Tur Bo pointing a pigeon.
Luke pointing a pigeon.
Lucky pointing a pigeon.
We may have had our last cool morning, to train dogs, for a long time. It was about 60 degrees at 8:00 am. I put 5 pigeons in the bird carrier on my 4 wheeler then got a release trap out of the shed and hid one of the pigeons in the tall grass on my side of the training grounds. I had 4 frozen quail on the 4 wheeler.
I heeled Tur Bo to the retrieving bench and petted him every few feet after he jumped onto it. I started taking the frozen quail out of the plastic bags when I smelled a foul (fowl) odor. The last time I had used them I forgot them on the 4 wheeler for about 3 hours. I thought they would be alright but I was wrong. I put them back in the bags and sealed them. After the training session was over I threw them in the creek on the back of my place. The raccoons will be happy.
I thought with no frozen quail I would just use bumpers. I put 4 bumpers on the other end of the retrieving bench after telling Tur Bo to whoa. I petted him then said fetch and pointed toward the bumpers. He ran down the bench then turned and came back without a bumper. I petted him and sent him again. He went down the bench but didn’t pick up a bumper. I haven’t done anything with him to force him to retrieve. I decided I would wait for a couple more weeks before getting into the force breaking with him. Once I start I want to do it almost every day until until he is broke.
I set him on the ground and threw a tennis ball. He ran out and scooped it up and dropped it before he got to me. I threw the ball again and he ran out but didn’t pick the ball up. He’s been retrieving the frozen quail just fine but not a ball or bumpers. I whoaed him then released him to hunt.
We had a gentle breeze from the north east and he was about 20 yards when he ran through the scent cone. He slid into a point. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He turned to watch the pigeon fly away. I walked to him and stroked his sides then told him to whoa. I was about 60 yards from my 4-wheeler. I walked to it, started it then put it in gear and he stayed. I watched him for a few seconds then said okay. At my okay he was gone. I let him run for a while before going back to the kennel.
I heeled Luke to the bench next. He jumped onto it and we went back and forth with me petting him every few feet. I whoaed him then put 4 bumpers on the other end. He retrieved them one at time. He likes to drop whatever he retrieves as soon as he gets close to me. We have been working on this. This morning he held the bumpers until I said give. I set him on the ground.
I whoaed him and threw a tennis ball. I said fetch and he raced out and grabbed the ball. He didn’t slow as he got close but threw the ball to me. I picked up the ball and whoaed him again. I tossed the ball then said fetch. He grabbed the ball and I said hold before he got to me. He held the ball until I said give then dropped it in my hand. I threw the ball 4 or 5 times and as long as I said hold he would wait for me to say give. I released him to hunt.
He was headed to the back of the training grounds in a hurry when he hit the scent cone. He spun around and came to a point. I walked in front of him kicking the tall weeds after taking some pictures. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He never moved. The 4-wheeler was about 50 yards away and after telling him to whoa I walked to it. I started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and said okay. I let him run for a while before going back to the kennel.
I heeled Lucky down to the retrieving bench next. He jumped onto it and we walked up and down with me petting him every few feet. I put the 4 bumpers on the other end of the bench then sent him to retrieve. He’s been force broke to retrieve so he did everything just as he should have. I set him on the ground.
I threw the tennis ball and he ran out, scooped it up and returned to me. He dropped it in front of me. The next time I threw it I said hold before he got to me. He held the tennis ball until I said give. He retrieved the ball several more times holding until I said give.
I whoaed him then released him to hunt. He pointed the pigeon from about 20 yards away. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the grass. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He never moved. I stroked his sides then said whoa and walked the 50 yards to the 4-wheeler. He didn’t move until I started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and said okay. I let him run for a while before going back to the kennel.
I heeled Dolly down to the retrieving bench and petted her as she walked up and down the bench. I put the 4 bumpers on the other end of the bench then sent her to retrieve. She, also, has been force broke and retrieved each one. She even likes to hold whatever she retrieves until I say give. After she retrieved all 4 of the bumpers I put her on the ground.
I threw the tennis ball then sent her to retrieve with an okay. She pounced on the ball and came back. She sat in front of me with her head held real high and the ball in her mouth. I petted her for a few seconds then said give. She dropped it in my hand. I threw the tennis ball 5 or 6 times and she retrieved it each time. I released her to hunt.
She was going around a clump of trees near where I had hid the pigeon, in the release trap, when she hit the scent cone and went on point. I took pictures then walked in front of her kicking the tall weeds. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I petted her and said whoa then walked the 50 yards to the 4-wheeler. I started it, put it in gear and said okay. I let her run for a while before going back to the kennel.
Blaze was the last one to be heeled to the bench. She jumped onto the bench and we walked back and forth with me petting her ever few feet. I put the 4 bumpers on the other end of the bench. I sent her to retrieve and she brought each one to me holding it until I said give. I set her on the ground and said whoa.
I threw the tennis ball then said fetch. She ran out and grabbed the ball. She brought it to me and held it until I said give. She dropped it in my hand. I threw the ball 5 or 6 times and she retrieved it each time. I released her to hunt.
She hit the scent cone on the hidden pigeon and went on point. I took pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She never moved. I walked to her and threw the tennis ball saying fetch. She ignored me. I bumped her with the e-collar and she retrieved the tennis ball. I threw it 2 more times and she retrieved it with no trouble. I told her whoa and started to the 4-wheeler that was about 50 yards away. About half way to the 4-wheeler I looked to see if she was still on whoa and she was. I got on the 4-wheeler and she was right beside me. I whoaed her, picked her up and carried her back. I whoaed her again then went back to the 4-wheeler. I started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear then waited for about 15 seconds before saying okay. She stayed until I released her. I let her run for a while before returning to the kennel.
This is more about retrieving but most of the pictures I’m using are of the dogs pointing. That tells me which is more important to me. I really enjoy seeing a dog on point but retrieving is extremely important. So I continue to teach the dogs.
Tur Bo after the pigeon has flown away.
Dolly pointing a pigeon.
Blaze pointing a pigeon.