We have had a lot of rain the last week or two so it’s wet everywhere. Finding a place to stake the pups out is harder because of the standing water. I finally found a good place where they could wait in the shade until their turn. Blaze didn’t bark while I put the pigeons in the release traps and hid them in the tall grass. I’m working on her barking by letting her run last until she no longer barks while she is staked out. When we first started running in the county park she didn’t bark and she got to run either first or second.
Whitey
Whitey
I heeled Whitey toward the field but where I parked there was a guard rail in front of my truck so I walked her to it. Sometimes in the field I hold a woven wire fence down and have the dogs jump over. When she got close to the guard rail I said “up” and she jumped over the rail. I led her to the field and said whoa. I walked in front then came back behind her then back in front again. Finally I tapped her on the head to release her.
I had hid one pigeon fairly close to where I turned her loose but her first cast took her on down the field and she pointed the farther bird. I took some pictures then walked around kicking the tall grass. I’m tempting these young dogs by spending more time kicking the cover before I flush the pigeon. When I flushed the bird it flew back over Whitey’s head. She watched it fly away without moving her feet. I continued to kick the cover then came back to tap her on the head.
I started back toward the truck and Whitey went back and forth across the field in front of me. When she hit the scent cone on the other bird she locked up. I took more pictures then started walking around her. I kicked for a while then stroked her sides telling her what a good dogs she was. I walked around kicking the cover then flushed the pigeon. She never moved. I kicked the cover then tapped her on the head to release her.
Tur Bo
Tur Bo
Blaze barked a few times while I worked Whitey. Her barking isn’t constant. She only barked 3 or 4 times all the time I’ve worked Whitey but I worked Tur Bo next. I put an e-collar around his neck and he was dragging a check cord that was looped around his flanks. I heeled Tur Bo to the guard rail and told him “up” and he jumped the guard rail. I heeled him to the field and whoaed him. I walked around kicking the cover making him stand for a long time. Finally I tapped him on the head to release him.
Tur Bo made a large cast and like Whitey he missed the first bird but his cast also took him past the second bird. As hot as it was he was enjoying his run. He came back around in front of me and caught a little scent. He moved into the wind to get the scent a little better then slammed into a point. I took some pictures then picked up the check cord. His mouth was opening and closing on the scent. I made him stay on point for quite awhile before flushing the pigeon. He moved but he didn’t hit the end of the check cord. I moved him back but I only had to move him about a step. I made him stand until the pigeon flew out of the field then tapped him on the head.
Blaze
Blaze
Blaze had barked a couple of times while I was working Tur Bo. I heeled her to the guard rail and told her to “up” and she jumped the rail. I heeled her to the field and whoaed her. I had her stand on whoa while I walked around her. After a while I tapped her on the head to release her. She moved on down the field and pointed the farther bird then took a step. I flushed the bird and she stopped. I made her stand for a long time while I walked around her kicking the cover. Finally I tapped her on the head.
I walked back toward the truck with her going back and forth in front of me. When she went on point this time she didn’t move. I took some pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I came back to her and stroked her sides telling her what a good dog she is then went back in front kicking the cover. Finally I flushed the bird. She didn’t move. I walked back in front kicking the cover then came back to stroke her sides. I tapped her on the head to release her.
Blaze is barking less each time and I think she will quit pretty soon. We’ll see. I have always said “up” when the dogs jump on their houses, the tail gate or the retrieving bench. Now I’m getting them to jump the guard rail. I will try to get them to jump other things since I have them started on this command.