It was cooler this morning, better for the dogs and their owner. I tied the dogs in the shade before hiding the pigeons in the tall grass. The wind was from the south at about 15 miles per hour which made it about perfect for working dogs.
Whitey
Whitey
I heeled Whitey out to the field and released her to hunt. She hunted back and forth in front of me until she hit the scent cone. When I got close to her I saw she was almost on top of the release trap, holding the bird. I picked her up and set her back about 10 yards from the pigeon. I walked in front of her then flushed the bird. She never moved. I tapped her on the head to release her.
I knew Blaze wasn’t stopping on the edge of the scent cone but this was the first for Whitey. I knew I would have to flush some pigeons in front of her without letting her point. She hunted back and forth down the field and when she got within about 15 yards of the second bird I saw her turn toward the pigeon and I flushed it. She stopped to the flush without me saying anything. Stopping to flush is not as much fun as pointing. So if I flush birds before she points them she will go back to pointing on the edge of the scent cone, I hope.
Blaze
Blaze
I heeled Blaze to the field and when I released her she went in a straight line toward the pigeon hidden in the release trap. When she got within about 15 yards I flushed it and said whoa. She stopped. She was about 100 yards ahead of me and I got in no hurry to get to her. I walked in front of her kicking the cover then came back and stroked her sides. I walked back in front of her kicking the cover then tapped her on the head to release her.
She hunted a little slower on the second bird like she was trying to figure this out. When she got close to the second bird and I saw her tail speed up, I flushed it without saying anything. She stopped. I was only about 40 yards from her and I stroked her sides when I got to her. I walked in front kicking the cover then tapped her on the head to release her. On the way back to the truck she tried to point in an area I hadn’t put any birds. I don’t know if she was being cautious or she was saying “I’ll be good, Boss.” I’m going to flush her birds for a few more trips then we will see.
Tur Bo
Tur Bo
I always work Tur Bo last to make him have some patience and it is working. When I came back to get him he was lying on the ground waiting. I heeled him out to the field, whoaed him, took the piggin’ string off, put the piggin’ string around my shoulders, stroked his sides then tapped him on the head. He is learning to stand, on whoa, for my routine. He slammed into a point on the first bird. When I got to him, he was about 20 yards from his bird. Finally a dog stopping on the edge of the scent cone. I took pictures then hooked my hand in his collar and flushed the pigeon. He tried to chase but I held him. When he went back on point I stroked his sides then tapped him on the head.
He pointed his second bird and I stroked his sides. I made him stay on point for a longer period of time on this bird. I stroked his sides, hooked my hand in his collar and released the bird. He tried to chase and I held him until the bird flew out of the field. He went back on point and I stroked his sides then tapped him on the head.
Flushing the birds before the dogs point are not as much fun for me either but it’s necessary to let these young dogs know that they can’t get too close. A few more trips like this then we will see what they do.