My dog training this morning consisted of working Sally on the retrieving bench then on the ground. I then worked her and Tur Bo on some pigeons in the release traps. I also incorporated some retrieving in my work with the pigeons.
Sally pointing a pigeon.
Tur Bo pointing a pigeon.
The stake is right behind Tur Bo.
I walked Sally in a circle where I had thrown the bumpers. When I had her retrieve them she wanted to take them to the retrieving bench. Actually, to the milk carton where I store them. I’m afraid that she isn’t learning to bring them to me but to return them to the milk carton. This time I didn’t have her take them back to the milk carton. I turned her loose to run, picked up the bumpers and returned them to the milk carton, myself.
After I worked Sally on the retrieving bench I put her back in the kennel. Then I hid 3 pigeons on the training grounds in release traps. I heeled Sally out, with the e-collar around her neck, pulling a check cord with a half hitch around her flanks, with the piggin’ string. I whoaed her and released her to hunt.
I, usually, ride the 4-wheeler around the training grounds as well as I ride it when I put the birds out. I don’t want the dogs to just follow the 4-wheeler tracks to find the birds. If I’m close to the dogs as they run I will see them check each place I have hidden a bird for them in the past. When friends work their dogs on my pigeons I can’t remember where I hid the pigeons for them but the dogs remember. I see their dogs check the places they have found birds.
The brush and trees are filling out with their leaves. I came around a clump of brush and Sally was on point. I brought a stake with me this morning to tie the check cord to. I pushed the stake into the ground right behind her and tied the check cord to it. I walked in front of her kicking the cover. After a few seconds I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. The pigeon made a lot of noise flying through the bushes but she didn’t move. I petted her, untied the check cord and heeled her away. I whoaed her and took the Dokken chukar from my pocket and had her fetch from my hand, hold and give several times. She’s not far enough along on the force fetch for me to throw the chukar and have her retrieve it, yet. I released her to hunt.
We went on toward the back and as I came around another clump of brush I saw her on point. I pushed the stake into the ground right behind her and tied the check cord to it. I petted her then walked in front kicking the bushes. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. Again, the pigeon made a lot of noise as it flew through the bushes. This will really wind Tur Bo up but Sally only turned to watch the pigeon fly away. I untied the check cord and heeled her away. I whoaed her and had her fetch from my hand, hold and give a few times. I heeled her another few steps then released her to hunt.
The last bird was in an area that I haven’t put birds in before. It’s a short fence row along the very first of the training grounds. Maybe before the training grounds start, normally. As she got close, caught a little scent but was on the wrong side then as she slowed she caught the scent and locked up. I pushed the stake into the ground and tied the check cord to it. I went in front kicking the brush. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. The pigeon came out right over the top of Sally and she turned to watch it fly away. I untied the check cord and heeled her away. Again, I had her fetch, hold and give with the chukar dummy. I released her to run before taking her back to the kennel.
I reloaded the release traps and brought Tur Bo out pulling a check cord. Along with the half hitch from the check cord I had put an e-collar around his flanks. As I heeled him toward the training grounds I held the button on the transmitter to the flank collar down on 1 medium but he didn’t seem to feel the stimulation. I went to 1 high and he whoaed. When we got close to the training grounds I released him to hunt.
Dolly on point.
I found him on point at the very back. I knew that I needed to push the stake all the way into the ground because with the noise the birds were making flying through the brush he was going to move. I tied the check cord to the stake, petted him and walked in front kicking the brush. After a few seconds I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. The pigeon fluttered through the brush and came out right in front of Tur Bo. The check cord tightened but the stake held. I set him back. I untied the check cord and heeled him away. I threw the chukar dummy about 10 yards and told him to fetch. He likes the chukar and retrieved it a couple of times. I heeled him another few yards then released him to hunt.
Tur Bo was going ninety miles an hour and was on point on the next bird when I next saw him. I pushed the stake into the ground as far as it would go, right behind him and tied the check cord to it. I walked in front kicking the brush, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. The pigeon hit the brush as it flew out and Tur Bo wanted to catch it but the stake held. I set him back, petted him, untied the check cord and heeled him away. I whoaed him and threw the chukar dummy. He retrieved it a couple of times. I heeled him a few yards then released him to hunt.
Tur Bo pointing Sally honoring.
Tur Bo got a little scent from the next bird but couldn’t believe I had hidden one there. I never had before besides we were headed back to the kennel. He slowed then caught a little more scent and whirled into a point. I pushed the stake into the ground and tied the check cord to it. I walked in front of him kicking the bushes, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. This pigeon made lots of noise and he hit the end of the check cord but the stake held. I set him back. I untied the check cord and heeled him away. I threw the chukar a couple of times and he retrieved it each time.
I heeled him a few feet and released him to run. I started to walk away when the check cord wrapped around my left foot when my right was in the air. Tur Bo is 50+ pounds and really strong. The check cord started me falling and I ran about 10 yards trying to get my feet back under me but it didn’t work. Finally, I hit the ground on my belly. I wasn’t hurt and this isn’t my first time but I always think, “dang, he’s strong”. It may be I’m weak. We went back to the kennel.
Using the stake works better because Tur Bo can’t move as much. When I tie the check cord to a tree it gives him too much room to move. When I untied the check cord from the stake with Sally the knot was still loose but with Tur Bo it is really tight.
I went in my back yard and got 6 points and several retrieves in about an hour and a half. I have been blessed. Life is good.
Sally is always serious on birds.
Tur Bo on point.
Sally