The string on TurBo’s foot.
Tur Bo pointing a pigeon. Check out the eyes.
Tur Bo after the pigeons have flown away.
It was in the mid 70’s when I went out to train dogs this morning. I decided to only train Tur Bo. He has only been worked on the force fetch 3 times before this morning. When I start the force fetch I like to work them nearly every day. It has been so hot or its been raining where I can’t get out every day.
I heeled Tur Bo to the retrieving bench with e-collars on his neck and flanks. He jumped onto it and we went up and down with me petting him every few feet. I hooked his collar to the cable that runs from end to end on the bench. I placed the slip knot above the joint in his leg then a clove hitch above the foot then circled the two middle toes. I held a bumper in front of him and said fetch. He tried to look away but as I tightened the string he snatched the bumper. After he held it for a few seconds I said give and he dropped it in my hand. I said fetch and he took the bumper but dropped it. I pulled on the string and picked up the bumper. When I got close to him he grabbed it. That was the only time today that he dropped the bumper. It was worth a try to see if he could get away with it. I used 5 different bumpers several times each and he grabbed each one. Some of the time he would take it when I said fetch and sometime I had to tighten the string then he would take it. I held the bumper above his head sometimes and down by his feet at other times. We are through the hard part of the force breaking. He knows that taking the bumper keeps him from getting his toe pinched. I still need the string on him for a while but we are through the hard part. I set him on the ground and said whoa.
I had hidden 4 pigeons, in release traps, in a large square with each trap about 20 yards apart. I also had 3 pigeon in a bird bag. I released him to hunt. I got on the 4 wheeler to follow him down the training grounds. He ran by the first bird and whirled into a point. He was about 10 yards from the pigeon. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the tall grass. I took a pigeon from the bird bag, dropped it behind me and shot the blank pistol. He only turned his head to watch it fly way then looked toward where the bird he had pointed was. I continued to kick the tall grass then flushed a pigeon that was several yards behind him and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover then dropped another bird from the bird bag and shot the blank pistol. He never moved.
I continued to kick the tall grass then flushed another pigeon from a release trap that was behind him and shot the blank pistol. He hardly noticed, he was tuned in to the bird he was pointing. I walked back and forth in front of him then dropped the last pigeon from the bird bag. He watched it fly away but didn’t move. I continued to walk back and forth. I flushed a pigeon that was to his right but was closer than the bird I had flushed behind him. He whirled to watch it fly but didn’t take a step even when I shot the blank pistol. I continued to kick in front of him then flushed the pigeon he had been pointing and shot the blank pistol. He took a step and stopped. I set him back then released him to run.
I picked up the 2 release traps that were close to me and put them on the 4-wheeler. I pulled the 4-wheeler closer to the other 2 traps and got off to load them. As I got on the 4-wheeler I noticed Tur Bo lying on the ground, in the shade, waiting on me. Another time that a dog shows he has more sense than I have. It’s too hot to work dogs. When I put it in gear he took off. He ran in front of me all the way to the kennel.
It is pretty hot to be working dogs but the retrieving bench is in the shade so it’s not oppressive and he doesn’t have to go very far to point his birds. He will learn to like retrieving and we both really enjoy him pointing birds.
Tur Bo after the birds have flown.
Tur Bo
Tur Bo pointing a pigeon.