I have some commitments that are keeping me from dog training as often as I would like but they are coming to an end. I went out about 7:00 am this morning and it was about 65 degrees. Sally and Betsy both have been doing real well with the steady to wing and shot. I have been hiding two pigeons close together then flushing whichever is farther from the dog that is pointing. I haven’t been flushing the birds they have been pointing. I decided today to hide 3 birds, in release traps. I put one on my side of the training grounds and two about 50 yards apart on the neighbor’s side.
Betsy pointing a pigeon.
Sally pointing a pigeon.
Betsy, a head shot.
I put the e-collars on Sally’s neck and flanks then heeled her out with the piggin’ string. After about 50 yards I said, “whoa” and walked in front of her. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa”. She didn’t move. I heeled her away.
We went another 50 yards and I whoaed her again. I took a pigeon from the bird bag and held it by the feet, letting it flap. I laid the pigeon on the ground, on it’s back. It flipped over, flew low right over her head. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She turned to watch the pigeon fly away but didn’t try to chase. I turned her around, stroked her sides then heeled her away. I released her to hunt.
When I got to the middle of the neighbor’s side I saw her on point. She was at least ten yards from the pigeon. I walked in front of her kicking the tall weeds. I flushed the pigeon, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” Sally took a step and stopped. I set her back and walked back in front of her. I kicked the cover then slipped the piggin’ string around her neck and heeled her away. I released her to hunt.
She crossed to my side and was racing down the strip of tall grass that I had left. She hit the scent cone and whirled into a point. I took some pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She took 3 or 4 steps then stopped. I set her back then heeled her away. I released her to hunt.
It’s been quite a while since I have had more than two birds out for the dogs. Sally headed back to the kennel and I had to call her back. We went back to the neighbor’s side. She hit the scent cone but didn’t point until she was right on top of the release trap. I picked her up and set her back about 5 yards from the bird. I kicked the tall weeds after taking some pictures. I flushed the pigeon, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She didn’t move until I shot the blank pistol. Then she chased. I yelled, “whoa” but she didn’t slow down. I held the button on the flank e-collar down until she stopped. I carried her, about 30 yards, back to where she had been when the bird was flushed. I walked in front kicking the cover. I heeled her away then released her to hunt.
On the way back to the kennel I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She stopped before I could say, “whoa.” I went to her, stroked her sides then tapped her head for the release. She went back to the kennel.
I reloaded the release traps and heeled Betsy out with the e-collars around her neck and flanks. About 50 yards from the kennel I whoaed her, walked in front, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She didn’t move. I went to her, stroked her sides and heeled her away. Another 50 yards I whoaed her again. This time I walked in front of her, took a pigeon from the bird bag by the feet and let it flap it’s wings. I set it on the ground on it’s back. The pigeon flipped over and flew away. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She turned her head to watch it fly away but didn’t move her feet. I heeled her another 50 yards then released her to hunt.
I came around a clump of brush and saw Betsy on point. I took some pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and she didn’t move until I shot the blank pistol. When I shot her front feet did a dance but the back feet didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover for a few seconds then stroked her sides and heeled her away. I released her to hunt.
The area the second pigeon was in is surrounded by brush and she was on point when I got close. I took more pictures then walked in front of her kicking the tall grass. I flushed the pigeon, shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She did her little dance but didn’t try to follow. I stroked her sides and heeled her about 35 yards before releasing her to run.
Betsy pointing a quail.
I had to call her back. She, too, decided that since, usually, they only get to point two times it was time to go back to the kennel. When she came back we crossed over to my side of the training grounds. She was running down a tall strip of grass, that I have left to hide birds in, when she got a little scent. She slowed down and I whoaed her. She stopped but I could tell she wasn’t getting the scent very good. I tapped her head and she moved up about two steps and went on point. This time she was more intense. I walked in front of her kicking the cover. I shot the blank pistol and said, “whoa.” She did her dance but didn’t chase. I stroked her sides and heeled her away. I released her to run.
I saw her on point at the pigeon coops as I got to the kennel. I never have to worry about her whereabouts after dog training. She always heads for the pigeon coop and is on point when I get there.
Both dogs are waiting for me to go in front of them so I’m not worried about the movement after the flush. I don’t field trial so a little movement is not a problem. What I’m trying to do with the dog training that I do is keep them from running in and flushing any late flushing birds.
It won’t be long until I can do my dog training with wild birds. Kansas has an early prairie chicken season. Kansas also allows hunting turkeys in the fall with dogs. Fall turkey opens about the first of October. I use these seasons to find where the quail are and it lets me get my dogs out.
Sally’s eyes are pretty well focused.
Betsy watching a pigeon fly away.
Sally on a pigeon.