Opening Day Of Quail Season, Missouri

Posted on November 2, 2019 by windypointsj1s@aol.com

Vince Dye and I ate a big breakfast at the Hungry Mule in Lathrop Missouri, on the way to hunt a Missouri Conservation Area, on the opening morning of Missouri’s quail season. I’m always excited, although I have been hunting the opener for over fifty years, when opening morning gets here.

Mann on point.

Mann pointing a covey in blackberry and thorn thicket.

I left Luke home this trip but he looked good in this picture.

After breakfast we drove to the Conservation Area we wanted to hunt. When we got to the parking lot there was a vehicle there. We weren’t sure whether they were quail hunting or deer hunting, since bow season is open. We went to a private place that belongs to a friend of Vince.

Vince turned out Indy his GSP and Maggie his English cocker spaniel. Indy was wearing a GPS but Maggie stays with us. She didn’t need a GPS. I put GPS and e-collars on Mann and Sally. This 80 acres usually has row crops with some good grassy areas around the fields but this year was too wet to plant. The areas that were usually planted had been disked to keep weeds down. The weeds in that part were spotty and not very tall but the disked ground made tough walking.

We hunted a hillside with some good cover and then crossed a small creek by coming back to the road. Sally and Indy crossed the road and went on point, side by side. This was off the place we had permission to hunt. They were close to the road and we stood watching them. Mann got close and was birdy but he never saw the two on point. We knew the dogs would be on point as long as the birds held so Vince started in the cover. He only made a couple of steps and a woodcock flushed flying deeper into the place we couldn’t hunt.

We got the dogs back and went on around the 80 we had permission to hunt. Last year there was 3 coveys that we found after the crops were combined. We went all the way to the back on the east side crossed to the west and back south. There was a water way, with quite a few small trees growing in it running through the middle. I took it back to the south while Vince hunted the west side along an abandoned road. We hunted back to the truck without seeing a quail.

Vince going to Indy, on point.

We loaded the dogs and went back to the Conservation area. As we drove in the vehicle we saw in the parking lot was coming out. I stopped and we talked to the guys. They had been hunting for quail or rabbits without dogs and hadn’t seen anything. We pulled into the parking lot.

Vince turned Allie and Maggie out and I used Tur Bo and Mann. We went south of the parking lot to an area where last year we had found two coveys. This year it had not been planted but still had corn from last year. We hunted it then went to the east into another part of the Conservation area.

We found some small fields that had corn from this year with lots of weeds growing in the rows. As we were going from one field to the next I checked the GPS and my batteries were low. I stopped and changed batteries and started walking. I knew that it would take a few seconds for the hand held to re-connect with the GPS collars.

We were in the edge of a weedy corn field and Vince said, “we have a point”. About five yards or so in front of us Tur Bo was on point. We could just barely see him in the weeds. Before we got to him a scattered covey of quail started flushing. A quail flushed in front of me and I knocked it down. I heard Vince shoot, once. Another quail flushed out in my front and it dropped when I shot. I reloaded my side by side and another bird flushed and I shot it.

My side by side and a few quail.

This wasn’t a real triple it was more like three singles. The birds had been scattered out and they flushed one or two at a time. Vince had only got one shot and it wasn’t a great one. He had missed so he and Maggie went to find one of my quail. As I started toward him Mann went on point where I knew one of the dead birds were. I went toward him and he grabbed the dead bird and started toward me. About half way he dropped the quail. I told him to fetch and he picked it up and brought it to me. I tossed it a few feet and he retrieved it.

Vince said his pup Allie was on point behind me. When we went to her a wounded quail tried to fly and she caught it. She held it until Vince took it from her, still alive. We went back to find the other quail. We got all of the dogs in to search but never came up with it. After fifteen or twenty minutes we went on.

We went on around this corn field and about half a mile to the south Mann went on point, standing in an old lane. He was wagging but Tur Bo was standing behind him and he looked good. When I got close they both went back to hunting but trailing. Mann usually doesn’t wag and I wonder if he didn’t stop to a flush. I’ve seen him wag when he does or when the birds have run off and he wants to follow.

The dogs trailed a ways then Allie pointed. When Vince walked in a single quail flushed and dropped when he shot. Allie marked it down, perfectly. She doesn’t retrieve but she held it until Vince took it. We went back through the area but didn’t come up with any other singles.

