I had to go out of town for 3 family reunions and was on vacation for part of the month of June, so I didn’t get to train or blog as often as I would have liked. Now I’m home for a while, hopefully. It rained early this morning so I got out about 10:00 am. The sun was shining and after the rain it was really humid but the dogs were glad to get out.
Blaze
Blaze
I heeled Blaze out from the kennel with an e-collar on her neck and one around her flanks. When she stepped onto the whoa board I put the check around her flanks, with a half hitch, then snapped it to the D ring in her collar. I had hidden 4 pigeons in the tall grass that had grown up around the pigeon poles. (The grass is now about waist high. I may have to mow soon.) Two of the pigeon were attached to the pigeon poles by long strings.
I took some pictures, then walked through the tall grass, kicking as I went. When I reached the far end I turned and started back. I flushed the first bird, one that was attached to a pigeon pole, and shot the blank pistol. She danced a little but stayed on the board. I kept kicking the grass, then flushed a fly away bird and shot the blank pistol. She stayed on the board. These 2 birds were about 25 yards from her, so the temptation wasn’t as great as a closer bird would be.
I kept kicking the grass and getting closer. I flushed the second bird that was attached to the pigeon pole and shot the blank pistol. She stayed on the board. I kept on kicking then flushed another fly away bird. It was only a few yards from her. I waited for 3 or 4 seconds after the pigeon flew to shoot the blank pistol. She stayed on the board.
I kept kicking the grass, then flushed a pigeon on a string, that was close and fired the blank pistol. Her toe nails were hanging over the edge but she didn’t come off the board. I walked to the far end and flushed the other pigeon on a string and fired the blank pistol. When I came back closer to Blaze I noticed she had her front feet off the whoa board. As soon as I saw her front feet were off the board I hit the button on the e-collar and held it down on level 3. I picked her up and set her back. The instant her feet touched the board I let off the button.
I walked back into the tall grass flushing the pigeons. My blank pistol was empty so I couldn’t shoot but she never came off the board again. I flushed the pigeons on a string several more times without her coming off the board. I took the check cord off her then carried her toward the kennel, before setting her on the ground to heel back to the kennel.
Tur Bo
Tur Bo
I heeled Tur Bo out with the e-collars on him and when he stepped onto the whoa board I put the check cord on him with a half hitch around his flanks. I walked through the tall grass to the far end and flushed a pigeon on the string. He stayed on the board until I shot the blank pistol. When he came off the board he went as far as the check cord would allow him. I picked him up and put him on the whoa board. When he went back on point I walked back to the far end and flushed a fly away bird. When I shot the blank pistol he came off the board. This time I held the button on the e-collar, around his flanks, down on level 3. I picked him up and put him on the board. When his feet touched the board I released the button.
I walked to the far end then back to the birds that were hid closer to him. I flushed the fly away bird that was about 3 yards from him then shot the blank pistol. When I shot he came off the board. I held the button on the e-collar down on level 3 until I set him back on the board. When his feet touched the board I released the button. I walked back into the tall grass then flushed the second bird on a string. When I shot the blank pistol his front feet came off the board but his back feet stayed on. I held the button on the e-collar down and Tur Bo backed onto the board. As soon as he was on the board I released the button.
I walked back to the closer bird and threw it into the air. When it was about to light I shot the blank pistol and he came off the board. I moved the e-collar to level 4 then held the button down. I picked him up and when I put him down I let off the button. I walked back to the tall grass and tossed the pigeon into the air and shot the blank pistol. He stayed on the board.
I walked to the far bird and flushed it but my blank gun was empty so I couldn’t shoot. He stayed on the board. I walked back to the closer bird and tossed it into the air. It flew close to him and he came off the board. I held the button, on the e-collar down, on level 4 and put him back on the board. When his feet touched the board I let off the button. I tossed the bird into the air another couple of times right in front of him and he never came off the board again. I took the check cord off and carried him a little way back toward the kennel then put him down and heeled him the rest of the way.
My grand dad told me one time about a neighbor that had some calves in a pen with no gate. He said the neighbor would lift the calves over the fence each morning so they could eat grass then back into safety of the evening. He said when the calves got to about 500 pounds the neighbor was still lifting them over the fence. He was about the strongest man around. I think about grandpa’s joke every once in a while when I’m carrying Tur Bo back. He’s over 50 pounds now and I hope he’s either through growing or he stops moving pretty soon or both.