Tur Bo on the retrieving bench.
A close up of Tur Bo pointing a pigeon.
Tur Bo after some of the pigeons have flown.
Working the dogs real early doesn’t help all that much. It was 77 degrees at 6:00 am this morning. I only worked Tur Bo and left the other dogs in the kennel. It’s hot for him but once I started the force breaking I don’t want to quit until I’m through. I also worked him on some pigeons I hid on the training grounds. It took between 30 and 45 minutes to work him on the bench and on the pigeons then back to the kennel where I had given all of the dogs fresh, cool water.
I heeled Tur Bo to the retrieving bench with an e-collar on his neck and one around his flanks. He jumped onto the bench and we walked back and forth with me petting him every few feet. I hooked him to the cable that runs down the bench and slid the slip knot above the first joint in his leg, put a clove hitch under the joint and wrapped the string around the center two toes of his foot. I petted him some more. The petting may be the most important part of the training.
I took the of the string in my hand and held a bumper in front of him. I put a little pressure on the string and said fetch. He grabbed the bumper. I petted him telling him what a good boy he is, then said give. He dropped it in my hand. I held the bumper above his head and down around his feet, varying it each time. He grabbed the bumper no matter where I held it. I had 5 different bumpers and had him take each one several different times. After going through the 5 bumpers I started over and had him take them all 3 or 4 times each. All told he probably did about 40 fetches. He didn’t drop it at all this morning and he didn’t refuse to retrieve but I didn’t give him that option. As soon as I said fetch I started tightening the string. That makes him grab the bumper quickly.
The last two mornings I have hidden the pigeons on my side of the training grounds but this morning I put them on my neighbor’s side. I set him on the ground and released him to hunt. I jumped on the 4-wheeler to follow him. He had to check the places where I had put the birds the last 2 mornings then he crossed to the neighbor’s side. We went to the back and started back toward the front. When we got near the front he went on point. From where he was pointed all of the pigeons, in release traps, were in front of him.
I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. I had 3 pigeons, in a bird bag, slung over my shoulder. I dropped one behind me as I kicked the tall grass. I didn’t have the blank pistol with me this morning. When I dropped the pigeon he watched it fly away but didn’t move his feet. I continued to kick the cover then flushed the pigeon in a release trap that was the farthest from him. He didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover and dropped another pigeon from the bird bag. Again, he just watched it fly away. He was only about 5 yards from the pigeon he was pointing and he knew it hadn’t flown.
I tried to make as much noise as possible by kicking the cover real hard. Then I threw sticks and handfuls of grass but he didn’t move. I flushed another pigeon that was in a release trap and was a long way from him. He watched but didn’t move his feet. I continued to kick the cover then dropped the last pigeon I had in the bag. He didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover then flushed a pigeon from a release trap that was a little closer to him. He didn’t move. I was walking straight toward him kicking the tall grass and flushed the bird he was pointing. It came out of the trap and flew right over his head. He turned around and watched it fly away but didn’t try to chase. I led him away then released him to run. I picked up the traps then rode the 4-wheeler to the back then back to the kennel. He stayed out front all the way.
It’s so hot I’m not going to work Tur Bo or any of the dogs every morning. I may just work Tur Bo 2 or 3 days a week until it cools down. I have quite a while to get him broke although the season will be here before we know it. Thanks to everyone that has clicked on an ad that was on these posts.
Tur Bo
Tur Bo
Tur Bo