We went on around the field and when we got close to where we had lost the bird we looked, again. Again we had no luck. We hunted back to the truck. We ate lunch driving to another area on the same Conservation area.

Abby out of Sally’s litter.

We talked to some campers on this Conservation area. They had some kids with them and were gearing up for the youth deer season that Missouri Conservation Department in their infinite wisdom changed from the last weekend of October to the second and third of November. Opening weekend of quail season. It really doesn’t matter, probably, if you have private land to hunt on. If you have to hunt Conservation land you stay home to protect your bird dogs. It is good to get kids interested in hunting.

Vince turned Indy out but Maggie was tired and full of cockle burrs. I turned Mann and Sally loose. My youngest dogs, I hunt all day unless they are extremely tired. I think this makes them pace themselves instead of running full out for a couple of hours. I ran Luke for a couple of hours when he was a puppy then put him up. He still, even at almost ten years old, will make half mile casts. I don’t mind 300 yard casts but Luke goes too far.

We went around the area where we had found quail last year then on toward the back of this area. We circled a corn field in the back and started toward the truck. We both needed to be back early. We were coming through an area we had been through before. I checked the GPS and Sally was on point 150 yards to the south east. As Vince and I were trying to figure out exactly where she was Mann honored her, I thought. He was twelve yards from her.

When we got close we could see that Sally was in some deep, rough woods. Lots of berry vines and thorn trees. Vince said he would wait on me. I went around the woods and saw Mann first. He was on point, wagging. When I got to him he moved up and went back on point, solid. He wasn’t honoring he was pointing but the quail had run. I checked the GPS and Sally was moving.

I went toward where Mann had moved to. When I got close Sally saw Mann and honored. I couldn’t even get close to Mann for the black berry vines and thorn trees. I encouraged Sally and Mann to move but they wouldn’t. Vince was closer than I thought and asked if I wanted him to come in from the other side. Anything was better than just standing.

Josie at 12 weeks pointing a pigeon by scent.

About the time Vince started in a single quail flushed. I heard it but didn’t see it. I could hear Vince coming and then a covey started flushing. I still didn’t see a bird. Vince said, “they got up right where I was standing a few minutes ago”. Then a late bird got up and I saw it. I threw my gun up and was still 4 feet behind when I shot as my barrel hit a small tree. Needless to say the quail flew on. We had no idea which way the quail had flown. In three years of hunting this place we have seen birds in this area each year and we have killed exactly 2 quail. Their brain is about the size of a pea and they out smart us every time.

We hunted back to the truck, put the dogs up and headed home. We didn’t get a lot of birds but the dogs did well and that’s what it’s all about.

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Opening Day Of Bird Season In Nebraska

Posted on October 28, 2019 by windypointsj1s@aol.com

About a quarter to 4:00 am on Saturday, October 26, I started loading dogs to go to Nebraska for the opening of bird season. The older dogs, I just turned loose and they ran to the truck to be loaded. It was different because I had a receiver hitch on with dog boxes on it. Usually the dogs jump onto the tail gate and I load them. The tail gate was gone and we had 3 dog boxes. I put Luke, Tur Bo and Mann in the box behind the cab.

My truck and dog boxes.

Puppies getting a drink.

Mann pointing a pheasant.

There was a two dog box at the rear of the truck bed that I put Sally in. Then I put leads on the three older puppies and started to the truck. They pulled me for a little while. Then they saw the truck. They really don’t like riding. They let me pass them and started pulling back. I tied them off to a trailer parked near there and I loaded them one at a time. I put Abby in the two dog box and then loaded the other two in the 3 dog box on the receiver hitch.

I still had one to go. I put a leash on Josie, the littlest puppy and she led pretty well. I put her in the last hole in the 3 dog box. By the time I got on the road it was 4:30 am.

I started checking different properties that were in the Nebraska Public Access Atlas. I found a smaller place that no one was hunting that looked good. It was an 80 acre place that was CRP with a couple of draws running through the center. Some of the CRP had been mowed for hay, I think.

I turned Sally, Mann and Abby loose with GPS collars and e-collars on Sally and Mann. I thought that Abby and I could walk along the mowed edge and watch the other two dogs work. About a hundred yards down the draw Sally went on point, out in the tall grass and weeds. I called Abby and started to Sally. Abby started but went back. By the time I got to Sally the pheasants had run out.

