Tur Bo
Tur Bo
The temperature was 48 degrees this morning when I went outside. It was cool on the 4-wheeler even with a jacket on. But this is more like dog training/bird hunting weather. I hid two pigeons on the training grounds in release traps.
I worked Tur Bo first because he caught a pigeon yesterday and I wanted to have really good flying pigeons for him. The pigeon he caught was a good flying pigeon but it hit a limb when it came out of the release trap. It wasn’t hurt by the limb or Tur Bo catching it. I used the pigeon again today. I heeled Tur Bo out by the 4-wheeler with the e-collars on his neck and flanks. I started the 4-wheeler and released him to hunt.
When I got close to the first bird he was on point. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and he took a step. I picked him up and set him back. When he went back on point I shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I shot the blank two more times and he never moved. I started the 4-wheeler and released him to hunt.
He was about 15 yards from the second bird when he pointed. I took more pictures then kicked in front of him. When I flushed the pigeon it hit a limb but didn’t slow down. Tur Bo chased the pigeon to a near by tree. I stopped him with the e-collar on his flanks. I held the button down while I carried him back where he had originally pointed. I waited until he went back on point and shot the blank pistol. He took a step so I held the button down while I carried him back. I went back to kicking the cover and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover and shot the blank pistol, again. He didn’t move. I stroked his sides then tapped him on the head to release him. I let him run for a while before returning to the kennel.
Blaze
Blaze
I heeled Blaze out with the e-collars on her neck and flanks. I started the 4-wheeler and released her with an okay. She sped through the training grounds all the way to the back then hunted back to the front and pointed. I took pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She never moved. I continued to kick the cover and shot the blank pistol 2 more times. She didn’t move. I stroked her sides and told her what a good girl she is. I started the 4-wheeler and released her.
I saw her whirl into a point on the second bird. She has been trying to get too close to her birds part of the time but I’ve been flushing the pigeon when she tries to take an extra step. This has made her stop on the edge of the scent cone. I took pictures then walked in front of her kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. She didn’t move. I continued to kick the cover and shot the blank pistol two more times. She didn’t move. I went to her and stroked her sides then tapped her on the head to release her. I let her run for a while before taking her back to the kennel.
Luke
Luke
I heeled Luke out near the 4-wheeler with the e-collars on his neck and flanks. I started the 4-wheeler and released him. He was on point when I got to the first bird. Yesterday he got real close on one of his birds so I flushed the next one when he took a step instead of pointing. Today he was 15 yards or farther away from this pigeon. I took pictures then walked in front of him kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon but I had not reloaded the blank pistol. I reloaded it, shot two times and he never moved. I started the 4-wheeler and released him with an okay.
I was ready to flush his next bird if he tried to get too close but he slid to a stop. I took pictures and went in front of him kicking the cover. I flushed the pigeon and shot the blank pistol. He didn’t move. I shot the blank pistol two more times and he didn’t move. I stroked his sides telling him what a good boy he is. I tapped him on the head to release him. I let him run before returning to the kennel.
With the cooler weather I should be able to train most mornings. The young dogs and I really enjoy these training sessions. The pigeons aren’t real crazy about it but the dogs and I enjoy it.