeled her away.

Abby on the barrel.

When we came to the barrel I set her on top. Neither of the pups are really comfortable on the barrel but that’s the reason it works. I styled her up and walked around to the other side. She decided she would just get off. The chain held her with her feet touching the ground. I helped her scramble back on. I styled her up, again. I set her on the ground and styled her right beside the barrel. I took her back to the kennel.

When these pups do whatever I’m working them on perfectly I stroke their sides. Usually, a stroke on each side. Josie, from the get go, has been okay with me stroking the side that is next to me but if I reach across and stroke her other side she wheels around like someone snuck up on her. I don’t know why but she’s getting a little better.

I put the e-collars on Abby’s neck and flanks and heeled her toward the front, then across the front and across the neighbor’s front, then on to the back. When we got to the airline crate I heeled her toward it and said, “kennel”. Abby ran right in. Five times in a row she ran in when I said, “kennel”. I heeled her on to the back. When we came back I had her kennel 3 more times. She never refused.

When Josie wouldn’t kennel I wondered if it was because I had to pour the rain water out or because the air line crate wasn’t in the same place as it had been. I don’t know why Josie didn’t but it didn’t affect Abby. I never used the e-collar on Abby. I want to get Josie entering the air line crate most of the time and I will work both of them with the e-collar, on a real light setting.

Josie coming out of the air line crate.

I had Abby jump onto the retrieving bench. I petted her in several places on the bench then tossed my glove to the other end. Abby raced down the bench, grabbed the glove and returned it to me. Both of these pups are retrieving the glove and as soon as I touch it they give. When I first started they wanted to hold onto the glove. I tossed the glove 5 times and she retrieved it each time. I petted her again then set her on the ground.

I heeled her to the barrel and set her on it. I don’t remember her ever coming off the bench but she doesn’t try to move. When I style her the only thing she will move is her head. She really doesn’t want to hold it very high although when she points her head is up. Both of these pups have only been on the barrel a few times. They will get better. I set her on the ground then heeled her back to the kennel.

Abby retrieving my glove.

Some of time, not often, dogs will act like they have forgotten something I have worked with them on. I don’t put a lot of pressure on them. We walk through the exercise until they start doing it again. Before I ever use the e-collar, even on a light setting, I want the dog to really know the command. The e-collar is to reinforce the command, not to teach a command. For sure, if your dog yelps, from the stimulation, you have it set way to high.

I have been able to get out each morning this week and work the young dogs, Abby and Josie. The weather has been great and the dogs have been showing their intelligence in learning, of most of the things I’m working them on, quickly. I worked them on kenneling in an airline crate that I have near the retrieving bench. The first time I had to stuff them in the crate then used a push a couple of times. After that both pups went in with nothing other than me saying, “kennel”.

Abby on the barrel.

Josie on the barrel.

Josie on whoa with me not holding the piggin’ string.

Using the command, “kennel” each time I have loaded them in the truck made the kenneling easier, I think. I have hauled them on several trips where they were loaded several times each day. After just a few times on these trips both puppies, although they don’t like to ride, went right in their boxes.

I’m still putting the e-collars on their neck and flanks. So far, I haven’t even carried the transmitter or turned the e-collars on. I just want to get them used to wearing the e-collar. Although they move a little more when I put the flank collar on them, they stand pretty well for me to put the e-collars on, now.

I still walk each of the puppies around the yard with the piggin’ string. Now when I say, “whoa” I drop the piggin’ string and walk out in front of the puppies, sometimes around back of them and to each side. Most of the time the pups stay until I come back, tap them on the head and step off with a “heel” command.

Today, when we got to the retrieving bench I had both pups “kennel” in the airline crate. Both of them went in with just the command.

On past the retrieving bench, is the bird field. This is where I have always put pigeons out for the pups. I have left strips of grass. Today when we got close, I put the pups on whoa and then made a lot of noise kicking the tall grass, in the strips. Both of the pups decided I needed their help. I kicked the strips 7 or 8 times and Abby came to help twice and Josie 3 times. I didn’t raise my voice or do anything other than pick them up and put them back.

Abby was okay with me picking her up but Josie threw a little fit, so I held her off the ground until she quit twisting and turning. The second time her fit didn’t last long at all and the third time she let me set her back with no problem.

We know that every dog is a little different but Josie has a funny side. When I heel and whoa the pups if they do it right I stroke their sides. Usually, once on each side then tap their head, say “heel” and step off. When I touch Josie’s left side she whirls around like someone snuck up on the other side. She’s okay with me stroking her right side. She will get used to me stroking her left side, I hope.

When we get back to the retrieving bench I have the pups jump onto the bench. When they jump I say, “up”. I walk down both sides of the bench petting them every few feet. Both of these pups have tried to jump off the bench but they are hooked to the pulley system.

Abby on whoa. I’m not holding the piggin’ string.

After they get petted I throw a glove down the bench and they both retrieve it to me. Today, Abby came back once without the glove. I went down the bench and threw the glove back opposite of the way I had thrown it before. She grabbed it and brought it to me. I then threw it from the normal place 5 times and she brought it back each time.

When I first started tossing the glove Josie didn’t want to give it up when she came back to me. They are hooked to the pulley system so they if they move they have to come back to me. I, usually, pet them until they drop the glove but Josie just hung on. I lifted her ear and blew a puff of air into her ear. She turned loose. Now she releases the glove each time, really well.

I don’t let them jump off the bench. I set them on the ground and say, “whoa”. Jumping may be hard on their leg bones and tendons. I don’t let my dogs jump off the tail gate of the truck, either. But the main reason I don’t want them jumping is I don’t want them thinking they can end the session, on the bench, by jumping down.

Abby on the barrel.

After the retrieving I heel them to the whoa barrel. Neither of them really like the barrel but they don’t fight other than stopping before we get to the barrel. I set them on the barrel and hook the chain to their collar. Both of them allow me to style them up. They are afraid to move. Even with the carpet on the barrel it’s easy to fall off. We don’t use a lot of time on the barrel. I style them up and walk around them a few times then set them on the ground. I style them up on the ground then heel them back to the kennel.

Josie on the barrel.

Both of these pups are doing each command very well. I will, probably, start next week to reinforce these commands with the e-collar. I use the e-collar like on the George Hickox DVD’s. I will start with the kennel command. George advocates introducing the e-collar with the dog going away from you. If you start the dog on “here” or “whoa” the dog may come to you every time they are stimulated. Or stop if you do whoa first. Also, the stimulation is on the lowest setting the dog can feel.

I have the new litter of puppies to play with and these two pups to work with so may days are full but they are also complete. I am a blessed man.