We were hunting into a strong south wind. As we got another 40 yards down the draw two roosters flushed about 50 yards ahead of us. They flew south but a long way. We continued on down the draw. Mann pointed in the tall weeds and I was able to get a picture. I had tried to take a picture on Sally’s point earlier but couldn’t make it happen. I had just put the camera in my hunting vest when a rooster flushed about 20 yards from me. The rooster tried to fly into the wind but never got very high, just above the tall grass.

It dropped over a small hill when I shot. Neither dog saw it fall. I got them over the hill and they hunted dead where I told them to, really well. Either I was wrong, on the spot or the pheasant ran off. We never found him.

By this time Abby had gone back to the truck. She, evidently, didn’t like the tall grass. We hunted on to the south fence line then back to the truck. I had another couple of points but when I got to the dogs the birds were gone. By the time we got back to the truck it was already getting real warm. I loaded dogs and went to another place.

Josie. The water in the bucket was so low to get a drink her front feet came off the ground. It’s bad to be short.

I decided to just check properties until later in the day when it had cooled some. By 11:30 it was 75 degrees. Way to hot for my dogs. I found a place near a lake where Austin Farley and I had found some quail last year. I decided to wait for it to cool down some before running the dogs but I did take all 4 puppies for a walk around a winter wheat field. The more tired they are the less noise they will make at the motel, I hope.

I could see the trees and thickets just over a hill where we had found either a huge covey or two coveys last year. After about an hour and half wait I turned Sally, Mann and Tur Bo loose with GPS and e-collars on. When I got over the hill close to the trees I was seeing I saw they were now part of the lake. I knew the lake was higher but not that much. I don’t even remember seeing the lake in that area last year.

There was some good grass cover near a corn field so we started around the edge. The dogs went to the lake to get a drink and cool off every few minutes. It was still really warm. The GPS vibrated and when I checked it showed Mann on point near the lake. I didn’t go right to him thinking he was just getting a drink. It didn’t change so I started to him.

Mann, knee deep in the lake.

When I saw him he was knee deep in the lake pointing a brush pile with Tur Bo, on dry ground, honoring. The water was deep and there was nothing in that brush pile that I wanted. I got as close to Mann as I could without getting in the water and called him to me. He moved, when I called, a few feet. That released Tur Bo and he hit the brush pile and so did Mann. They went through the brush pile from one end to the other but wouldn’t leave. They turned and went back through the brush pile. I was calling and after several minutes they finally came out. Tur Bo kept wanting to go back but I got them away.

We made a large circle and returned to the truck. It was late so when we got back to the truck I fed dogs and put them up. It was dark by the time we got away from the lake. It had been a long day.

The next morning, at the motel, I talked to several groups and they had similar days to mine. One group of 5 people had killed one pheasant and two quail. Another said they had been coming to this area for a lot of years and this was the worst year ever.

Most of the crops were still in the field but it was dry and the farmers were working hard to get them out. I saw a lot of combines, both days I was there, working.

Daisey, not wanting to load up.

The second morning was cooler, maybe even colder. But the big thing was the wind. It was now out of the north about 30 miles an hour. I drove, before daylight, to the area I wanted to hunt. The first two places had hunters already on them. The dogs had been in the box for a long time so I stopped along the mud road and let them out. I thought about some of the windy days that I had futile hunts in the wind. I decided to just check properties and not put the dogs out.

I hope this was being smarter not lazier. Not only did I check some properties in Nebraska but I had my walk-in book for Kansas and checked some new stuff there. The farmers are working hard and a few weeks this will all be different, I hope.

Posted in Dogs, Hunts | Comments Off on Opening Day Of Bird Season In Nebraska

It’s Close To Hunting Season

Posted on October 25, 2019 by windypointsj1s@aol.com

In the next few weeks, most of our hunting seasons will be open. Iowa and Nebraska bird seasons opens this weekend and Missouri opens the first of November. Kansas and Oklahoma open on the second Saturday of November. The weather has cooled down and the dogs know it’s close to time.

Puppies on the chain gang waiting their turn.

Daisey, looking for a forever home.

Gabe is also looking for a hunting home.

I had one of the best retrievers, in an English setter, that I have ever seen, a few years ago. Lady almost never lost a bird and when she did it was probably my fault in not putting her in the right place to start with. She lived to almost 13 years old and hunted to the end of her last season. Since then Dolly, her daughter, retrieved some but not near as good as Lady. Dolly is gone now, too.

