Traveling Pointing Dogs

On Thursday, 10/4/18, the high was only 62 degrees and I was able to train the puppies and I also worked Tur Bo and Sally. The temperature when I started was in the low fifties and on the 4-wheeler I needed a light jacket. It’s getting closer to my kind of weather.

Tur Bo pointing a pigeon.

Sally pointing a pigeon.

Another picture of Tur Bo pointing a pigeon.

I walked both puppies around the yard heeling and whoaing them before working them on the kennel command. This week I have started using the e-collar on a real light setting on the kennel command. Both puppies were kenneling about 95 per cent of the time before I went to the e-collar. I hold the button on the transmitter down, on a light setting, then say, “kennel”. Usually, the puppies start in before I can say, “kennel”. This shows that the puppies are learning how to turn off the e-collar.

After the kenneling lesson I put them on the retrieving bench and pet them. I think this is really important to take some of the stress, from the heeling, whoaing and kenneling commands from them. After a few minutes on the retrieving bench I put them on the chain gang.

This morning, because it was cooler, I heeled Sally and Tur Bo to the retrieving bench and after petting them for a few minutes I put some retrieving bumpers on the end of the bench and had them retrieve.

When Sally went to retrieve on the bench the first time she went about half way and came back. I held the button on the transmitter down on a light setting and walked with her to the bumpers. She grabbed one and we went back to the other end. After the first one she retrieved the other two with no problem. I put 4 more out for her and she retrieved them like she should have. I put her on the chain gang.

I heeled Tur Bo to the retrieving bench, petted him then put some bumpers on the other end. When I sent him to retrieve he put his nose on one but came back with out it. I held the button down, on the transmitter, on 2 low and he went back, grabbed a bumper and came back, holding until I said, “give”. Both of these dogs have been through the force fetch and know I have the button. They must think, “this time he doesn’t have it”. I had him do 4 bumpers two times then put him on the chain gang.

Finding new places on the training grounds, to hide the birds, isn’t easy but I keep trying. I put the e-collars on Sally’s neck and flanks, hooked a check cord to her collar with a half hitch around her flanks and heeled her out ahead of the 4-wheeler. I whoaed her, got on the 4-wheeler, started it and put it in gear then said, “okay”. Sally has played this game before and she was gone in a flash.

She ran down one side of my place to the back, across the back and up the other side where she crossed to the neighbor’s side. I was right behind her on the 4-wheeler. She checked out the front and each patch of brush on her way to the back. The wind was swirling. Where I thought she would catch the scent she went on through and was almost totally on the other side when she slid to a stop. I tried to push the stake into the ground behind her but I only got it into the ground a few inches. We really need a rain. I tied the check cord to the stake, took some pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and she reared back a little as the pigeon flew over her but she didn’t move her feet. I heeled her away.

Tur Bo

I had a frozen quail with me and whoaed her then threw the quail saying, “fetch”. Sally ran out grabbed the quail and ran back. That was the first time I have seen her enjoy retrieving. I threw the quail a total of three times and she seemed to enjoy it each time. I released her to hunt.

She checked out the neighbor’s side again then crossed back to my side. Sally smelled the next bird from a long way. It was hidden in the fence row on the north fence line and at the top of the hill the wind blew the scent a long way, to her. I pushed the stake into the ground, tied the check cord to it and took pictures. I walked in front of her kicking the cover then flushed the pigeon. She didn’t move. I heeled her away.

Again, I threw the frozen quail for her. When I worked her a couple of weeks ago, with the frozen quail, she would retrieve if I only threw the bird a few feet but today she’s having a good time and is going as far as I can throw it. What a change. I released her to run then took her back to the kennel.

When I had the release traps reloaded I brought Tur Bo out with the e-collars on and dragging the check cord. I whoaed him in front of the 4-wheeler, got on and started it, put it in gear then said, “okay”. Tur Bo is faster than Sally and without the 4-wheeler I would be left out. By the time I got to the cross over to the neighbor’s side Tur Bo had been down one side and was coming back the other. I crossed behind him to the neighbor’s side.

The sky in Kansas several days ago.

