I went out a little after 7:00 am this morning and it was already above 70 degrees, too warm for dog training. This time of the year we just take what we can get. I hid 4 pigeons, two on my side and two on the neighbor’s side, in the tall grass and weeds. On the neighbor’s side the birds were about 5 yards apart and on my side they were about 10 yards apart.
Sally pointing a pigeon.
Betsy pointing a pigeon.
Betsy, after the pigeon has flown.
I put the e-collars on Sally’s neck and flanks and heeled her out with the piggin’ string. I took her to the neighbor’s side of the training grounds. After heeling her for about 25 yards I said, “whoa” and walked ahead of her. She stopped. I came back and stroked her sides then heeled her away. After another 25 yards I whoaed her again. I reached into the bird bag for a pigeon and saw Sally take a couple of steps. I left the pigeon in the bag and set her back. I heeled her for another 25 yards and whoaed her again. This time she stopped and stayed. I took the pigeon from the bird bag by the feet. She became a lot more intense when she saw the pigeon. I turned the pigeon on it’s back and placed it on the ground. When it flew away I shot the blank pistol. She turned her head to watch it fly away but didn’t move her feet. I stroked her sides and heeled her away.
I heeled her a few more yards then released her to hunt. I got almost to the back on the neighbor’s side when I remembered that I didn’t have the transmitter for the release traps with me. Sally went on point. I took some pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I had to hand release the pigeon, that was farthest from her, in the trap. I shot the blank pistol as it flew away. Sally didn’t move. I stroked her sides then put the piggin’ string around her neck and heeled her away.
Since I got old and forgetful I get more exercise. I heeled Sally all the way back to the shed, got the release transmitter, heeled her back to the training grounds. I whoaed her and released her to hunt. I had a pigeon hidden on each end of a long strip of grass that I haven’t mowed all year. When she started down the strip she hit the scent cone and whirled into a point. I took pictures then walked in front of her kicking the grass. I flushed the pigeon that was on the other end of the strip, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She didn’t move. I stroked her sides then heeled her away.
I turned her loose to run on the way back to the kennel. She came close and I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She stopped before I could say, “whoa.” I stroked her sides, tapped her head and let her run. When we got to the kennel I put her in her pen.
I reloaded the release traps and got Betsy out. I heeled Betsy about 25 yards and whoaed her. I walked in front of her, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She didn’t move. I heeled her another 25 yards and whoaed her again. This time I walked in front, took a pigeon from the bird bag by it’s feet letting it flap. I turned the pigeon on it’s back and placed it on the ground. When it flew away I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She didn’t move. I heeled her away after stroking her sides. I released her to hunt.
When I got to the back on the neighbor’s side I thought I saw Betsy point then move so I flushed the pigeon she was near. She took a couple of steps to follow the pigeon and I whoaed her. She stopped. I set her up where I thought she should have pointed. She was still 10 yards from the other pigeon. I flushed it, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She didn’t move. As I started to her she started moving. I whoaed her again and she stopped. I set her back where she had originally pointed. I kicked the cover but she didn’t move again. I released her.
When we crossed back to my side of the training grounds she went on point. I stood behind her for several minutes to see if she was going to move but she didn’t. I walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon on the other end of the strip of grass, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She didn’t move. I stroked her sides then walked back in front of her.
I kicked the grass. I took more pictures then flushed the pigeon that was right in front of her, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” The pigeon was evidently a young bird. It flew to a nearby tree and tried to light but fell to the ground. Betsy didn’t move until the pigeon fell to the ground. When she started to it I yelled, “whoa” and she stopped. I set her back, stroked her sides then heeled her away. After 35 yards I released her. She ran back to the kennel.
Dog training is always fun for me and most times fun for the dogs but it’s time to get them into some wild birds. Next month prairie chicken and turkey season starts in Kansas. If the weather will cool down about the first of September I may try chicken hunting in Nebraska. Anything to do some dog training on wild birds.
Sally pointing a pigeon.
Betsy
Sally this morning.