Tur Bo pointing a pigeon.
Tur Bo pointing a pigeon.
Tur Bo pointing a pigeon.
I didn’t get out real early but it was cool so I was able to train dogs anyway. I had some people coming by to see the puppies so that only left enough time to train Tur Bo. I hid 3 pigeons on the training grounds, 1 on my side and two on the neighbor’s side.
I heeled Tur Bo to the retrieving bench and he jumped on it. We walked back and forth with me petting him every few feet. I put the string on his foot and held a bumper in front of him. He snatched it from my hand. He held it until I said give. I held the bumper up high and down low. It didn’t matter where I held it he would grab it from my hand. I had 5 different bumpers and had him fetch several times with each. He grabbed the bumpers without me even pulling on the string.
I spread the 5 bumpers out on the bench and sent Tur Bo to fetch them one at a time. I walked down the bench and put my hand near the bumper as he got close. He picked them each up and brought them back. He held them until I said give. After he retrieved them all I replaced them a little farther down the bench. Again, I walked down the bench and placed my hand close to the bumper and he picked each one up. He brought them back and dropped them in my hand when I said give. This was the first time he has retrieved each time without me having to pull on the string. He has learned that if he grabs the bumper he won’t have his toes pinched.
I set him on the ground telling him to whoa. I started the 4-wheeler and noticed that I hadn’t taken the string off his foot. I got off the 4-wheeler and had him jump back onto the retrieving bench. I took the string off and set him back on the ground saying whoa. I released him to hunt.
I followed Tur Bo down my side of the training ground. He hit the scent cone of the pigeon hidden in the tall grass and spun around going on point. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. His front feet moved a little but his back feet stayed in place. I stroked his sides then led him away and said whoa. I got on the 4-wheeler and released him to hunt.
We went on to the back of my side then onto the neighbor’s side. He was far enough ahead of me that I didn’t see him go on point. I came around some trees and saw him standing with a high head and tail. He was about 5 or 6 yards from the pigeon. I took more pictures then walked in front of him kicking the tall grass. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. The pigeon flew right over his head. He turned and watched it fly away.
I continued to kick the cover. I had another pigeon hidden in a release trap about 20 yards away. I flushed the second bird and shot the blank pistol. This is different, I usually flush the farther bird first then the one right in front of him. He took a step then stopped. I picked him up and set him back. I kicked the cover again then led him away. I let him run before going back to the kennel.
Tur Bo is doing real well on the retrieving bench. I’m only able to train him a couple of days a week. If I had the time to train every day he would probably be force broke by now. We have quite a while before bird season. We will get the job done.
Tur Bo pointing a pigeon.
Tur Bo holding a bumper on the retrieving table.
Tur Bo pointing a pigeon.