He checked the front then each clump to the back. He was crashing through a clump when he hit the scent cone and locked up. I wished I had of had a video camera on him. I went behind him and pushed the stake into the ground, tied the check cord to it and took pictures. I walked in front of him kicking the cover. I decided I would leave him on point for a little while so I picked up some limbs that had fallen and threw them on a brush pile and cleaned up around the area. I came back in front of him kicking the cover and flushed the pigeon. He jumped but didn’t take the slack out of the check cord. I heeled him away.

Tur Bo always likes to retrieve. I threw the frozen quail for him three times. Once I threw it into a clump of brush but it didn’t matter to him. He ran into the clump, picked up the bird and charged back to me. Tur Bo doesn’t do anything slow. I released him to hunt.

He checked the neighbor’s side back to the front then crossed to my side. He ran down to the back then up the other side then along the fence line to the north. He was quite a ways from the bird when he pointed. I pushed the stake into the ground, tied the check cord to it and took pictures. I walked in front of him then flushed the pigeon. It’s a good thing he didn’t move because I only had the stake a short distance in the ground. I heeled him away.

Mann on point.

For Tur Bo I threw the frozen quail as far as I could and he ran to it grabbed it and raced back. I’ve never taught him to sit but he usually sits until I say, “give”. I released him to run then took him back to the kennel.

Mann and Babe had been waiting, staked to the chain gang. Mann doesn’t wait as well as Babe does. He wants to bark.

I reloaded the release traps, put e-collars on Babe and hooked the check cord to her regular collar. The puppies have a shorter check cord than the older dogs and I don’t put the half hitch around their flanks. I held the check cord until we got close to the first pigeon. As soon as she smelled it she pointed. I stroked her sides then walked in front of her kicking the cover. About the first or second kick I flushed the pigeon. She chased a short distance then went back to hunting.

Because she had pointed the first bird I didn’t hold the check cord. I let her hunt. When she got close to the next bird she knew it was close but she ran everywhere trying to get enough scent to point. She wasn’t even close to where the bird was but she knew she was near. Finally, she got close enough and went on point. I took a step toward her and she came to me. I picked her up, set her back and stroked her sides. As Long as I stroked her she stayed on point. I went in front of her and flushed the pigeon. She chased then went back to hunting. I put her on the chain gang.

Babe pointing a pigeon.

When I had the release traps reloaded I turned Mann loose with the e-collars on and dragging the check cord. He’s hard to keep up with even on the 4-wheeler. He ran to the back on my side but when he came back he headed for the fence row on the north. When he got close to the pigeon he pointed. I started to take pictures but as I got the camera he took a step. I flushed the pigeon. He chased then went back to hunting.

I followed him as he crossed to the neighbor’s side. When we got close to the pigeon he whirled around but took a step and I flushed the pigeon. He chased but went back to hunting. I put him back on the chain gang.

Mann’s head when he is on point.

Austin Farley has been working his puppies with a bag of birds by telling his pups to whoa and holding a bird in his hand then letting it fly. I thought this might help Babe so I put 6 pigeons in the bird bag and let her run. When she came close to me I said, “whoa” and held a pigeon in front of her. She came to me and pointed with a lot of style. I let the pigeon fly and she chased.

I was going to let her have 3 of the pigeons and use 3 for Mann but she liked this game so much I let her have 4. I put her back on the chain gang. I got more pigeons and turned Mann loose. He didn’t like the game as much as Babe did. He came to me for 2 birds then he was bored with that and stayed away but hunted all of the places I had ever hidden a bird for him. I turned Babe loose and we went back to the kennel.

I keep doing whatever I can to get Babe to just point and stay there. She’s getting better but she’s not there, yet. She is really bird crazy now which is a big step. I will keep working them both on obedience and a few birds until she comes around.

Mann on point.

Babe on point.

Babe pointing a pigeon.

When I train, I have been putting the e-collars on these puppies. I haven’t turned the e-collars on. Just had them wear them to get used to the collars. Monday morning I turned the e-collar around their neck on.

Babe pointing a pigeon.

Mann pointing a pigeon.

Babe pointing a pigeon.

