Tur Bo pointing a pigeon.
Blaze pointing a pigeon.
Luke pointing a pigeon.
I worked Tur Bo on the retrieving bench and enjoyed it so much I worked Luke and Blaze, too. Some days, working dogs are more fun than others. This morning to fool the dogs I hid a pigeon in a release trap on my side of the training grounds and 2 pigeons on the neighbor’s side.
I heeled Tur Bo to the retrieving bench and he jumped onto it. We walked up and down with me petting him every few feet. I hooked him to the cable that runs the length of the bench and put the string around his toes. As soon as I got the bumper in front of him he snatched it from my hand. He didn’t wait for me to pull on the string. When I said give he dropped it in my hand. I held it above his head and he lunged for it. He definitely knows what it takes to keep me from pulling on the string. I said give and he dropped it in my hand.
I went through all 5 retrieving bumpers, several times each, then started having him pick them up from the top of the retrieving bench. I only used the bumpers that had ends that were larger than the middle because they are easier for him to grab. (The dogs in the pictures at the end of this post have the bumpers I’m talking about.) He understood what I wanted as long as I kept my hand on the bumper until he took it. I only had 2 bumpers that were designed for an easy pick up by a learner. I set the 2 bumpers on the table top and sent him to retrieve. I walked with him and held the end of each as he retrieved. I had him retrieve each one about 10 times. I set him on the ground and said whoa.
I got on the 4-wheeler and released him to hunt. He went down my side of the training grounds, hit the scent cone on the pigeon I had hidden in the tall grass and pointed. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. I threw my hat in front of him. He didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I stroked his sides telling him what a good boy he is and led him away. I whoaed him, got on the 4-wheeler and released him.
He hunted all of my side then crossed to the neighbor’s side. The hillside was blocking the wind and I had to send him around the back fence on my neighbor’s side twice before he hit the scent cone and pointed. He was about 10 yards from the bird. I took pictures then went in front of him kicking the cover. I threw a chunk of wood that was lying on the ground. He didn’t move. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He still didn’t move. I petted him then got on the 4-wheeler and released him to hunt.
He hunted back to the front side of the neighbor’s side and pointed. He was getting a lot of scent from this bird because he was within a few feet of it. I took more pictures then kicked the cover in front of him. I threw my hat but he didn’t pay any attention to it. I continued to kick the cover, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. The pigeon flew right over him him and he leaped up and whirled around to catch it. He didn’t chase. I picked him up and turned him around. I petted him then got on the 4-wheeler. I released him to run before going back to the kennel.
I heeled Blaze to the retrieving bench and she jumped onto it. I went through my petting routine then put the 5 bumpers on the other end of the bench. I sent her to get them one at a time. One of the bumpers is a lot bigger than the others and when it came time for her to bring it back she acted like her mouth wasn’t big enough. Rather than use the e-collar I put the string back on her toes and led her down the bench. When I pulled on the string she found that her mouth was plenty big enough for the bumper. I put all 5 bumpers on the other end and she retrieved them just fine. I set her on the ground and said whoa.
I threw a bumper and told her to fetch. She ran out, picked it up and returned holding until I said give. I have been making them retrieve 5 times, in a row without a mistake. on the ground before we go to other things. She retrieved 5 times with no mistakes. I said whoa and got on the 4-wheeler. I released her to hunt.
She ran a little way down my side then crossed to the neighbor’s side. I tried to call her back but she didn’t come. I crossed to the neighbor’s side and found her on point. She was real close to pigeon hidden in the grass. I took pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I threw my hat and she didn’t move. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I petted her then led her away. I released her then got on the 4-wheeler.
By the time I got to the back on my neighbor’s side she was on point. Again she was real close. I took pictures then walked in front of her. I picked up a chunk of wood and threw it. She didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I stroked her sides then led her away. I whoaed her then got on my 4-wheeler. I released her to hunt but this time I stayed right behind her.
Sure enough when we got to my side of the training grounds she hit the scent cone and pointed. I sat on the 4-wheeler and watched. She took about 3 steps toward the pigeon and pointed again. I yelled whoa. I held the button on the e-collar, around her flanks, down on level 3 and picked her up and set her back. I walked in front of her throwing sticks, my hat and tufts of grass. I continued to kick the cover, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. She’s not moving after the flush she’s pointing then moving up. Wild birds won’t stand for this. I will make sure I’m on the 4-wheeler so I can see when she hits the scent cone and I will flush the bird. Because she can’t chase the bird it will make her point at the first hint of scent. (I hope.) I released her to run before going back to the kennel.
I brought Luke down to the retrieving bench and he jumped onto it. We went through the petting routine and I put the 5 bumpers on the other end of the bench. Blaze didn’t like to retrieve the large bumper but Luke stepped over the other bumpers and brought the largest back to me. He held it until I said give. He retrieved all 5 and held them until I said give. I set him on the ground and said whoa.
He’s been less than good on the ground with the thrown bumper but today he retrieved 5 times in a row without a mistake. I petted him telling him what a good boy he is then said whoa. I got on the 4-wheeler then released him to hunt.
He was a long ways from the first pigeon when he hit the scent cone and pointed. He was so far I wasn’t sure he could really smell it but then I saw his mouth opening and closing like he was chewing the scent. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. I threw my hat. He didn’t move. I picked it up and while I was still bent over threw it from his right to his left. He still didn’t move. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I stroked his sides then led him away and said whoa. I got on the 4-wheeler and released him to hunt.
We hunted on to the back then crossed onto the neighbor’s side. I thought Luke hadn’t come over yet and stopped the 4-wheeler and was looking over my left shoulder. I sat there and called him then hit the tone on the e-collar. I kept watching for him but he didn’t show up. I turned to the front so I could go look for him and he was in front of me lying down waiting for me to quit calling him. (I wonder what my dogs think when I do dumb things.) I said okay and he went back to hunting. He pointed the bird at the back of my neighbor’s side. I took pictures then went in front of him 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 said whoa then got on the 4-wheeler and released him to hunt.
He pointed the pigeon at the front of the training grounds. I took more 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 released him to run before going back to the kennel.
One of the reasons that I give the dogs the benefit of the doubt on most things is that I do dumb things too. If I was perfect I would expect my dogs to be but I’m far from it.
Dolly
Tur Bo
Blaze