Luke pointing a pigeon.
Tur Bo after the pigeon has flown.
Blaze pointing a pigeon.
When I’m training dogs I try to stay ahead of them but usually they out figure me. I trained yesterday and today at the county park near my home. It dawned on me that Tur Bo moved on any bird he could see on the ground. He held his point until I got there but he wanted to flush the bird. Yesterday, Blaze also moved on a bird that was slow getting off the ground. Luke hasn’t been moving on his birds but he may be lying in the kennel trying to out figure me some where. Time will tell.
When we got to the park I put the e-collars on Luke’s neck and flanks. I had a bag of pigeons and as we went through the high weeds I tried to put a pigeon to sleep. I must have tried 5 or 6 times and the pigeon wouldn’t go to sleep. They must not like this very much. I gave up and when Luke ran close to me I threw the pigeon in front of him. The pigeon went right in front of him just above the grass. He stopped. I kicked the tall grass then stroked his sides telling him what a good boy he is.
We have a weather front coming in and the wind was blowing pretty hard but erratic. Some time from the north and sometime from the south. I put a pigeon to sleep and hid it in the grass. Even in the green fescue he was about 10 yards from the bird when he pointed. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the tall grass. I flushed the pigeon and he watched it fly away without moving. I took him back to the truck.
I put the e-collars on Tur Bo and heeled him to the field. As we started through the field I put a pigeon to sleep and called him back. When the dogs get close I tell them to, “look close”. I hope this carries over to the field and when I know where some singles have landed, I can get them to hunt close to me. Tur Bo pointed the pigeon. He was real close to the pigeon but couldn’t see it. I knew that he would see it the second it awoke. I held his collar as I kicked the grass. He saw the pigeon and tried to move. I picked him up and set him farther back. I woke the bird and it flew away. He watched without moving. I kicked all around then released him.
As we went on through the field I put another bird to sleep and hid it in the grass. Tur Bo caught the wind just right and he was well off this pigeon when he pointed. I walked in front of him kicking the cover. I took pictures then flushed the bird. He didn’t move. I kicked the tall grass some more then released him after stroking his sides.
The next pigeon I put to sleep was a white one. Dogs can see white pigeons really well. He was 10 or 12 yards from this bird when he pointed but he could still see it. I started kicking the cover between him and the bird. After about 15 seconds he decided to help me but I was between him and the bird. I caught his collar, as he made a move for the pigeon, and picked him up. I shook him 4 or 5 times and then said, “whoa” one time. I put him back where he had originally pointed. I kicked in front of him hen woke the pigeon. It stood for a couple of seconds before flying but he just stood and watched it fly away. I stroked his sides then walked around kicking the cover then went back to him and stroked his sides again. I tapped his head to release him. I took him back to the truck.
I put the e-collars on Blaze and walked down the field with her. I had another pigeon that didn’t want to go to sleep so when she got close I threw the bird right over her head. She stopped and watched it fly away. I kicked the cover then went to her, stroked her sides then released her.
Yesterday, she had tried to catch a bird that was slow flying off. The pigeon was real close and it took a few steps before flying. When she moved I grabbed her and as I carried her back I held the button on her flank collar down. As soon as her feet touched the ground I let off the button. Today, when I hid a bird in the grass she was 8 yards or more from it but could still see the pigeon. I was holding the transmitter as I walked in front of her. When I woke the pigeon it took 2 or 3 steps then fluttered toward a tree. It stayed low coming within about 4 or 5 feet of Blaze. I just knew she was going to grab it but she never moved. I went to her immediately, stroked her sides and told her what a good girl she is. I kicked the cover in front of her then petted her again. I released her and took her to the truck.
I think with enough repetitions all 3 of these dogs will figure out that they can’t move until I release them. I ran Tur Bo in 2 AKC hunt tests in the Junior Hunter class. He qualified in both of them and he needs 2 more to get his Junior Hunter title. If he goes on to the next class he has to be steady to wing, shot and fall. He, also, has to retrieve. I have been working all 3 of them on retrieving, also. I enjoyed running the hunt tests and this fall I will try to get the other two legs of the Junior Hunter. I may try to get his Senior Hunter and maybe his Master Hunter titles. That takes a lot of work but I enjoy working with my dogs.
Luke
Tur Bo
Blaze