I didn’t get out, to let the puppies out, until about 8:00 am. I wanted to get them used to the noise of the release traps so I placed 4 traps, in a row, from about 30 yards away to less than five yards, from their kennels.
3 of the 4 release traps in front of the kennels.
Mann trying to find a pigeon.
Puppies around the pigeon cage.
I turned the pigeon, farthest from the puppies, loose. I thought that Mann had gone back into his house so I went to look. He was just standing behind Babe watching Luke and Tur Bo. His tail was still straight up so he wasn’t showing any fear.
I released a closer bird and again there was no sign of fear. Babe stayed close to the end but Mann watched the older dogs. This took him back away from the end of the kennel but I watched closely for any sign of fear but saw none.
I released a closer bird and when I didn’t see any fear I released the closest pigeon. The puppies were excited by the pigeons and there was no fear. I will do the same exercise again tomorrow watching to see if there is any fear.
These puppies will be 11 weeks old tomorrow and I don’t want to scare them with the noise of the release traps. At this age, the fear of the release traps, along with birds in the air, might be hard to overcome. In the morning I will move the traps closer to the kennel and watch the puppies closely. Any thing, other than excitement, I will back off and go slower.
I hid three pigeons, in the step on cages, on the training grounds. When I turned the puppies loose Mann knew there were birds hidden and he went to find them. By the time I had walked 25 yards he was a hundred yards ahead of me. He wasn’t just running, he was hunting. Babe was ahead of me but she waited for me to get close, then went ahead.
I had hidden the pigeon on the south edge and Mann had to check everywhere I had hidden a bird before. Babe and I caught up with him before he found the first pigeon. When he hit the scent cone his head came up and he headed for the pigeon. Babe was right behind him. I went to them, stepped on the cage and the pigeon flew away. They went back to hunting.
I had another pigeon hidden just a few yards from the first one. When we got close Mann raised his head and started slinking to the pigeon. He and Babe were side by side, pointing then moving up. When they got close they started nosing around the cage. Before I could get to them the pigeon was released and flew away. The puppies only chase a few steps then go back to hunting.
4 release traps from 2 yards to 12 yards from the kennel.
We went on to the back on the neighbor’s side then crossed over to my side. Both puppies were really hunting. They hit a strip of grass and went through the middle from one end to the other. Nothing there. They went down the edge until they hit the next strip of grass then started through the middle of it. They smelled the pigeon and pointed. They started slinking toward it. They have perfected the release on these pigeons, I guess. Before I could take more than a step or two the pigeon flew away. The pups went back to hunting.
When we got back to the kennel I sat in a chair and let the puppies play. I usually throw some dry dog food in the grass for them to find. I think this makes them learn to use their nose. Sometimes, while I’m sitting in the chair, while the puppies play, pigeons walk around on the ground near the pigeon coop. When the puppies come back to check on me they see these birds and either point or chase. I think this also builds desire. They like birds.
This morning, 7/3/18, I placed the 4 release traps closer to the puppies kennel. The closest was two yards and the farthest was twelve yards from the kennel that Mann and Babe were in. I released the first one then walked around each one before releasing the others. I kept an eye on both puppies to make sure there was no fear. Had there been I would have backed off with the release traps. Had they been real fearful I would have quit for the day and tried again tomorrow with the traps farther away. They showed no fear even with the one that was only two yards from their kennel. I left the traps out and hid three pigeons in the cages that I step on to release the birds.
Babe pointing a pigeon.
I turned the puppies out and this morning both of them hunted from the start. Babe still waits on me but not quite as much as before. This morning I didn’t put any birds in the grass strips that I have been using. When we came to the first two strips both pups went from one end to the other. I kept walking and we came to the third grass strip and Mann ran down it then on toward the back. Babe was way off the pigeon, hidden in some brush, when she went on point. Mann came back and when he hit the scent cone he followed it to the pigeon. I stepped on the handle and released the pigeon. They both watched it fly away then went back to hunting.
I had another pigeon hidden in some brush near the back. When we got close Mann could smell it but wasn’t sure where it was. He circled the bird then went on point. He started moving but went the wrong way. Babe came in and went on point. Mann pointed again and I stepped on the cage and released the pigeon. They watched it fly away then went back to hunting.
We went on to the back then back toward the front and crossed to my side. I have two strips of grass and both dogs checked them without finding a bird. We went to the back on my side then started back to the front. Mann hit the scent cone but went the wrong way. Babe pointed but didn’t try to move in. Mann came back, hit the scent cone and followed it to the pigeon. I stepped on the cage and released the pigeon. Both dogs watched it fly away. We went back to the kennel.
I sat in a chair while the puppies played. These puppies are eleven weeks old today. They have been exposed to a lot of birds. The more birds they see the better they will be able to start hunting wild birds, in my opinion. Most really good athletes, in any sport, have usually started early. I want these puppies to have the best chance they can have to be as good as they can be.
Babe pointing a pigeon.
He caught the scent cone when he moved in front of her.
Mann pointing a pigeon.