Mann was sent to Lion’s Den Kennel to be force broke to retrieve. I have him back and he’s doing great when he has been worked on pigeons. I have been working Sally and Tur Bo real hard on their retrieving. When I put pigeons out for all three of these dogs I take frozen quail along and have them retrieve the quail after the pigeon flies away. They are expecting to fetch something after pointing the pigeon.

Also, I have started dropping a frozen quail near where the dogs are pointing the pigeon and after they retrieve the quail I toss for them, I tell them to hunt dead. The first few times I tossed the frozen quail near where I had dropped the frozen quail. After they retrieved the tossed quail I told them to hunt dead and waved my hand in the direction of the bird on the ground. Usually, they had seen or smelled the other bird and with a little encouragement they retrieved the other quail.

Austin Farley and I worked Sally and Tur Bo on some pen reared quail by putting them in launchers. We only did them on two birds each but Sally with a little encouragement retrieved both of hers. Tur Bo retrieved one but the other flew toward a barn and we were unable to shoot.

Later, Vince Dye and I took Sally and Tur Bo and his dogs with some pen reared quail to a farm and worked all of the dogs on birds and retrieving. Sally and Tur Bo retrieved their birds with no problem so with them retrieving and Mann having been force broke, I better have some good retrievers this season.

Now with the seasons opening soon I hope there are lots of birds so even I will be able to get some for the dogs to retrieve. All three of these dogs will get better as they gain in experience.

Daisey, pointing a pigeon.

Now to the puppies. I have changed their names several times but now I think I have found names that fits them. The white and orange male I have been calling Gabe. That name seems to fit him. The tri-colored female with two black eyes and two black ears I have been calling Daisey. The tri-colored female with half black face and a big spot on her side is Abby.

My stud fee puppy, that is six weeks younger than the other three, is called Josie. Her name hasn’t changed. My cousin, Jim Smith, went with me to pick her up at Troy Smith’s kennel and he named her. He thought the name fit her and so do I.

I put all four puppies on the chain gang. Some times I go to the house and have a cup of coffee to give the puppies more time on the chain gang. I take them off the chain gang one at a time to work them on pigeons. I think the chain gang teaches the puppies a lot of things. It teaches to give to the lead and patience, for sure. When I’m ready to take one off the chain gang I stand in front of them, where they can’t reach me with their feet, and wait for them to calm down. When they either sit or stand still I unsnap them but make them stay in that place while I pet them for a few seconds. I release them with an “okay”.

At the start, when they went toward the hidden pigeon I flushed it when they got close. I hide the pigeon really well. I don’t want them sight pointing or trying to get closer so they can see the bird or trap. They soon started pointing, most of the time.

Abby out of Sally’s litter.

When they first started pointing I didn’t do anything or say anything. I just watched the puppy and on it’s first movement I flushed the bird. If they pointed with a foot in the air and put it down I flushed the pigeon. If all four feet were on the ground and they raised one I flushed the pigeon. When they started toward the pigeon I flushed the bird. I want them to think that any movement on their part caused the pigeon to fly.

I try to find a different place each time to hide the birds so the puppies will learn to search for them. These puppies aren’t dummies. I see them check each place where I have hidden birds for them in the past.

There are a couple of the puppies that I am now starting to walk in front of and kick the cover. But they have all seen a lot of birds. As I kick the cover I watch the puppy and try to flush the bird at the puppies first move. I have been trying to video some of the pups and I’m not good at doing two things at once. Usually, I’m slow to flush the bird when I have the camera in hand.

Sally the mother of the litter.

There is a shooting range, pistol, rifle, skeet and trap, about two miles from my home. There is a road about a half mile from it that parallels the range. According to my GPS the closest I can get to the range is 800 yards. There have been a lot of people shooting the last few weeks getting ready for the season. I walked the puppies down this road several times to get them used to gun fire. Sometimes when the wind is right it’s pretty loud and the puppies get to hear two or three hundred shots.

The three puppies I raised heard the Gun Conditioning CD from Masters Voice and they were never bothered by the shots. The first time I took Josie, at about 9 weeks old, she pulled back on the leash for about a 150 yards. Part of it was probably that she didn’t want to lead but part of it was the shooting. I just kept walking down the road, pulling her. She was pulling back on the leash then went in front of me and I unhooked the leash so she could play. She’s not been bothered by the leash or shots since.

This weekend I will be hunting somewhere and I will be taking the puppies with me. All except Josie. She’s a week or two away from being big and fast enough. The others should benefit from a few days of hunting. I know I will.

