Blaze
It was warmer this morning but the dogs didn’t care. I hid the pigeons on my neighbors side of the training grounds. His side has more cover right now because I mowed my side. I also mow part of his side but he lets me leave some places to hide pigeons.
I heeled Blaze out with the e-collars on her neck and flanks. I put her on whoa, walked to the 4-wheeler and got on. I started it and she took off. I didn’t say anything, I just held the button on the transmitter down on, level 3, until she stopped. I started to her on the 4-wheeler and she started moving again. I had the transmitter in my hand so she didn’t go very far before she stopped. I picked her up, got back on the 4-wheeler and slowly road a big circle back to the starting point. This time when I set her up on whoa she stayed until I got on the 4-wheeler, started it and said okay.
She went all the way to the back before she hit the scent cone of a pigeon. She pointed and while she was on point she pooped without ever losing any rigidity. I walked in front of her taking pictures as I went. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She never moved. I got on the 4-wheeler and when I started it she took a step. I yelled whoa and she stopped. I carried her back to where she was originally on point. It was easy to find because of her poop. This time she let me start the 4-wheeler and say okay before she moved.
She reminded me of a time that Don Bowlen and I were in Kansas on a quail hunt. We got to the place we were going to hunt pretty early and turned the dogs out and were getting our guns, vests, and shells together when Don said, “is that dog pooping or on point.” I looked and Lucky, Blaze’s dad, had started to poop when he smelled a covey of quail and went on point. I said, “both” and we grabbed our guns. He wasn’t 15 yards from the truck.
She pointed her second bird and I walked in front of her kicking the cover then flushed the pigeon. When it came out of the release trap it got tangled in the weeds. That was too much for Blaze and she started moving. I whoaed her and she stopped. I carried her back to the original spot and stroked her sides telling her what a good girl she was. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it and told her okay.
She was on the wrong side of her third bird when she got a little smell. She pointed then started moving so I flushed the pigeon. She stopped to flush, as she should. I didn’t even get off the 4-wheeler. I restarted it and told her okay. She hunted back to the kennel.
Tur Bo
Tur Bo
Yesterday, Tur Bo got the slow ride on the 4-wheeler but today he didn’t move until I said okay. He went all the way to the back and pointed the farthest bird. He whirled in with his front end lower than his rear. Usually, his points look the same but this one was different. I took pictures then kicked in front of him. I went to him, held his collar and flushed the pigeon. If I hadn’t held him he would have chased. When he went back on point I got on the 4-wheeler and when I started it he moved. I whoaed him and he stopped. I set him back, got on the 4-wheeler and started it. I let him stand for a few seconds before saying okay.
He pointed the second bird from about 15 yards. I took some pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. I walked back to him and held his collar and flushed the bird. He didn’t move. I got on the 4-wheeler after he went back on point, started it and he didn’t move until I said okay.
He went straight to his third bird without much hunting. He pointed and I walked in front of him kicking the cover. Then I went back to him and held his collar and flushed the pigeon. He never moved. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it and said okay. Since he hadn’t ran much I took him all the way to the back and then to the kennel.
Luke
Luke
Luke has been doing real well on these exercises but he’s older and has been through a lot of training. I heeled him out near the 4-wheeler and said whoa. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it and said okay. By the time I got to the first pigeon he was on point.
I got off the 4-wheeler and walked in front of him taking pictures. I kicked the cover then flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He never moved. I continued to kick the cover then got on the 4-wheeler, started it and said okay.
He pointed the second pigeon from about 15 yards. The wind was blowing right in his face. He was opening and closing his mouth as though he was chewing the scent. I walked in front of him kicking the cover then flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He never moved. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it and he moved. He’s been perfect but today he moved and I whoaed him. He stopped and I set him back to the original spot. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it and let him stand for a few seconds before saying okay.
The wind was blowing a little harder the longer we stayed out here and it helped Luke. He pointed the third pigeon and the wind was blowing right in his face. I walked in front of him, kicking the cover, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He never moved. I got on the 4-wheeler, started it and let him stand for a few seconds before saying okay. He hunted back to the kennel.
I like working these young dogs off the 4-wheeler. Making them stand while I get back on the 4-wheeler, starting it and wait for me to say okay will give them the patience to be steady to wing and shot, I hope. Some of my friends use a tennis ball, by throwing the ball and making the young dog stay on whoa until commanded to go after it. The dogs learn that whoa means, don’t move your feet until you get another command.