The temperature was in the low 50’s when I got up this morning. Not normal for late June but really welcome for dog training. I put 3 pigeons, in release traps, in the tall grass on the training grounds. I spaced them about 10 yards apart in a triangle. No matter which bird the dogs point I can release the other two.
Sally pointing a pigeon.
Betsy pointing a pigeon.
Sally as the pigeon flies away.
I had 2 pigeons in the bird bag when I put the e-collars around Sally’s neck and flanks, put a half hitch around her flanks with the check cord and snapped it to her collar and heeled her out with the piggin’ string. After 20 yards I whoaed her and started to walk around her. As I came by her side she decided to walk with me. I continued to walk and held the button down on the flank e-collar. She looked surprised but she stopped. I set her back then tapped her head and heeled her on.
After another 20 yards I whoaed her again. I walked around her then out front. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I stroked her sides then heeled her on.
I whoaed her again and walked out front. I took a pigeon from the bird bag holding it by it’s feet. After letting it flap for about 15 seconds I released it, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I stroked her sides and heeled her away.
After another 30 yards I whoaed her again. I walked in front of her, took a pigeon from the bird bag holding it by it’s feet. I let it flap for about 15 seconds, released it, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I stroked her sides and heeled her away.
I heeled her past the retrieving bench, whoaed her then released her to hunt. I run the 4-wheeler to the very back on both sides of the training grounds to make sure the dogs don’t just follow the 4-wheeler to where I’ve hid the pigeons. The pigeons were hidden on the first part of the neighbor’s side. We hunted to the back of my side then crossed over near the middle of the neighbor’s side and went to the back of his side. As she came within about 30 yards of me I shot the blank pistol and she stopped before I could say, “whoa”. We hunted back to the front on his side where she went on point. She was 10 or 12 yards from the pigeon but I could tell which bird she was pointing.
I pushed the stake in the ground and tied the check cord to it. I walked in front of her kicking the cover. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover and flushed a pigeon that was directly in front of her but about 25 yards away. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I stroked her sides then went back in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed another pigeon that was to her right front about 15 yards away. She had her right foot up and when the bird was flushed she put her right foot down and lifted her left front foot. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. she didn’t move.
I pulled the stake, untied the check cord and stroked her sides. I put the piggin’ string on her and heeled her away. I never flushed the pigeon she was pointing. After getting her well away from where she was pointing I released her to hunt. When she came close I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. As soon as the pistol went off she stopped.
We walked for 30 or 40 yards before she would get away from my side. Finally, she took off for the pigeon coop. Maybe too many whoas. I took her back to the kennel.
Betsy looked good this morning.
I reloaded the release traps, put 2 pigeons in the bird bag, put all of the stuff on Betsy and heeled her out with the piggin’ string. After about 20 yards I told her to whoa. I walked around her then out front. I stroked her sides then heeled her away.
After another 20 yards I whoaed her and walked out front. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I heeled her away.
Another 20 yards and I whoaed her again. As I walked out front of her I took a pigeon from the bird bag and held it by the feet letting it flap. After about 15 seconds I released the bird, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She turned sideways to watch the pigeon fly away. I walked to her and set her back. I walked back in front of her, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I went back to her, stroked her sides then heeled her away.
After another 20 yards I whoaed her. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I heeled her on for another 20 yards then whoaed her again. I took a pigeon from the bird bag as I walked in front of her. I held the pigeon by the feet letting it flap. I released the bird, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I went to her and stroked her sides then heeled her to the training grounds.
Sally pointing a pigeon.
I released her to hunt. We went to the back of my side then crossed to the neighbor’s side. We went to the back then started back to the front. When she went on point there was no doubt which of the three birds she was pointing. I pushed the stake into the ground and tied her check cord to it. I walked in front of her, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move.
One of the release traps was to her left front. As I walked in front of her, kicking the cover, I flushed that bird. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I stroked her sides then walked back in front of her kicking the cover.
She was between the pigeon she was pointing and a bird on her left. I continued to kick the cover then flushed the bird on her left, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. The pigeon was a young one. He flew just above her head and lit in a tree about 3 yards in front of her. Her head moved but her feet stayed. I stroked her sides, pulled the stake, untied the check cord and heeled her away. I released her to run.
I was going to work Tur Bo but it started raining. I used 6 blanks on each dog. I got by with less shooting because they are getting better. Other than moving the first time I whoaed her Sally was about perfect. Betsy did better than usual.
Dog training is just taking small steps forward especially if you train without putting a lot of pressure on the dog. Dog training without a lot of pressure is fun for the dogs and me as well.
Betsy watching a pigeon in a tree.
Sally, really concentrating.
Betsy watching a pigeon in my hand.