Traveling Pointing Dogs

I have been working the English setter puppies, Mann and Babe, on steady to flush on pigeons. I, also, am working them on the retrieving bench. I haven’t started the force breaking yet, just having them hold a dowel rod and give when I say, “give” not before.

Babe on the bench holding the dowel.

Babe after the pigeon has flown away.

Mann pointing a pigeon.

June and I took Sally Joe to Texas to have her bred by Wynona’s Last Sunrise (Rip), owned by Bruce Sooter. He’s a tri-colored, frozen semen son of Tekoa Mountain Sunrise. He looks a lot like Tur Bo, who’s her sire. Rip and Sally both share a grandfather on their bottom sides. Ch. Tekoa Mountain Outrage is the sire of both of these dogs dams. Sally goes back to Tekoa Mountain Sunrise on both sides of her pedigree.

We dropped Sally off on Thursday evening and drove to San Antonio to see the Alamo. After fighting the crowds at the Alamo we drove through the Texas hill country looking at the Bluebells that were in bloom. We picked Sally up Sunday morning, hoping she is pregnant, then drove home. Bruce had done a good job of taking care of her while we did the tourist thing.

Back to training the English setters. Actually, I’m working all of the dogs. I worked Luke, Tur Bo and Sally on retrieving. I put 7 retrieving dummies, of different types and textures, in a line and heeled them close. Each day I stop a little farther from the line and try to get the dogs to pick up a dummy. I wave my hand in the direction of the nearest dummy and say, “fetch”.

The first retrieve is always the hardest. Luke, especially, doesn’t want to go very far to get a retrieving dummy. I heel the dogs at a right angle to the line of retrieving bucks and when they get the dummy, I have them carry it a little way, before tasking it from them. At the end of the line of dummies I throw a frozen quail. Not far for Luke but Sally and Tur Bo are really starting to enjoy bringing the quail back. They go as far as I can throw the frozen quail.

After working the older dogs on retrieving I hid some pigeons, in release traps, on the training grounds. I have 6 release traps. The last time, before this, that I worked the English setter pups, I put out two pigeons in three different places. This time I put two pigeons in one set and 4 in another.

Babe got an e-collar and a long check as I heeled her out with a piggin’ string. Babe likes to go to the west of my property and hunt, if I don’t put the long check cord on her. She comes back but it usually is after 30 minutes or so. I worked her on “whoa” and “here” on the way to the retrieving bench. When we get close to the bench I say, “up”. She jumps onto the bench.

To keep her from being used to just one way of retrieving on the bench I walk down both sides of the bench petting her. Then I put the one inch dowel just behind her canine teeth and tell her to hold. I repeat the hold command several times as I stroke her chin and rub her head. I say, “give” and she spits it out. I just hold the end of the dowel and make her move her head off the dowel.

As I walked down the bench to the next place I was to put the dowel in her mouth she decided to go hunting. The only problem, I had hooked the chain on the pulley system, on the retrieving bench, to her collar. Her back feet just touched the ground but it was still uncomfortable. I was a little slow but I helped her back onto the bench. I had her hold the dowel in 6 different places on the bench. I put her on the ground.

Tur Bo retrieving a retrieving buck.

With the long check cord on she doesn’t always go hunt on someone else’s property but I can’t take the chance. I try to always put a GPS collar on her so if she does go off I will know where she is. I held the end of the check cord to the first set of two pigeons. She pointed from a good distance. I stroked her sides then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon that was the farthest away. She watched it fly away. When she turned her attention back to the bird she had originally pointed I started kicking the cover, again. I flushed the second pigeon and she watched it fly away.

We went to the back of my place then crossed to the neighbor’s side. I try to let her hunt where she wants but still hang onto the check cord. She pointed one of the four pigeons I had hidden in a large circle. I stroked her sides and told her what a good girl she is.

When I started kicking the cover in front of her I flushed a pigeon that was several yards behind her. When the pigeon flapped it’s wings she turned her head but didn’t move her feet. She turned back to the bird she was pointing. I continued to kick the cover and flushed another pigeon that was 20 yards to her left. She didn’t even turn her head. Just continued to look toward the pigeon she was pointing.

I continued to kick the cover and flushed a pigeon that was about 15 yards to her right. She flinched and turned her head but didn’t move her feet. She slowly turned back to the bird she was pointing. I kicked the cover and flushed the last pigeon. She watched it fly away. I stroked her sides then heeled her away.

When we got almost back to the kennel I turned her loose. She ran to the pigeon house and went on point. There were some pigeons lounging around the kennel. When I got to her I stroked her sides, unhooked the check cord and heeled her into the kennel.

Mann pointing a pigeon.