I put the e-collars on their neck and flanks, hook a check cord to their collar and heel them out of the kennel with the piggin’ string. I’m still teaching heel and whoa when I bring the puppies out. I heel them a short distance then whoa them. I walk out front sometimes pulling on the piggin’ string and sometimes walking a long way in front then to their rear. I pick up sticks and throw them. I whoa them near the highway in front of my house and the cars zipping by are an added distraction.

There is a whoa board near the retrieving bench that I whoa them on, also. Monday morning, I worked Babe first, and when we got near the air line crate that I have been using to train them to kennel, I whoaed her. I took the piggin’ string off and grabbed the check cord. I’ve been working these puppies for quite a while on kennel and they do it well. I pressed the button on the transmitter, on 1 low, and told her to kennel. She kenneled and I called her to me. We made a game out of kenneling.

After she kenneled 7 or 8 times I put her on the retrieving bench and petted her. I like to spend several minutes just petting and talking to the puppies. They like to smell your breath when you are happy. I put her on the chain gang.

I brought Mann out and heeled him around whoaing him every few yards. When we got close to the air line crate I whoaed him and removed the piggin’ string. After a couple of practice runs I held the button down, on 1 low, and told him to kennel. Both of these puppies are kenneling real well and adding the e-collar to the exercise made no difference. When I can hit the button and they kennel before I can say anything I will know they know how to turn the e-collar off.

After 7 or 8 kennels I put him on the retrieving bench, petted him then put him on the chain gang.

I hid two pigeons on the training grounds. It’s hard to find places that I’ve never hid birds for these puppies but I keep trying. I always ride the 4-wheeler from front to back on both sides of the training grounds so the puppies don’t learn to follow the 4-wheeler tracks to find birds.

To get the puppies used to having the e-collars and check cord on I take them off when they are on the chain gang and put them back on when I take them off the chain gang. I put the e-collars and check cord on Babe and heeled her to the edge of the training grounds.

Babe doesn’t do a solid point on her birds. I’ve tried several things. I decided that since she was dragging a check cord maybe I should try to check cord her in and stop her when she smelled the bird.

She wasn’t real crazy about me holding the check cord but soon started hunting. I had hidden a pigeon on the north side at the very back of my side. When we got near the back she went on point as soon as she hit the scent cone. She would have moved but I stopped her and stroked her sides. As long as I stroked her and told her what a good dog she is she stood on point. She is real rigid but her tail is down and wagging. There was almost no wind and I stepped off the distance and she was 25 steps from that pigeon.

Mann pointing a pigeon.

She ran without me holding the check cord, for a few minutes after I flushed the pigeon. I grabbed the check cord and check corded her into the next pigeon that was on the other side of the training grounds. She hit the scent cone, pointed then came to me. I carried her back and set her up where she originally had pointed. I stroked her sides telling her what a good girl she is.

After a few minutes stroking her I flushed the pigeon. She chased a short distance then went back to hunting. When we got back close to the chain gang I worked her on kenneling with the e-collar a few times. I put her on the chain gang.

After reloading the release traps and I put the e-collars on Mann and turned him loose dragging the check cord. He’s so fast I have trouble keeping up even on the 4-wheeler. When I tapped his head I jumped onto the 4-wheeler and followed him.

He ran down one side of my place then back on the other and crossed to the neighbor’s side. He went toward the back and I followed. He hunted each clump until we got to the back and started back to the front. He was close to the pigeon when he hit the scent cone and slid to a point. I took pictures then walked in front of him. I have been kicking several times in front of him before flushing the pigeon but on this one he was close so on the second kick I flushed the pigeon. He chased for a few feet then went back to hunting.

Babe pointing a pigeon.

He checked the neighbor’s side out then went back to my side. I followed him. He went down the side then hit the scent cone and pointed. The wind is tricky on my training grounds. The way the land lies it causes the wind to swirl and only during a strong wind does it blow true. He pointed on the opposite side than what Babe had. He was off this bird a few yards so I kicked the cover 6 or 7 times without him moving until I flushed the pigeon. He chased a short distance then went back to hunting.

