Finally, we had a cooler morning. I haven’t worked Blaze and Whitey in quite awhile so they were ready this morning. I took them, Tur Bo and 6 pigeons, with release traps, to the county park.
Blaze
Blaze curled her lips on this point.
Blaze has been barking while I hid the pigeons but not this morning so I worked her first. I put an e-collar around her flanks and one around her neck then heeled her to the field. I whoaed her, walked around, came back and stroked her sides. I walked around her again then tapped her on the head to release her. I had walked farther down the field to hide the pigeons than usual but Blaze got in front of me going back and forth. The grass in most of the field is higher than the dogs head.
She hit the scent of the first bird and went on point. From where I was I couldn’t see her for the tall grass but I knew where she had to be. I walked around her kicking the grass after taking some pictures. I haven’t been shooting my blank pistol over them but this morning I had it with me. I made her stay on point for a couple of minutes then flushed the pigeon. She was steady for the flush but when I shot the blank pistol she lunged forward then stopped. I picked her up and carried her back to the original spot. I walked around kicking the grass for a couple of minutes before tapping her on the head to release her.
She was quite a ways from the second bird when she pointed. I went to her, took some pictures and walked around her for a couple of minutes. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. This time she never moved. I walked around her kicking the grass then tapped her on the head to release her.
Whitey
Whitey
After putting the e-collars on Whitey I heeled her to the edge of the field, where I whoaed her. Usually I don’t walk straight to the edge of the field. I heel the dog, then make several right and left turns so they get used to staying by my side. It also makes them less anxious about going to the bird field. Then I whoa them and walk around for a minute or longer.
I tapped her on the head and she ran back and forth as we went down the field. When she went on point she was buried in the tall weeds. I took some pictures, walked around in front of her then flushed the pigeon. She was steady to the flush but, like Blaze, she moved when I shot the blank pistol. I put her back then shot the blank pistol again as I kicked the tall grass. She didn’t move the second time but there was no bird, either. I tapped her on the head to release her.
When she pointed her second bird, I could see her, but just barely. (I may have to get some taller dogs.) I took more pictures, walked around her for a couple of minutes then flushed the pigeon. She never moved when the bird flew or when the gun went off. I walked around her some more then tapped her on the head.
Tur Bo
Tur Bo
Tur Bo no longer gets the e-collar around his flanks, I put a check cord on him with a half hitch around his flanks with the snap attached to his collar. I still slip the piggin’ string around his neck to heel him to the field. I also make a few right turns and a few left turns on the way. After putting him on whoa I walk round him for a minute or longer before tapping him on the head to release him.
Blaze and Whitey cut through the field but when I turn Tur Bo loose he bulls through. He’s taller and out weighs them by at least 20 pounds. He’s fun to watch as he goes through the heavy cover. It has to be solid, like a tree, for him to go around. When he pointed his first pigeon I took pictures before picking up the check cord. I stood a couple of feet behind him holding the check cord. I don’t hold him back with the check cord. I leave some slack in it but if he moves I don’t jerk the cord, I just hold it. The half hitch will tighten if he pulls hard enough on the check cord. After he stood there a couple of minutes I flushed the pigeon. He moved about half a body length when the bird flushed but when I shot the blank gun he hit the end of the check cord. That was the first time I remember shooting the blank since I’ve been trying to steady him to flush. Always before I shot the blank when he was chasing. I set him back and walked in front of him kicking the grass. I came back and tapped him on the head.
Tur Bo pointed his second bird and I took more pictures. Then I walked behind him and grabbed the check cord. I let him stay on point for a couple of minutes before I flushed the pigeon. He never moved when the bird flushed and I was out of bullets for the blank gun but I snapped it a couple of times. He never moved. I walked in front of him kicking the grass then tapped him on the head.
It felt good to be working dogs on a cool morning but we still have July and August to go through. I will have to start working the dogs earlier of the mornings but we lost a minute of daylight today. Days are getting shorter.