When the release traps were reloaded I heeled Mann out with an e-collar around his neck and dragging a short check cord. We worked on “here” and “whoa” on the way to the retrieving bench. I said, “up” when he got close to the bench and he hopped on.

I petted him in 6 different spots on the retrieving bench. When I got the dowel out he started looking at the training grounds. He knew there were birds to be pointed. I put the dowel right behind his canines. He held it until I said give. He’s not as good as Babe is but we persist. After the first time he started thinking about jumping off and going hunting. I let him stand, looking toward the training grounds.

He ran back and forth, looking. He’s jumped off before with the chain hooked up. He never jumped but after each time we worked with the dowel he wanted to. After I had him hold it six times I set him on the ground.

When we had three sets of two pigeons he tried to move on the first two sets but he was steady on the third. During bird season I had let him move as the birds flushed because I was looking for a shot, not paying attention to him. He was always steady to flush. He stays with me really well so I only put a short check cord on him. I did put a half hitch around his flanks.

He went past the first set on the other side of the yard. He circled around and caught the scent from the north fence line and went on point. I went to him and stroked his sides. I walked in front of him kicking the cover. I circled back behind him and stood on the check cord. I flushed the farthest pigeon and he didn’t move. I stroked his sides then went in front of him, kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and he didn’t move. I stroked his sides then tapped his head to release him.

Luke pointing a pigeon.

He checked my side to the very back, crossed to the neighbor’s side and went to the back. As he came back up the south edge he hit the scent cone and slammed into a point. He was in a better spot, for training, than Babe had been. All 4 of these birds were in front of him.

He had not moved on the others so I stayed in front of him kicking the cover. I flushed a pigeon that was 30 yards in front of him. He didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover and flushed another pigeon that was near the first. He knew his bird was still right in front of him. He didn’t move.

When I had put the next pigeon in the release trap, there was a pigeon from Babe’s pigeons, that was sitting on the ground. I flushed the pigeon from the release trap. He didn’t move.

I stroked his sides then flushed the last pigeon. He didn’t move. I stroked his sides and heeled him away. I whoaed him then tapped his head to release him.

Sally pointing a pigeon.

I don’t know if he saw the pigeon on the ground or he just happened to hit the scent cone but he pointed. I stroked his sides then tried to catch the pigeon on the ground. The pigeon was in a small clump of brush. I forced my way into the clump of brush and the pigeon started running. Mann was solid as the pigeon ran around in the clump of brush.

Finally, the pigeon came into the open. I started around the clump and it flushed, flying up onto a limb about 8 feet off the ground. That was more than Mann could take. He ran to the tree and reared up trying to get the pigeon. I caught him and carried him back. I whoaed him and stroked his sides. After about a minute I heeled him away. I took him back to the kennel.

With having the pigeons and release traps I can really enjoy having these puppies. I can go in the back yard and get several points every day I work with them. When we get closer to the hunting season I will work with the older dogs on pointing, too. When you can get several points its a good day. I’ve been blessed, I have a great life.

Tur Bo with a frozen quail.

Babe pointing a pigeon.

Mann pointing a pigeon.

I have been doing basically the same things over and over with the English setter puppies. But that is what dog training is. Repetition. To get me and the dogs out of a rut, Vince and I decided to take our puppies to Harden Game Farm in Ridgeway, Missouri and work them on some chukars.

Mann on point with Vince getting ready.

Vince’s dog Indy.

Another picture of Mann.

We had them put out 20 chukars. They have had a lot of snow and cold but still had pretty good cover for the birds. I put a GPS collar and e-collar on Babe and had her drag a long check cord. She’s not always holding her birds so I held the end of the check cord until she pointed.

I carry my camera with me all of the time, when I’m hunting or training, but I only take pictures in spurts. When I remember. I got pictures of all of the dogs except Babe. Not one picture of Babe.

I worked her to the bird field, holding the check cord. Not far from the truck she turned into the strong wind and pointed. I stroked her sides. She didn’t try to move. Vince went in front of her and after chasing the chukar for a ways, it finally flushed. Vince stopped running and threw two shots after a rapidly disappearing chukar. I turned Babe loose and she chased the bird.

In all fairness to Vince, when old men run even a few yards their day is about over, without having to shoot. Another thing, after shooting at wild birds, you have to readjust for how slow these birds fly.

Babe came back close to us and pointed another chukar. I wasn’t close enough to get my hands on her check cord and she flushed it before we got close.

She came by me and I grabbed the check cord. She pointed again and I stroked her sides. Vince walked in front of her and dropped the chukar when it flushed. Babe ran to it but didn’t pick it up. It was still flopping and she would grab it then turn it loose. I let her chase it a couple of times then got it from her. I put her back in the truck.