When we got back close to the air line crate I worked him on kenneling with the e-collar. Before I started with the e-collar these puppies were kenneling about 95% of the time when I told them to. I worked him several times then put him on the chain gang.

After reloading the release traps and I brought Babe back out. I had moved the traps to a new area. I worked her toward the training grounds with me holding the check cord. What little wind we had had changed again. I walked her by the hidden pigeon without her getting enough scent to point. She knew there was a bird close but she couldn’t locate it. I turned her loose as she went into the brush. She worked her way through then as she came close to me she got the scent and pointed. I went to her and started stroking her. She got rigid with her tail curled down and wagging. I stroked her for a few seconds then went in front of her kicking the cover. That made her more rigid. After a few kicks I flushed the pigeon. She chased then went back to hunting.

Mann pointing a pigeon.

I let her hunt without me holding the check cord. When she hit the scent cone on the next pigeon she pointed then started to me. I carried her back and stroked her sides. As the scent came to her she got real rigid. I stroked her for a while then walked in front of her kicking the cover. After a few kicks she took a step and I flushed the pigeon. It came out low right over her head and she chased a long way. I put her back on the chain gang.

After reloading the release traps and I brought Mann out. There are two openings onto the neighbor’s side and I had hidden the first pigeon on the more westerly opening and Mann went through the eastern opening. He was going all out but must have got a little scent from the pigeon because he circled around to the other opening and went on point. He was several yards off this bird so I took pictures then went in front of him kicking the cover. He had a foot up and when he set his foot down I flushed the pigeon. Any movement on his part flushes the bird. He chased a short distance then went back to hunting.

On the neighbor’s side there are a lot of clumps of brush that the dogs have to check out. We went to the back then back toward the front. Mann hit enough scent to know there was a bird close but not enough to know where. He went into the brush then as he came out he went on point. I took pictures then went in front kicking the cover. After a few kicks I flushed the pigeon. He chased then went back to hunting.

Luke

When I turned Babe loose she joined Mann who had a pigeon treed. After going back near the kennel I got a pigeon from the pigeon coop. Both puppies came close and as I held the bird in my hand they pointed. Babes tail is good and there is no wagging. Is this because she knows the birds in the release traps are a game and when I hold one it’s serious business? I don’t know.

These puppies are only about 5 months old. Both of them are really smart and learn most things easily. It sometimes seems like I’m really worried about Babe but I know she will come around. Not all dogs start as early as I want them to.

Mann on point.

Babe on point.

Mann pointing a pigeon.

Most of the mornings are still too warm to work dogs very much but I get the puppies out for a little while. They are young enough to take a little more heat and smart enough to lie down when they get too hot. The older dogs, usually, will not quit.

Babe on whoa.

Mann on whoa.

Mann pointing a pigeon.

I have a friends female here to breed to Tur Bo so I have the puppies in a run, together. I usually get them on their house to put the e-collars on but with both in the same run it’s too hard. I brought Mann out of the run and put the e-collars around his neck and flanks, snapped the check cord to his collar and led him away with the piggin’ string.

The e-collars aren’t turned on and I don’t even have a transmitter with me. I just want them to get used to the e-collars and dragging a check cord. While they are hunting and pointing the pigeons I’ve never even picked up the check cord. The only time I handle the check cord is when I’m teaching them to kennel.

I walked Mann to the front of my yard, heeling and whoaing him every few feet. This morning was the first time I dropped the piggin’ string and walked several yards out front and to the rear. Both puppies handled it real well. They have figured out that when I say, “whoa” they are not to move their feet but only when I have the piggin’ string on them.

When we got close to the retrieving bench I took the piggin’ string off and grabbed the check cord. I had Mann kennel 3 times from about 5 yards away from the air line crate. I had him jump onto the retrieving bench and petted him for a few minutes then put him on the chain gang.

Since Babe was now in the kennel by her self, I had her jump onto her house and put the e-collars and check cord on her. I led her out with the piggin’ string. I heeled and whoaed her all around the yard. I, also, dropped the piggin’ string and walked out front of her and then made big circles around her. She didn’t move until I tapped her head and said, “heel”.

