I’ve trained puppies a couple of times that I couldn’t put on the blog because I had no internet. We have Century Link and it goes off and on real regular. It was out for four days last month and has been out for at least six days this month. They are really good about telling us they won’t charge us for the days we don’t have internet. They still charge us but they tell us they won’t.
Mann pointing a pigeon.
Babe pointing a pigeon.
Mann pointing a pigeon.
Babe isn’t as aggressive on her birds as Mann is so a few days ago I worked her on some pigeons. One of the pigeons I tied a long string to and the other end to the release trap. It was a strong flying bird and when I could tell she was smelling the bird I flushed it. It flew to the end of the string and hit the ground. Babe ran to it and then ran around the bird. It flew a little way then hit the ground again. She ran to it and again it flew a short distance.
Finally, she caught the pigeon and just held it. I went to her, petted her and released the pigeon. It flew to the edge of the brush and lit on the ground. Babe pointed when she got close. The pigeon didn’t move nor did Babe. I took a few pictures but didn’t try to get close. After a couple of minutes the pigeon started walking through the brush with Babe right behind.
The brush the pigeon and Babe were in is real thick. I called Babe but she didn’t come out. I walked back and forth and couldn’t see her in the brush. I walked all along the edge peering into the brush but no Babe. I thought maybe she had caught the pigeon and taken it to the kennel area so I rode the 4-wheeler to the kennel. No Babe.
I rode back to where she had disappeared. She came out of the brush without the pigeon and we worked the other two birds I had out. I put her on the chain gang, reloaded the release traps and turned Mann out.
Mann is so fast I ride the 4-wheeler to the first bird then I can walk and keep up, usually. I had replaced the pigeon in the release trap where Babe had worked the pigeon on the string but I hadn’t put a string on Mann’s bird. He pointed his bird and when he took a step I flushed the pigeon. He chased a short distance then smelled the bird that Babe had caught. It was a long way in the brush and I tried to call him off but he went on into the brush.
In just a few seconds he came out with the pigeon in his mouth. I tried to get him to come to me but he stayed away. He started toward the kennel so I got on the 4-wheeler. He would cross onto the neighbor’s side then when I went over there he would cross back. Finally, after about 5 minutes he got tired of the pigeon and let me catch him. The pigeon must have been a real young pigeon or it would have flown away when I released it for Babe. The bird was still alive but not in very good shape.
This morning I hid three pigeons, in the release traps, on the training grounds. I have two strips of tall grass I have left on my side and I hid a pigeon in each strip. The second strip had a pigeon that I had tied a string that was tied to the release trap.
I released Babe from the kennel and followed her to the training grounds. I could tell when she smelled the first pigeon. She stopped then instantly took a step toward the pigeon. I flushed the bird. She chased a few feet then went back to hunting.
The wind was light and out of the north east. Babe went by the next pigeon on the north side. She went along the edge to the back then started back toward me. She smelled the pigeon and started toward it. I flushed the bird. It flew to the end of the string and hit the ground. Babe ran to it and started circling. The pigeon flew again and she followed. She started circling again and the pigeon flopped, trying to fly and she pounced on it. I let her mouth the bird for a few seconds then went to her. I petted her then released the pigeon. It flew low for about fifty yards without getting much altitude with Babe right behind. I called her back and we went back to hunting.
Babe pointing a pigeon.
We crossed to the neighbor’s side. I can tell, by watching the pups, where I’ve hidden birds for them in the past. They check the niches where they have found birds before. Babe came around a clump of brush, hit the scent cone and locked up. I could just barely see her through the clump. I started around the clump to get a picture but she moved before I could get around. I flushed the pigeon. She chased a short distance then went back to hunting.
Babe comes to me to be put on the chain gang. After I petted her for a few seconds I put her on the chain gang. I reloaded the release traps and turned Mann out.
Mann is so fast to the first bird I ride the 4-wheeler but this morning he still got ahead of me. When I got near the first bird on the neighbor’s side he was already on point. I shut the 4-wheeler off and sat on it taking pictures. Mann was pointing with a rear foot raised. I was waiting for him to put it down and I was going to flush the pigeon. The foot started down then he raised it back. I took more pictures. He started down with the foot. I got ready to flush the pigeon and he raised it again. He started down with the foot and when it hit the ground I flushed the pigeon. He chased then went back to hunting.
Puppies around the pigeon cage.
We went on to the back on the neighbor’s side. On the next one he went on point but he was a long way from the hidden bird. I took some pictures and watched him closely for any movement. He took a step and I flushed the pigeon. He was far enough away to have trouble seeing the flying bird. He went back to hunting.
We crossed over to my side. He was on the wrong side of the next bird and went all the way to the back. He crossed the back and swung back up the side. He was still away from the bird when he hit the scent cone and pointed. I stood watching not saying anything and not moving. When he moved I flushed the pigeon. He went back to hunting.
Babe comes to be put on the chain gang but Mann doesn’t. He can see her and he won’t come close. I called him and he stayed away from me. I walked toward the kennels and he stayed about 40 yards from me. He likes to stick his nose into the pigeon coop so I opened the door to the coop. He reared up in the door. I petted him for a few seconds then led him to his kennel and put him inside.
I reloaded the release traps and turned Babe loose to hunt. When we got close to the first pigeon I could tell when she smelled it but she didn’t point. I flushed the pigeon. She chased then went back to hunting.
Another dash for hot dogs.
We checked my side to the back then crossed to the neighbor’s side. We came around the end then started back toward the front. She hit the scent cone and started toward the pigeon. I flushed the bird. She chased then went back to hunting.
We continued toward the front. She hit the scent cone on the next pigeon and locked up for just a few seconds. When she moved I flushed the pigeon. She chased then went back to hunting.
I got the 4-wheeler and she ran with me as I picked up the release traps. We went back to the area of the pigeon houses. Some of the pigeons were on top of their house. Babe really watched them and when they flew she chased. I went to the coop and got a pigeon out and let it fly past her. I tried to get her to rear up in the door and watch the pigeons. She was reluctant so I left the door open and moved away. I sat in a chair watching her.
Usually, I let her and Mann play but he was in exile. She went away from the coop then came back and reared up in the door. She watched for a while. I grabbed another couple of birds and let them fly for her to chase. I’m doing everything I can think of to get her bird crazy. She came back and reared up in the door.
I put her in her kennel. I took the three release traps and placed them about three feet from her kennel. I put a pigeon in each. The older dogs were pointing the release traps but Mann was still barking because he wanted out and Babe was reared up on the end of her kennel, watching the traps. I released the first pigeon. The dogs all watched it fly away. I waited a few seconds then released the second bird. They all watched it. After a few seconds I released the last bird. All the dogs watched it fly away.
Mann’s points are lasting longer and pretty soon I will start walking in front of him. Babe still doesn’t point every time she smells a bird but she likes the birds a little more each time I work her. When she smells a bird sometimes she points then thinks she should do something else. I’m going to continue to show her birds until she gets it figured out. These puppies are only 14 weeks old so they have plenty of time.
Babe pointing a pigeon.
Babe pointing a pigeon.
Mann pointing a pigeon.