Wow! It was 57 degrees when I got up this morning. But the fog was so thick you couldn’t see a dog very far. Maybe a hundred yards. I waited until the sun burned the fog off before working the dogs. I clean the pens twice a day to keep the puppies half way clean and to keep the flies at a reasonable level. Before cleaning the pens I take each of the puppies into an empty kennel and toss a paint roller cover for them to retrieve. I only toss it, at most, 6 times for each puppy. The sure seem to enjoy it.
Josie at 9 weeks old pointing a pigeon by scent.
Sally pointing a pigeon.
Tur Bo pointing a pigeon.
After tossing the paint roller cover for the puppies and cleaning pens I put some pigeons in the box on the 4-wheeler. I hid one on my side and another on my neighbor’s side of the training grounds. I heeled Sally out with the piggin’ string and whoaed her near the 4-wheeler. After I started the 4-wheeler and put it in gear I released her to hunt. I had to hustle on the 4-wheeler to stay close.
There wasn’t much wind but there was enough for her to point the first pigeon from a long distance. I had some frozen quail on the 4-wheeler so I dropped one near the release trap. I took some pictures then walked in front of her kicking the grass. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I tapped her head and told her to hunt dead. She made a couple of passes and found the frozen quail. I tossed it for her 3 times then released her to hunt.
She hunted my side then crossed to the neighbor’s side. We were almost to the back when she got some scent from the pigeon and pointed. I stopped the 4-wheeler. Before I could even take a picture she moved up a step. I flushed the pigeon and yelled, “whoa”. She didn’t try to chase. I didn’t shoot the blank pistol or allow her to retrieve. I made her stay on point a couple of minutes then took her back to the kennel.
I reloaded the release traps and heeled Tur Bo out with the piggin’ string. I put him on whoa near the 4-wheeler, started it and released him. I slowed down to cross the creek but he didn’t. When I got close to the first pigeon he was on point. I took pictures, dropped a frozen quail close then walked in front of him. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He moved his normal one step. I moved him back then tapped his head and told him to hunt dead. He didn’t want to stay and look but I kept after him until he found the quail. I tossed it for him 3 times. I released him to hunt.
He checked out my side then went across to the neighbor’s side. I saw him hit the scent of the pigeon and turn toward it. He didn’t stop he started slinking toward the bird. I flushed it and yelled, “whoa”. He stopped and I set him back. I made him stand for about a minute then released him and took him back to the kennel.
I turn the 3 puppies out and they ran in front of the 4-wheeler, most of the time. The also wrestle right in front or stop to pee. They have no fear of being run over by the 4-wheeler. I have to really watch as we go toward the back.
I’ve been putting the puppies on stakes where they could see each other find a hidden pigeon until this time. This time I put them on the chain gang and hid the pigeon out of the puppies on the chain gangs view. I think, for them, this worked better.
Daisey waiting her turn.
I put two release traps with pigeons in one clump of brush about 15 yards apart. I’m going to try out some names on the puppies. These are subject to change. I’ve never had this much trouble naming puppies before. The female with two black ears is going to be called Daisey. The puppy with the spot on her side is Star. I think the male is going to be DJ. So today we will go with that.
I went to the chain gang and stood close enough to Daisey that she knew she was going to get let loose. I stood away from her until she quit jumping and trying to put her feet on me. I snapped a leash on her and led her away. The wind, as it always does, was swirling in several directions. Each of the puppies smelled the pigeon in a little different place. She smelled the first pigeon and started toward it. I flushed the pigeon and she chased a short distance.
I picked up her leash and led her toward the next pigeon. When she hit the scent cone on the next pigeon she pointed. Her tail was about level with her back but was starting to come up when she took a step. I flushed the pigeon and she chased about 25 yards. I took her back to the chain gang.
I reloaded the traps and brought DJ out. I make them quit jumping before taking them off the chain gang. I, also, pet them for a few seconds after dropping the snap on the chain gang. I don’t want them to think when the chain hits the ground they are loose. I led him toward the hidden pigeons. The wind was wrong when we came by the first pigeon and he never smelled it. We went toward the second and he got the scent. He pointed then took a step. I flushed the pigeon. He chased a short distance.
We returned to the area of the first pigeon and he pointed. He stood for a few seconds. His tail was about level with his back. He wanted to get closer and took a step. I flushed the pigeon. He chased a short distance. I put him back on the chain gang.
JD waiting his turn.
After reloading the traps I led Star out. The wind was getting a little stronger and she pointed the first bird. Her point lasted about 15 seconds before she took a step. When she pointed her tail was about level with her back but it was coming up. When she took a step I flushed the bird. She just turned her head and watched it fly away. We went toward the other pigeon.
When she hit the scent cone she pointed. I waited on her to move. She stayed on point for 15 seconds or more. She took a step and I flushed the pigeon. She chased a short distance. I took all of them off the chain gang and let them run for a few minutes.
Most of my dogs point with high tails. I know this has nothing to do with being a good bird dog but it looks nice. It costs no more to feed a pretty dog as it does any other. I believe as Delmar Smith said in his book “Best Way To Train Your Dog” that the sire and dam put the tail where it will be. I seldom brush their tail up.
For a long time when the puppies start pointing I don’t say anything and I don’t try to walk in front of them for a long time. At the first movement of the dog I flush the pigeon. I want the puppy to think, “if I move anything, if I even blink, the bird will flush”. That is what will make them real rigid on point.
After I put those puppies back in the kennel I carried my 9 week old pup, Josie, out of the kennel. That is literal. She can’t or won’t stay with the 4-wheeler. I carry her on the 4-wheeler down to the training grounds. She likes to ride. She sits still and watches where we are going. I put her on the chain gang.
Mann pointing a pigeon.
When I had the traps reloaded I led her away from the chain gang. She thought we were just out for a walk. She missed the first pigeon and we went on toward the second. The wind, for a few minutes, was out of the wrong direction. We went by the second bird then turned around and started back. This time the wind was where she could smell the pigeon and she pointed with a twelve o’clock tail. She holds for a long time for a puppy. I dropped the leash and just watched her. When she moved I flushed the pigeon. She turned and watched it fly away.
I picked up the leash and led her toward the other pigeon. She caught the scent and went on point. Again, with a really good tail. She was on point for close to a minute before she moved a foot. I flushed the pigeon. She chased a short distance. I picked up the traps and Josie and I got on the 4-wheeler and went back to the kennels.
I enjoy the puppies more than the older dogs. I like to see them learn. The older dogs should do what they are trained to do. The puppies have every thing to learn. That’s why I don’t say anything or even take a step when they first start pointing. They have to figure out what works. They will try several things until they find what works. After they find, point and hold a lot of birds I start trying to walk in front of them. This seems to work for me and my dogs.
Luke on point.
I cover the release traps so the dogs can’t see them.
Sally, the mother of the puppies, on point.