I didn’t get out as early as I should have this morning. By the time I had the pigeons, Blaze, Whitey and Tur Bo in the truck it was already getting pretty warm but we made our trek to the county park. The wind was out of the south at about 30 miles per hour. I hid 2 pigeons, in release traps, in the tall grass separated by about 50 yards.
Whitey
Whitey
Whitey stood on the tail gate, calmly, while I put the e-collars on her. When I train at home I have the dogs stand on their house while I put the e-collars on them. When we train away from home or go hunting I put the e-collars on with them standing on the tail gate. They learn to stand, without moving, until I get their collars on them. Then I lift them to the ground, I don’t let them jump.
I heeled Whitey to the field, whoaed her, then tapped her on the head to release her to hunt. She worked into the wind and pointed the first bird from about 25 yards. I took some pictures, then walked in front, kicking the tall grass. I shot the blank pistol and said whoa. She never moved. I continued to kick the cover, then flushed the pigeon, shot the blank pistol and said whoa. She turned her head to watch the bird fly away without moving her feet. I kicked the ground some more then tapped her on the head to release her.
She pointed her second bird and she was almost hid in the tall grass. I walked in front after taking some pictures. I made her stand for a good while as I walked back and forth in front of her. Then I shot the blank pistol and said whoa. She never moved. I continued to kick the cover, flushed the pigeon, shot the blank pistol and said whoa. I continued to kick the cover then tapped her on the head to release her.
Blaze
Blaze
I heeled Blaze out to the field, whoaed her then tapped her on the head to release her. Blaze is really fast and is fun to watch. She slammed into a point on her first bird. I walked in front kicking the cover then shot the blank pistol and said whoa. Her head twitched but her feet never moved. I continued to kick the cover, flushed the pigeon, shot the blank pistol and said whoa. She never moved. I continued to kick the cover, then shot the blank pistol and said whoa. She never moved. I tapped her on the head to release her.
She was within 10 yards of her second bird when she pointed. I took some pictures, then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I shot the blank pistol and said whoa. I’m shooting the blank pistol then saying whoa so the dogs will anticipate me saying whoa after they hear the shot. They will get to the point where they will stop when they here the gun shot. (I hope.) She never moved. I continued to kick the cover, flushed the bird, shot the blank pistol and said whoa. She turned her head to watch the pigeon fly away but she didn’t move her feet. I continued to kick the cover, shot the blank pistol and said whoa. She took one step the stopped. I set her back then tapped her on the head to release her.
Tur Bo
Tur Bo
Tur Bo has even learned to stand calmly while I put the e-collars on, on the tail gate. I heeled him out to the field. When I hid his birds, I put them pretty close together. He could smell the place where I had hid the bird for the other dogs but had moved it. He got birdy but didn’t point. He has already figured out that sometime there are hot spots but the birds aren’t there. He worked through the area a couple of times then went on. He slid into a point with his back end low and as I watched his head and tail came up. I hooked my hand in his collar and stroked his side after taking some pictures. I flushed the bird farther away. He wanted to chase but I held him. As I stroked his side he got the scent of the pigeon he had pointed and went back on point. I stroked his side while I told him what a good boy he was. I flushed the second bird still holding his collar. Again he wanted to chase but I held him. I stroked his sides until he went back on point then tapped him on the head to release him.
Working these dogs on the same thing day after day is still fun for me and for the dogs. It is probably boring to read almost the same things day after day but that’s what it takes to get them broke. For me, I was able to get 5 points this morning when most people are only thinking about their dogs. I can see these 3 dogs getting closer to where I want them to be. That makes it worth while for me.