I didn’t get a chance to work dogs today until after lunch and it was over 80 degrees. I didn’t work Tur Bo on heel and whoa. I loaded Tur Bo, Whitey, Blaze and 6 pigeons into the truck and went to the county park.
Whitey
I tied the dogs to a fence in the shade and put out 2 pigeons. I have been putting the pigeons close together but today I spread them out so the dogs would have a chance to point twice. I put the e-collars on Whitey and heeled her to the road. It was so hot I only heeled her a short distance then released her to hunt. Today the wind was only about 5 miles an hour from the south. When she hit the scent cone she pointed. She was rigid but her tail was level with her back. On wild quail she looks good and she likes pigeons but she doesn’t want to waste any style on them. I walked in front, flushed the bird and fired the blank pistol. She never moved. I kicked the cover then tapped her on the head to release her.
On her second bird, she crossed the scent cone pretty close to the pigeon and whirled into a point. Again her tail was level with her back. I walked in front of her kicking the cover, flushed the pigeon and fired the blank pistol. She took 2 or 3 steps and stopped when I said whoa. I picked her up and put her back. I went in front of her and kicked the cover. I walked back and tapped her on the head to release her.
Blaze
I heeled Blaze a short distance down the road then released her to hunt. We didn’t have very much wind so Blaze was pretty close when she hit the scent cone. Blaze always looks good on point. I walked in front of her, flushed the bird and shot the blank pistol. She never moved. I kicked the cover some more then tapped her on the head to release her.
Blaze pointed her second bird and I walked in front, kicking the cover, flushed the bird and shot the pistol. The pigeon flew right back over her head and she turned to watch it fly away. I kicked the cover and tapped her on the head to release her.
Tur Bo
Tur Bo was next. I only heeled him a short distance but I did 3 or 4 180 degree turns then released him to hunt. He was really running when he hit the scent cone, whirled around and pointed. His head was up but his tail was straight out behind. I stopped and waited. His tail came up, slowly, but finally was at 12 o’clock. I whoaed him 1 time then walked in front. I have been standing to the side or behind him. The last time I worked him and this time I walked in front kicking the tall grass. I flushed the bird and fired the blank pistol. He chased but not very far.
He pointed the second bird with good style. I whoaed him 1 time and walked in front. He started to move (I saw his tail move and knew he was going to move) and I whoaed him again. He never moved. I kicked some more then flushed the bird and shot the blank pistol. He chased.
I enjoy working dogs on birds. In less than an hour I got 6 points and the young dogs learned a little more. With more repetitions they will become steady to wing and shot, I hope.