Blaze pointing a pigeon.
Tur Bo pointing a pigeon.
Luke pointing a pigeon.
Another morning with the dogs. It’s a little cooler this morning but it’s supposed to warm fast. I put the 4 frozen quail on the retrieving bench and hid a pigeon, in a release trap, in the tall grass on the training grounds.
I put an e-collar on Blaze and heeled her to the retrieving bench. She jumped onto the bench and we walked up and down with me petting her every few feet. I put the 4 frozen quail on the other end of the bench and sent her to retrieve. She’s not real fast but she retrieved each one and held them until I said give. I set her on the ground and said whoa.
I threw the frozen quail and said fetch. She retrieved it and held the bird until I said give. She did real well on the first 3 then on the fourth she couldn’t find it. I hadn’t thrown it very far and she watched it to the ground. I held the button on the e-collar down, on level 3, and walked out with her to the bird. As soon as she picked the quail up I let off the button on the e-collar. We walked back, with her carrying the quail, to where I had thrown it from. At my give she dropped it in my hand. I threw the quail five more times and she retrieved it each time, correctly. I have decided that the only way we are going on to the next thing is for them to do it right 5 times in a row. I released her to hunt.
She pointed the pigeon hidden in the tall grass. I took pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. The pigeon flew up into a tree but she didn’t move. I went to her and stroked her sides telling her what a good dog she is. I led her away, whoaed her then tapped her on the head for the release. I let her run before returning to the kennel.
I brought Tur Bo out with the e-collar around his neck. As I heeled him to the retrieving bench the pigeon that I had flushed in front of Blaze flew over us. I didn’t see the pigeon until Tur Bo stopped. It was like a stop to flush. I stroked his sides then heeled him on to the bench. He jumped onto the retrieving bench and I went through the petting routine. I put the frozen quail on the other end of the bench. I sent him to retrieve and he brought each one back holding it until I said give then dropped it in my hand. I whoaed him then placed the quail on the other end of the bench. Again he retrieved them correctly so I had him retrieve them again for a total of 12 retrieves on the bench. I am really animated when I send him and when he gets back. I want him to know that when he retrieves correctly it’s a big deal. I set him on the ground and said whoa.
I threw a frozen quail and said fetch. He raced out, picked it up and returned to me. Just before he got to me I said hold. He sat in front of me holding the bird until I said give. He dropped it in my hand. He wants to go hunting real bad so I only threw the quail two times. He brought it back both times and held it until I said give. I released him to hunt.
Tur Bo pointed the pigeon I had hidden in the tall grass. I took pictures then went in front kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and he took two steps. I carried him back. I let him stand for a few seconds then shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I let him stand while I kicked the cover. I went to him and stroked his sides then led him away. I released him and let him run for a while before returning to the kennel.
I heeled Luke to the bench next. He jumped onto it and I went through the petting routine. I placed the 4 frozen quail on the other end of the bench and sent him to retrieve. He races down the bench, scoops up a bird then races back. If I don’t tell him to hold just before he gets to me he will release the bird. It’s like he is throwing it to me or at me. He’s getting better or I’m getting better about saying hold. He may have me trained before long. He retrieved all 4 correctly. I set him on the ground and said whoa.
I threw a frozen quail and said fetch. He raced out, scooped it up and raced back. I said hold just before he got back. He held the quail while I petted him. Then I said give and he dropped it in my hand. The next bird he did fine. The third one I threw he raced out, turned it over without picking it up and returned to me. I held the button on the e-collar down, on level 3, walked out where the quail was lying. He tried to act surprised that the quail was still lying there but he picked it up. I let off the button as soon as he picked the bird up. We walked back to where I had thrown it from. He held it until I said give and dropped it in my hand. I started my count over and only released him after he had retrieved 5 times in a row, correctly.
He pointed the pigeon hidden in the tall grass. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the tall grass. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I stroked his sides then led him away. I let him run for a while before going back to the kennel.
I heeled Dolly down to the retrieving bench where she jumped on. I petted her then put the 4 frozen quail on the other end of the bench. Dolly has been through this so many times that she knows what I want before I ask, just about. She retrieved all 4 and was happy to hold them until I said give. I set her on the ground and said whoa.
I threw a frozen quail and said fetch. She ran out, scooped it up, raced back and sat in front of me holding the quail. I petted her for a few seconds then said give holding my hand under her chin. She dropped it in my hand. I threw the quail 5 times and she retrieved it correctly every time. I released her to hunt.
She pointed the pigeon in the tall grass. I took pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I stroked her sides then released her. I let her run for a while before returning to the kennel.
Lucky was waiting patiently. I heeled him to the retrieving bench and he jumped on it. I went through the petting ritual then placed the 4 frozen pigeons on the other end of the bench. Lucky isn’t very fast but he retrieved all 4, correctly. I set him on the ground and said whoa.
I threw a frozen quail and said fetch. He ran out, picked the quail up and came back. He held the bird until I said give then dropped it in my hand. I threw the quail 5 times and he retrieved it each time. He’s been force broke and he has to retrieve but he doesn’t have to do it rapidly. I’m okay with him doing it at his speed as long as he will retrieve. I released him to hunt.
He pointed the pigeon. I took pictures then walked in front kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I stroked his sides then led him away. I let him run for a while before returning to the kennel.
All of this is old stuff to Dolly and Lucky. I’m just running them through this to get them out of the kennel. It’s good for them and it’s good for me. Blaze and Luke need a lot of repetitions on retrieving so they can get it right. I may have quit too soon last year on them. We will work it out. Tur Bo hasn’t been force broke. After the 4th of July week I’m going to start him. He’s retrieving the frozen quail on the bench fine but he doesn’t want to do it on the ground. It shouldn’t take long to get him going on the ground, too. I hope.
I want to thank the people who have clicked on ads that are on these posts. I make a few cents on each click. If you see an ad that interests you please click on it. Again, thanks.
Dolly pointing a pigeon.
Lucky pointing a pigeon.
Lucky pointing a pigeon.