She kenneled from a short distance, maybe 5 yards, in the air line crate. After 3 times I had her jump onto the retrieving bench and I petted her for a few minutes. I put her on the chain gang.

I hid two pigeons, in release traps, on the training ground. I take the e-collars and check cord off the puppies when I put them on the chain gang. If they are too hyper when I come to put the e-collars on them at the chain gang I go to the other puppy. They learn pretty quick that they must stand still for me to hook them up. As I take them off the chain gang I drop the chain and pet them for a few seconds. If you drop the chain and immediately lead them away they learn to move when the chain hits the ground. I want them to move when I say move.

I heeled Mann to the front of the 4-wheeler whoaing him several times before turning him loose to hunt. I followed on the 4-wheeler. I had hidden both birds on the neighbor’s side but had ridden the 4-wheeler down both sides so the puppies wouldn’t learn to just follow the 4-wheeler tracks. Mann went down one side and back the other on my side then crossed to the neighbor’s side.

Tur Bo pointing a pigeon.

Mann hunted the middle then went on toward the back. A couple of days ago he was taking a step when I got off the 4-wheeler and I flushed his birds for him. This morning when he pointed I took pictures from the 4-wheeler and when I got off he didn’t move. He was pretty close to the hidden bird so when I kicked the cover I flushed the pigeon. He chased a few feet then went back to hunting.

We went back to the front. He pointed the pigeon from several yards away. Both pigeons he pointed when he hit the scent cone. The first one he was close to this one he was maybe 10 yards from. I took pictures then walked in front of him. I kicked the cover about 5 times then flushed the pigeon. He didn’t move until the bird flushed. He chased a short distance then went back to hunting.

I went to the chain gang, started petting Babe and called Mann. He came right to me to be snapped to the chain gang. I reloaded the release traps.

I put the e-collars and check cord on Babe and heeled her to the front of the 4-wheeler, whoaing her several times on the way. I tapped her head and said, “okay”. I tried to stay with her on the 4-wheeler. Both of these puppies hit the brush and move fast enough that it’s hard to stay with them. She went down one side and back the other on my side then crossed to the neighbor’s side.

Sally pointing a pigeon.

For some reason Babe has not decided to point and hold it. She wants to move to the other side, then move again, circling the bird and if I’m walking she comes to me. I have been flushing her birds as soon as I can tell she smells them. The first bird she was ahead of me and pointed then moved. I saw her when she moved and flushed the pigeon. She chased a short ways then went back to hunting.

The next bird I saw her when she smelled it and flushed the pigeon. The bird flew to a limb above the release trap. She pointed into the tree and jumped trying to get to the bird. I rode the 4-wheeler away calling her. She got in front of the 4-wheeler and we went back to the chain gang.

I moved the release traps, putting one on the front side of the neighbor’s and one on the front of my side. Most of the good places to put birds I have put birds in the past. It’s hard to find new places but I usually mix it up so the puppies have to hunt for the birds.

I heeled Mann out with all the stuff on. I tapped his head to release him and jumped onto the 4-wheeler. He ran both sides of my place without coming close to the bird I had hidden then crossed to the neighbor’s side. He hunted the middle then on to the back and started back to the front. I had hidden this bird in a tall strip of grass. He smelled it from a distance and pointed. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. After about 5 or 6 kicks I flushed the pigeon. He chased then went back to hunting.

We went over to my side. When I saw him on point I could just see his tail sticking up around a clump of brush. I took a picture and the camera focused on something else and he was blurry. I wish I had of taken another or noticed it wasn’t right to start with. I went in front of him kicking the cover and flushed the pigeon. He chased then went back to hunting.

I went back to the chain gang and called him. When I started petting Babe he came to me. I’ve been having some trouble with him wanting to continue hunting instead of coming to me. Petting Babe seems to make him want to come to me. I hooked him to the chain gang then reloaded the release traps.

Luke

I heeled Babe out with everything on. I released her to hunt. She went down one side then back the other but not even close to the pigeon hidden on my side. She crossed to the neighbor’s side. She went toward the front and smelled the pigeon. As she started to point I flushed the bird. It was young pigeon and came out really low, just skimming the ground. Babe was right behind it as it finally got some height. She went back to hunting.

