I loaded Dolly, Luke, Lucky and 6 pigeons into the truck, for the trip to the county park that is near my home. I staked the dogs out then hid 2 pigeons in the tall grass. While I was putting the pigeons out Dolly whined and barked wanting to be let loose to hunt. She knows better than that. At home on the chain gang, I always use the noisy one last. Luke and Lucky were calmly waiting so I put the e-collars on Luke first.
Luke
I heeled Luke down the road to the south, whoaing him several times. The wind was 15 to 20 miles an hour out of the north and Luke was going back and forth across the field, in front of me, at top speed. He slammed into a point about 40 yards from the birds. I took some pictures then walked in front, kicking the tall grass, flushed the bird and fired the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover, then flushed the second bird and fired the blank pistol. Again, he never moved. I went to him, stroked his tail up and petted him then walked back in front, kicking the cover. I walked back to him, tapped him on the head, and released him.
Lucky
I heeled Lucky down the road but at his age I don’t make him jump through too many hoops. He just wants to point birds. I turned him loose and he went to work. He went to the birds like he had planted them and went on point. I took pictures, walked in front, kicking the cover, then flushed the pigeon and fired the blank pistol. He never moved. I continued to kick the cover then flushed the bird and fired the blank pistol. Lucky took one step then stopped. I went to him, picked him up and put him back where he had originally pointed. I stroked his tail up and petted him then went back in front kicking the cover. I went back, petted him then tapped his head to release him.
Dolly
Dolly was still whining, wanting to go so I put the e-collars on her and heeled her down the road. I whoaed her then tapped her on the head to release her to hunt. She went back and forth across the field and homed in on the birds. She was about 40 yards from the birds when she went on point. As usual, I took pictures, then walked in front kicking the cover. I walked around kicking the cover longer than usual because of her whining on the stake out. Finally I flushed the bird and shot the blank pistol. She never moved. I continued to kick the cover, flushed the bird and fired the blank pistol. She never moved. The last time I worked her she wanted to chase but this time she was steady to wing and shot. With enough repetitions she will remain steady to wing and shot. I tapped her on the head to release her.
Luke and Dolly were steady today. Lucky only took one step. They are getting close to being steady to wing and shot. It will take lots of repetitions of this to carry over to the hunting season but we have the time.