Abby, pointing a pigeon.

Gabe, in the brush pointing a pigeon.

Josie, pointing a pigeon.

Posted in Dogs | Comments Off on It’s Close To Hunting Season

Training English Setters, 10/18/19

Posted on October 19, 2019 by windypointsj1s@aol.com

Since I got Mann back from Lion’s Den Kennel, where he was being force broke to retrieve, I have worked him and all of the dogs on pigeons every other day. I worked the older dogs on retrieving after they point a couple of pigeons. The puppies were worked, every day, on four pigeons each. Most of the time my pigeons get to just stay in the coop and do what pigeons do. This last week I have worked them a lot.

Josie, the youngest puppy.

Abby, out of Sally’s litter.

Gabe, out of Sally’s litter.

I heeled each of the older dogs to the retrieving bench where I walked them up and down the bench, petting them. I hooked them to the chain gang. The chain gang is close to the retrieving bench and this lets each dog see the others retrieving and being praised for bringing me the dummies. After putting out two release traps with pigeons in them I took Luke from the chain gang and put him back on the retrieving bench.

I had forgotten that I had worked Luke on the bench when he was young. I put four retrieving dummies on the other end of the bench after putting him on whoa. I sent him for the retrieve and he seemed to like the attention. He retrieved all four. I set him on the ground. I followed him down the field on the 4-wheeler.

We had a good breeze but Luke had trouble scenting the birds, in the release traps. My land isn’t level and the folds cause the wind to swirl on the best of days but this is what I run into when hunting. We went past both birds to the end of the field. On the way back toward the front he hit the scent cone of a bird. I took pictures then walked in front of him, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move.

I held a frozen quail in front of him and tossed it a few feet. He trotted out, scooped the quail up and came back with it. He dropped it at my feet. I could probably insist he hold until I told him to give but he’s about 10 years old and I’m just happy to have him still able to hunt. I tossed it again and he brought it and dropped it near me. I sent him on. We went through the same thing on the next bird. Luke is very consistent. When he goes on point he stays where he stops until I walk in front whether it’s real hunting or on the training grounds. I took him back to the kennel.

I reloaded the release traps and had Sally jump onto the retrieving bench. I put four dummies on the other end after putting her on whoa. I sent her to fetch each one, praising her lavishly when she brought them back. Mann was watching. I had her retrieve the four dummies twice then set her on the ground. I followed her down the training grounds on the 4-wheeler.

Abby

I had moved the release traps where the dogs would have a better chance of smelling them. Sally went down the wrong side of the first bird and on to the back where she pointed the second bird. I took pictures, walked in front, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move.

I had a frozen quail in my hand and I had dropped one as I got off the 4-wheeler. I tossed the one in my hand near the one I had dropped and said, “fetch”. She ran out, scooped up the quail and raced back. I had her hold until I said, “give”. I then said, “fetch” and waved in the direction of the frozen quail lying on the ground. This is new and she didn’t understand but she went a little way. I walked closer and said, “hunt dead”. She found the quail and brought it to me. I tossed a frozen quail for her three times. She seems to enjoy retrieving. I sent her on.

On the way back toward the front she hit the scent cone on the first bird and pointed. As I rode closer she took a step and went back on point. With the swirling wind she may have lost the scent but I shouted, “whoa”. I set her back, flushed the pigeon but didn’t shoot the blank pistol or throw the frozen quail. I made her stand as I kicked the cover in front of her then took her back to the kennel.

Tur Bo was next. He jumped onto the bench and I had him retrieve the four retrieving dummies, twice. Tur Bo is a little over fifty pounds and the bench is old. I worry about my bench when he dashes after the dummies. The bench held up and I set him on the ground.

He pointed the first bird. I dropped a frozen quail near the 4-wheeler, took pictures, walked in front of him and shot the blank pistol. He took his one step but didn’t chase. I don’t even set him back, anymore. He’s going to take a step no matter what. I’m okay with that.

Josie pointing a pigeon.

I tossed the frozen quail near the one lying on the ground and said, “fetch”. He raced out, scooped up the quail, raced back and sat near me. I said, “give” and he dropped the bird in my hand. I waved my hand in the direction of the one lying on the ground but he didn’t understand. I said, “hunt dead” and he started making circles. Fast circles. He found the bird, scooped it up and brought it to me and dropped it in my hand. I tossed it for him three times then sent him on.