We crossed over to my side and Babe was ahead of me enough that she smelled the next bird and pointed. I saw her just as she started to move and flushed the pigeon. She chased a short distance then went back to hunting. I released Mann and let them run for a few minutes then took them back to the kennel.

Babe has a good nose and looks really good hunting. I wish she would point like Mann does but she doesn’t. Most of the time when she points the birds that have flown into the trees she has as much style as Mann does. The few times I’ve got pictures of her points she hasn’t had much style. At 5 months old I’m not going to give up on her any time soon.

Both puppies know; up, whoa, here, heel and kennel. Probably, this next week I’m going to start working them with the e-collar turned on. A very light correction. I will start with the kennel command and go from there. We will see how it works.

Mann on point.

Babe pointing a pigeon.

Mann in the brush, pointing a pigeon.

Yesterday morning, 9/25/18, it was cooler than it has been and I worked my setter puppies on obedience and a few pigeons. A few times when I started to get the puppies out to work them Mann has gone to the back of his pen, staying away from me. The last few days I worked both setter puppies, teaching them to jump onto their house. When I went into Mann’s kennel he jumped onto his house. I have been putting an e-collar around their flanks and neck, just to get them used to the collars. The e-collars aren’t even on.

Mann pointing a pigeon.

Babe pointing a pigeon.

Mann on point.

I heeled Mann out of the kennel, with the e-collars around his neck and flanks, pulling a check cord, with the piggin’ string. I heeled him a few yards then whoaed him. I have been walking around them when they are on whoa, as well as, picking a stick up from the ground and tossing it and standing in front of them pulling on the piggin’ string. They both pretty well know not to move.

I have a whoa board that I, also, whoa them on. Then, close to the retrieving bench I have an airline crate where I’m teaching them to kennel. I whoa them about 5 yards from the kennel, take the piggin’ string off, pick up the check cord and tell them to kennel. They both have been going right in. Then I call them to me.

After we kennel a few times I have them jump onto the retrieving bench. I hook them to the pulley system on the bench and have them run back and forth. I pet them telling them what good dogs they are.

I put Mann on the chain gang then went to the kennel and run Babe through the same exercises before putting her on the chain gang.

I put two pigeons in release traps in the brush on the training grounds. I put the e-collars on Mann, hooked the check cord to his collar and heeled him away with the piggin’ string. I heeled him a few feet then whoaed him. I tapped his head, said, “heel” and stepped off. I had him heel and whoa 2 or 3 times before releasing him to hunt.

Once I tapped his head and said, “alright” he was gone. I jumped onto the 4-wheeler and tried to catch up. He crossed to the neighbor’s side and I followed. He checked all of the available cover and hit the scent cone near the back of the neighbor’s side. There wasn’t much wind and he just got a little scent. He took a step or two and went on point. I sat on the 4-wheeler taking pictures. I must have sat for too long because he slowly turned his head to look at me. I got off the 4-wheeler and he took a step. I flushed the pigeon. He chased a short distance then went back to hunting.

He has been holding long enough for me to kick in front of him but his second bird he pointed as I started toward him he took a step. I flushed the pigeon. This one flew to a limb near the release trap and he pointed into the tree. I called him but he didn’t pay any attention to me. I rode the 4-wheeler away and he finally followed. I put him back on the chain gang.

Tur Bo

I reloaded the release traps and brought Babe out with the e-collars on, pulling the check cord. I heeled her and whoaed her several times before releasing her to hunt. Babe has been acting strange on her birds. When she smells them she wants to circle them or sometimes she comes to me if I’m walking. Monday, I put her on two birds and as soon as she smelled them I flushed them. I’m going to continue this for a while. I think she will start pointing because she will think her movement is flushing the birds. I hope.

She was almost to the back on my side when she smelled the pigeon and started to whip around. I flushed the pigeon. She chased a short distance then went back to hunting.

She started hunting harder. She was going through the brush and running up one side and down the other on the strips. She got near the back on the neighbor’s side and turned toward the pigeon I had hidden. I flushed the bird. This bird flew into a tree just a short distance from the trap. She circled under the tree, rearing up on her hind legs. As I rode away she got in front of the 4-wheeler. I put her back on the chain gang.