Vince got his young, about the same age as Babe and Mann, German short haired pointer, Allie, out. She’s a little farther along than Babe. He let her run while dragging the check cord. Near where Babe had pointed she went on point. Vince held her check cord and I went in front of her. I had to chase the chukar for a ways before it flushed. I just caught it in the edge of the pattern but it went down. She ran to it and picked it up. Then she dropped it and it tried to run away. She grabbed it again. She did this 3 or 4 times before getting it all the way to Vince.

She pointed another and again I just barely hit the bird but it was good for the young dog, Allie. She chased it down, held it for a few seconds and released it. Then she had to chase it again. Vince got the bird from her.

The next bird, for what ever reason, flushed well out front of her. I don’t know whether she was too close or whether it just got up. We marked where it flew. We put her back in the truck and got out Mann and Indy.

Indy is almost 2 years old but hasn’t had any more time in the field than Mann. Vince bought her from a guy that worked her some but didn’t have time to hunt her.

Mann pointing a pigeon.

I don’t know why I put a check cord on Mann but I did. When I hunt him I don’t and he hunts just fine. Sometimes I don’t even know why I do things.

Vince and I had discussed how good it was for these young dogs to chase a cripple. Then as I watched Mann he went on point, I thought, but when we got closer Indy was in a small ditch on point and Mann was honoring. When we flushed the chukar Vince centered it. It was dead in the air. I got after him a little. “We are dog training. Just wing them so the dogs can chase”. He said, “it was going around a tree. I didn’t have time”.

Babe on the retrieving bench.

We came up a little hill and Mann pointed. I took some pictures then Vince and I walked in front of him. The chukar flushed my way and dropped when I shot. Mann ran to it and picked it up, then dropped it. Vince’s dog Indy came close and Mann picked the bird back up. I called him and he came in a run. I petted him until he dropped the bird.

In just a few seconds Indy was on point with Mann honoring. This chukar dropped closer to Mann than to Indy. Mann grabbed it and came to me in a dead run. I petted him until he dropped the bird. Vince said, “you’ve got a retriever there. He really enjoys bringing you the bird”. A little later he retrieved another. He does look happy when he retrieves.

After Mann and Indy pointed a few times each we turned all 5 dogs out together. Vince had his English cocker spaniel Maggie with him. We had some more dog work and Indy really started to hustle on the retrieves. None of the other dogs had a chance. Poor Maggie. Her legs were too short. To get her a retrieve Vince had to take a bird from his vest and throw it.

This was a good time for us and the dogs. It’s not like wild bird hunting but the dogs don’t care. They just want to point a bird. We wondered if the dogs didn’t think, “why didn’t they bring us hear earlier. We’ve found way more birds than where we usually go”.

Mann on point.

Babe pointing a pigeon.

Babe pointing a pigeon.

I have started the English setter puppies, Mann and Babe, on the retrieving bench. I use the retrieving bench mainly for a loving bench and get all of my dogs on it, occasionally. They all really like the bench. The older dogs I have force broke but I have never had quail to finish them. All of the older dogs hunt dead real well but don’t, necessarily, bring the bird to me. Sometimes they do

Babe with a dowel in her mouth.

Tur Bo retrieving a buck.

Tur Bo with a frozen quail.

Each year I say that I will finish them on the retrieve. This is a new year and I will finish all of the dogs on the force retrieve. Maybe.

The last time I ran Babe she went deer hunting for a while. So I haven’t let her off the long check cord since. The last few days I have been working both pups on “here” as well as “whoa” then I put them on the retrieving bench.

I brought Babe out of her kennel with an e-collar around her neck and she was pulling a 50′ check cord. I whoaed her a few times and walked around her and out front. I heeled her farther and whoaed her. I took the check cord and pulled it out to it’s end. I hit the tone button on the e-collar and pulled her to me. She learned the routine quickly and wanted to come before I called her. She wanted to self release from the whoa command. I quit pulling the check cord.

I whoaed her and walked about 50 feet in front of her and when I turned she started to me. I raised my hand, palm toward her and said, “whoa”. She stopped. I hit the tone on the e-collar and called her to me. She hesitated for just a second then came in a dead run.

I started whoaing her, walking out front and raising my hand saying, “whoa” as I turned around. This worked better. She waited for me to hit the tone as I dropped my hand to my side. She came in a dead run.

After a few times I put her on the retrieving bench. I walked her back and forth, petting her. While I pet them I let them smell my breathe, when I’m happy. They enjoy that. They don’t like to smell your breathe when you are unhappy.