He pointed the second bird and we went through the same thing. He did fine. When I drop the bird and then throw another near the first I want them to smell the bird lying there and go on their own and retrieve it. This may take a while. He ran in front of the 4-wheeler for a little while for some extra exercise. I took him back to the kennel.

Mann was the last of the older dogs. He’s actually not very old. Only about 18 months old but he did an excellent job on wild quail last season. Now that he has been force broke to retrieve and what I have been doing with Tur Bo and Sally, I should have some retrievers this season. Lady was the best retriever I ever had. She’s been gone several years. Dolly was a part time retriever but now I’m hoping to have some retrievers, again.

I had him jump onto the retrieving bench. When Jim at Lion’s Den worked with him on the bench he threw the bird down the bench and Mann went after it. I put him on whoa and put two frozen quail on the other end. Mann followed me down the bench. I carried him back and put him on whoa. He followed, again. I put him back. He stayed and I sent him after the quail. He ran down the bench, grabbed the quail and came back. I sent him for the second. He did it perfect.

Tur Bo on point.

I put him on whoa and started down the bench. He followed. I carried him back. I went down the bench and he followed. I put him back. This is hard for him but he must know that whoa means don’t move your feet. He finally stayed. I had him retrieve the quail. He got a little better but it’s hard for him. He retrieved the two frozen quail four times each. I set him on the ground.

He understands whoa a lot better when he’s on the ground. I whoaed him, got on the 4-wheeler, started it and put it in gear before saying, “okay” to release him to hunt. He was charged up after being on the chain gang for a long time while the others got to hunt. He was on the wrong side of the first pigeon or was too wound up. He pointed the bird at the back of the training grounds. I took pictures, dropped a frozen quail, walked in front of him kicking the cover, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move.

I tossed a frozen quail near the one I had dropped on the ground. He raced out, grabbed the quail, raced back and held it until I said, “give”. He dropped it in my hand and tried go back to hunting but I grabbed the check cord. I tried to send him by waving my arm and saying, “fetch”. He didn’t see anything fly through the air so he didn’t understand. I said, “hunt dead” and held the check cord so he couldn’t leave. He found the bird and retrieved. I tossed the quail three times for him. I released him to hunt.

He pointed the bird hidden near the start of the training grounds. After taking pictures I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move.

Luke pointing a pigeon.

I tossed the frozen quail near one I had dropped on the ground. He ran to the quail, scooped it up but started away from me. I had the transmitter on the e-collar on the lowest setting and held the button down. He almost said, “alright”! He changed direction and came right straight to me and held the bird. I was laughing. Sometimes it’s almost like you can read their mind. I had him hunt dead and he did great. I tossed the frozen quail for him three times then let him run in front of the 4-wheeler before taking him back to the kennel.

I put all four puppies on the chain gang and put out four pigeons for each one. They are all pointing. Some better than others but each of them will point.

I hide the release trap really well so there is no doubt that the puppy smells the pigeon and points. When they point at the first indication of scent I stand and watch. I don’t say anything and I don’t move. I don’t try to walk in front of them. At their first move I flush the pigeon. If they point with a foot raised and they set it down I flush the pigeon. If they have all four feet on the ground and raise one I flush the bird. I want them to think that any movement on their part will flush the bird.

If I see them smell the bird and start toward it, I flush the pigeon. If they get too close without smelling the bird, I flush it. I’m not concerned at this age if they don’t point any of the birds. Wild birds are skittish and I want them to think these are too.

After working them on their birds I put them back on the chain gang. In human terms the chain gang would be punishment but to them it’s not. They run right to it to be hooked up and after working their birds they come right back.

Mann pointing a pigeon.

I really like the chain gang for puppies. It teaches patience as well as to give to the lead. When I take one off I stand in front of them until they quit jumping. I don’t say anything, just stand and watch. They try several different things but will soon try to sit or at least stand still. I bend over to unhook them and if they start jumping I step back and wait. When I unhook them I drop the chain but hold them where they can’t move. I pet them for a few seconds then release them.

Daisey, the female with two black eyes and two black ears and Gabe, the male with orange spots are still for sale. I want to get them pointing good before I advertise them but I really need to get rid of a couple of puppies. The season is coming and I can’t haul as many dogs as I have.

Luke

Daisey

Mann

Posted in Dog training | Comments Off on Training English Setters, 10/18/19