The sky this morning in Kansas.

I reloaded the release traps and turned Mann loose with the e-collars and check cord on. He went down one side of my place then up the other missing the pigeon that was hidden in a grass strip in the center. He crossed to the neighbor’s side.

I had hidden this pigeon in a strip of tall grass. He came by, smelled the pigeon and went on point. I took a couple of pictures and started to get off the 4-wheeler. He took a step and I flushed the pigeon. He chased a short distance then went back to hunting.

He checked the neighbor’s side out and went back to mine. He came up the side of the grass strip and went on point. I took some pictures and got off the 4-wheeler. He didn’t move. I kicked the grass strip in front of him 6 times then flushed the pigeon. He didn’t move until I flushed the bird. He chased a short distance then went back to hunting. I put him back on the chain gang.

I reloaded the release traps and heeled Babe out. I may have flushed the pigeon on the neighbor’s side too soon. She was close but may have not caught the scent yet. She seemed surprised that the bird was in the air but if she gets that close to a wild bird it will fly too. She may as well get used to it. She chased a short distance then went back to hunting.

Another picture of the sky this morning.

Flushing the birds before she can point is causing her to hunt harder, I think. She ran up the side of the grass strip on my side, smelled the bird and started to stop. I flushed the pigeon. She chased a short distance then went back to hunting. I released Mann from the chain gang and let them play a while before I put them back in the kennel.

This morning, 9/26/18 I ran some dogs in Kansas. Prairie chicken season is open and you have to be hunting something to be on walk-in properties so I was prairie chicken hunting this morning. The last prairie chicken I killed was killed in this area, several years ago. So I could have been prairie chicken hunting.

I put the Garmin GPS and Garmin e-collars on Tur Bo, Sally and Luke. I went down the edge of a soy bean field next to some CRP. The CRP was probably too thick until we got about a half mile back in. Right at the back of this 80 acre place was a brush pile with tall weeds around it. The GPS showed Luke on point in this brush pile. I tried to get to him but because of the weeds, brush and tree limbs I could only get within about 25 feet of him. As I tried to get to him I fell and as I fell I heard the quail flush. I never saw a bird. It didn’t sound like very many birds but Luke was still on point. I tried to call him out of the brush pile and I heard him moving and whining. I think he could see birds running around in the brush pile but couldn’t get to them. Finally, he came out.

I tried to walk away but Sally went on point in the brush pile then Tur Bo did. I knew I couldn’t get to them so I walked away calling them. It took about 10 minutes but they finally came out.

We crossed the end then went back toward the truck down a hedge row. On the other side of the hedge row was another soy bean field. The deer had several trails across this 80 and into the soy beans next door. Although the dogs got really birdy going down the hedge row we never saw any other birds.

When we got back to the truck I loaded the dogs and we looked for another place. I was meeting a friend to get his female, that he wanted to breed to Tur Bo, so I didn’t have much time to run dogs left.

The next farm was larger but I thought I could make a short run and still meet my friend on time. I hadn’t taken the e-collars and GPS collars off so I turned all 3 dogs loose. I started to the north along the edge of a harvested corn field. I thought the dogs were ahead of me until the GPS vibrated in my hand. Luke was on point 157 yards west of me. While I was looking at the GPS it showed Sally go on point near Luke so she was honoring him.

There was an abandoned road, with tall weeds, between me and the dogs on point. As I came close Tur Bo came by at top speed. I yelled, “whoa” at him and he slammed on the brakes. By the time he got stopped he was across the abandoned road and could see Luke and Sally. He styled up.

When I yelled the birds may have flown. But when I said, “whoa” that meant every dog should whoa. When I saw Sally I knew the birds weren’t there but she didn’t move. I walked in front of them kicking the cover but nothing flushed. I released them and they trailed for a ways then went back to hunting. We hunted on around to the truck.

I was a little early to meet my friend but he was early, also. Another prairie chicken hunt without seeing a prairie chicken. Someday I may go where I know some are.

Luke on the right, Sally far left and Tur Bo closer left.

Luke

Sally