Blaze
Blaze
Another beautiful morning. Cool, in the low 60’s. When I was hiding the pigeons I tried to hide them where the dogs would have the wind in their favor. Most times the wind changes after I hide the birds or like this morning there is no wind. I worry about this but the dogs always find the birds.
I heeled Blaze out near the 4-wheeler with the e-collars on her neck and flanks. I started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and let her stand for about 15 seconds before I released her to hunt. She was on point when I got near the first bird. I took pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. When I kicked a little bush she took a step so I picked her up and set her back. I kicked the cover, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover and shot the blank pistol again. She still didn’t move. I started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and released her to hunt.
She went to the back of the training grounds and pointed. I took pictures then walked in front of her kicking the weeds. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She never moved. I continued to kick the cover and shot the blank pistol again. She didn’t move. I started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and released her.
I didn’t give her a chance to point the middle bird. When she got close I flushed it. She stopped to
flush. I walked in front of her and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I walked to her and stroked her sides then tapped her on the head to release her. She hunted back to the kennel.
Luke
Luke
I heeled Luke out near the 4-wheeler with e-collars on his neck and flanks. I started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and released him to hunt. He went all the way to the back and pointed the farthest bird. I took pictures, then walked in front of him, flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and released him.
He was really going when he hit the scent on the middle bird and slid to a point. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He never moved. I was sitting on the 4-wheeler writing on the note pad and looked up and Luke was eating grass. No big deal. I went back to writing then looked up again and he was wandering around. He wasn’t hunting he was just looking for some better grass. I hit the button on the e-collar on his flanks then picked him up and set him back. I went back to writing then started the 4-wheeler and released him to hunt.
When Luke got close to the middle bird I flushed it. He stopped to flush. I took more pictures then walked in front of him and shot the blank pistol. He never moved. I went to him and stroked his sides then tapped him on the head to release him. He hunted back to the kennel.
Tur Bo
Tur Bo
I brought Tur Bo out with e-collars on his neck and flanks and whoaed him near the 4-wheeler. I started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and waited about 15 seconds before I released him. On his way through the training grounds he pointed the middle bird. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and he didn’t move so I shot the blank pistol. He still didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover. I shot the blank pistol again and he took a couple of steps. I held the button on the transmitter down on, level 4, picked him up and set him back. I let off the button when his feet touched the ground. I kicked the cover some more and shot the blank pistol again. He didn’t move. I started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and released him.
He went on to the back and pointed. I took pictures then walked in front of him and flushed the pigeon. He took a couple of steps and stopped. I held the button on the flank e-collar down on level 4, picked him up and set him back. I kicked the cover and shot the blank pistol. He moved and I stopped him with the e-collar on his flanks. I held the button down until I carried him back then let off. I kicked the cover and shot the blank pistol. He moved again and I held the button down on the flank e-collar. I held the button down until I carried him back. I kicked in front of him and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I started the 4-wheeler, put it in gear and released him to hunt.
He hunted to the front and pointed. I walked in front of him and flushed the pigeon. He was steady on the flush but moved on the shot. I stopped him with the e-collar and put him back. I walked in front again kicking the cover. I shot the blank pistol and he didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover and shot the blank pistol once more. He still didn’t move. I went to him and stroked his sides telling him he was a good boy. I tapped him on the head to release him. He hunted back to the kennel.
Each day I work these young dogs they get better. Just a few weeks ago I couldn’t walk in front of Tur Bo and now I’m expecting him to be steady to wing and shot. On about one out of the three pigeons I put out for him he’s steady. The more repetitions we do the better he will get. Luke doesn’t even blink on the flush or shot on the training grounds. I need to see how he will do with real birds. At this time Blaze will not be steady to fall. She is steady to wing and shot more often than not but she has caught birds twice in the last couple of weeks. She is always looking for a chance to do it again. They all are getting better.