I’ve been working the pups on pigeons in various ways since they were about 5 weeks old. I started with young birds that can’t fly or clip wing birds. The puppies chase as the birds run around.
Jack
When they get too aggressive for young birds I put grown birds to sleep and hide them in grass. (Tuck the pigeons head under a wing and straighten their legs out. Lay the bird on the wing that has the head tucked under. Cover with grass) The pups will smell these birds and jump in, awakening the birds and the bird will fly away.
Annie
When the pups get too aggressive we move to birds in release traps. As the pups move through the training grounds, they will react to the hidden birds. Some will whirl around, some will just move toward the bird. If they don’t point, I release the bird. If they point, I don’t move or say anything. At their first movement I flush the bird. At this age they can’t chase very far so the only fun they get is pointing, so they point for longer and longer.
Tur Bo
Now at 41/2 months old they are all pointing. Annie and Jack are still for sale. Here are some pictures of all three taken the last two mornings.
Jack
Annie
Tur Bo