I clipped her to the chain that is on a wire that runs the length of the retrieving bench. I opened her mouth, placed a one inch dowel behind her canine teeth, closed her mouth on it, holding my hand under her chin and said, “hold, hold”. When she quit fighting the dowel I said, “give” and held the end of the dowel until she removed her mouth from it.

The first time I only had her hold the dowel three times. She has now been on the bench 4 times. It’s easier to open her mouth and she holds the dowel without fighting, most of the time. The last time she was on the bench I put the dowel in her mouth 6 times.

I set her on the ground. She usually doesn’t get very far away from me when she’s pulling the long check cord. I turned her loose to run. She stayed close for a little while then started toward her favorite deer woods. She was about 50 yards away when I hit the tone on the e-collar, knelt down and called her to me. She turned and when she saw me kneeling down, she came in a dead run. I held the check cord and heeled her back to the kennel.

I heeled Mann out pulling the long check cord with an e-collar around his neck. I whoaed him a few times and walked around him. I whoaed him and walked about 50 yards ahead of him. I raised my hand like a traffic cop and told him to whoa. I hit the tone on the e-collar, dropped my hand and said, “here” as I knelt. He ran to me.

Mann pointinmg a chukar.

I heeled him around the yard repeating the here command 4 or 5 times. When we got close to the retrieving bench I had him jump on. I always use the “up” command when they jump onto the bench. I walked him back and forth petting him.

This is also his fourth time of having a dowel placed in his mouth and me expecting him to hold it, with my help. I opened his mouth and placed the dowel right behind his canine teeth, making sure that his lip wasn’t between the dowel and his teeth. I kept my hand under his chin telling him, “hold, hold”. After a few seconds I said, “give” and held the end of the dowel until he moved his mouth off the dowel. They learn “give” quicker than “hold”, it seems. After 6 times I put him on the ground.

Mann stays with me but I need to use the “here” command in a lot of different places. We went toward the back. When he got about 50 yards from me I hit the tone on his e-collar, said “here”, and knelt down. He wheeled around and came to me. I petted him a lot. On the way back to the kennel I repeated the here command a couple more times. I put him in the kennel.

I put 7 retrieving dummies, of assorted sizes and textures, in a line in front of the kennels, so all of the dogs could watch the others doing this exercise. I heeled Luke out with an e-collar around his neck. Luke will be 9 years old soon and he’s been through my force breaking to retrieve class. He’s like the rest, it shocks me when one of them retrieves. I’m going to change that this year.

Sally pointing a pigeon.

I heeled him to the first retrieving dummy and said, “fetch”. He picked up all of the retrieving dummies and carried them until I took them from him. I don’t walk right down the line picking the dummies up. I heel the dogs at a right angle, say “fetch” when we get to the dummy and walk away from the line. I stop and have them hold for a few seconds before saying, “give”.

When we got through with the retrieving dummies I whoaed him. I had a frozen quail. I tossed it and said, “fetch”. He ran out and picked it up and brought it to me. He dropped it as soon as he got to me. I told him to fetch and he picked it up. I said, “hold” and he held it until I said, “give”. I tossed it for him 4 or 5 times and after the first time he held it until I said, “give”. I let him run for a few minutes then put him back in the kennel.

I brought Tur Bo out next. Tur Bo never does anything slow, except heel. If he was in charge, he would heel really fast. When he’s about 10 feet from the dummies I say, “fetch” and he grabs them and sometimes runs a circle around me then sits in front of me holding the dummy. He holds until I say, “give” then drops the dummy in my hand.

I only tossed the frozen quail for Luke but I threw it as far as I could for Tur Bo. He is fast enough that he can almost catch the quail before it hits the ground, but not quite. I threw the frozen quail 5 or 6 times then let him run for a few minutes before putting him back in the kennel.

4 quail and my W. R. Pape side by side..

Sally was next. She is probably closer to being a retrieving English setter than the others. When I have her pick up the retrieving dummies she holds them better as we walk around until I tell her to “give”. She, occasionally, will retrieve a bird when we are hunting. Especially, when another dog tries to get a bird that she has picked up. She would rather I had it than another dog.

After the retrieving dummies I threw the frozen quail for her. She likes this game better than the dummies. I can throw it as far for her as I throw for Tur Bo. She’s not as fast as he is but she gets there quickly and sits in front of me until I take the frozen quail. After 5 or 6 retrieves I let her run for a few minutes then put her in the kennel.

It doesn’t take a lot of time to do what I’m doing with the older dogs and they enjoy doing it. I enjoy doing it as well. So maybe this is the year when I will get all of my dogs to retrieving. Time will tell.

Babe on whoa, waiting to come to me.

Mann pointing a pigeon.

Babe pointing a pigeon.