I wanted to put this on yesterday but my internet was down. I will get it on tonight no matter what. I may not proof read but I will get it on.
I took Tur Bo, Whitey and Blaze along with 6 pigeons to the county park close to my house. I tied all 3 dogs out in the shade and hid 2 pigeons in the tall grass. Blaze whined and barked the whole time I was away hiding the pigeons so I worked Whitey first.
Whitey
Whitey
Blaze continued to bark as I heeled Whitey to the field. She hasn’t done this in quite a while. I whoaed Whitey then tapped her on the head to release her. There was not any wind so it made it hard for the dogs to smell the pigeons. I have been flushing birds when the dogs get close to them so Whitey was real cautious. On the first bird, she was about 7 or 8 yards from when she pointed. That is the picture I took in the tall grass. I couldn’t see her point I just saw the grass quit moving. She was far enough away that she couldn’t see the trap hidden in the tall grass. I walked in front of her kicking the grass then flushed the bird. She watched it fly away without moving her feet. I continued to kick then went back and tapped her on the head.
She went back and forth across the field until she smelled the second bird. The grass wasn’t as tall here and I saw her point. I walked to her and stroked her sides then walked in front kicking the cover. When I flushed the pigeon she never moved. I continued to kick the cover then tapped her on the head to release her.
Tur Bo
Tur Bo
I usually run Tur Bo last but Blaze barked while I was putting out the next 2 pigeons so I ran him next. As I heeled Tur Bo to the field Blaze barked some more and I yelled for her to hush. She quit barking. I whoaed Tur Bo then tapped him on the head to release him. He was charging through the tall grass and went on point. I started toward him and he took a step. I flushed the pigeon and he chased.
He made a large cast then came back in front of me and pointed the second bird. I took some pictures then went to him and stroked his sides telling him what a good boy he is. Before I could get my hand in his collar he moved up a step and went back on point. I picked him up and set him back. He went back on point. I stroked his sides and hooked my hand in his collar but I made him stand for at least 2 minutes before I flushed the pigeon. He wanted to chase but I held him. He went back on point and I let him stand for about 30 seconds then tapped him on the head to release him.
Blaze
Blaze
Blaze never barked while I put out the last 2 birds. I heeled her out to the field and tapped her on the head to release her. She was about like Whitey on the bird in the tall brown grass. I was watching the grass move then it quit moving and I went to look for her. She was pretty close to the bird but from where she was standing, she had to have stopped on the smell, she couldn’t see the trap. I walked in front kicking the grass and flushed the bird. She never moved. I continued to kick the cover then came back and tapped her on the head.
I saw her point the second bird. The cover close to it wasn’t as tall as where the other bird was. I walked to her and stroked her sides. When I stroke the dogs sides I always talk to them telling them what good dogs they are. After stroking her sides I walked in front kicking the cover then flushed the pigeon. It flew back over her head and she just turned her head to watch it fly away. Her feet never moved. I tapped her on the head.
Sometimes you wonder if dogs make a connection as I want Blaze to make about the barking. The litter that Tur Bo was born into would head for the pigeon coop and eat pigeon poop when they were 5 or 6 weeks old. Usually it was only 2 or 3 of the 4 pup litter that would eat the poop. I had them dragging a 2 foot rope from their collar and I started grabbing the rope and putting them back in the kennel. It only took about 4 or 5 times and the whole litter was broke from eating pigeon poop. Tur Bo still doesn’t ever eat the poop when he comes by the coop.