I spent about 20 days working on a rental unit and didn’t have time to work dogs. I’m finally through with that. Working young dogs is a way more fun than work working. But almost anything is. The quail season has started and I haven’t ventured out (it’s too hot) but I have two young dogs that need some training.
Sally pointing a pigeon.
Betsy pointing a pigeon.
Close up of Betsy.
This week I’ve been working Betsy and Sally on pigeons in the release traps. I’m also working Betsy on here, whoa, heel and kennel. I turned Betsy loose a couple of weeks ago and didn’t get her back for 5 1/2 hours. It wasn’t her fault, she didn’t know me and hadn’t been taught the here command.
Tuesday morning when I worked Sally on pigeons she pointed the first bird and held just fine but before I could even get off the 4-wheeler on her second bird she moved. When she moved I flushed the pigeon. Yesterday she held her birds just fine. I walk in front of her after taking pictures or while taking pictures. When I get close to the cover the pigeon is in I kick one time and flush the bird.
This morning I hid both pigeons on my side of the training grounds. It’s hard to hide the pigeons in a different place each time, on a small training field, but I try. I got Sally on her house and put an e-collar on her. She’s been bothered by the tag end of the collar because it is real long until this morning. It didn’t seem to bother her. I don’t even turn the e-collar on and she doesn’t drag a check cord. I want her to think that getting an e-collar on is the prelude to something fun happening.
I turned her loose and followed on the 4-wheeler. We went toward the back, crossed the wet weather creek and went past the brush pile. She was rounding a point on a thicket when she hit the scent cone and pointed. The wind was real light and on my place it’s usually swirling around. She lost the scent, slowly took a step, started to take another but caught the scent and with a foot in the air pointed, rigidly. I took a couple of pictures before getting off the 4-wheeler then walked around her taking pictures. When I got in front I just stood there for a little while watching her. I kicked the cover one time and flushed the pigeon. It came up but hit a limb, went back down, rose a second time and flew away. Sally chased for a long way. This was the first time she has chased very far and I was wishing that I had my blank pistol to shoot but I didn’t.
We went on toward the back. I’ve left a few strips of grass grow and had hidden a pigeon in one of these. We came down on the wrong side for her to smell it but after checking the back fence row we started back toward the front. With the wind in her face she slammed into a point as soon as she hit the scent cone and didn’t move. I walked in front of her taking pictures. I kicked the cover one time and flushed the pigeon. She ran to the release trap, smelled it then went back to hunting. She stayed in front of the 4-wheeler back to the kennel.
I reloaded the release traps. I got Betsy on her house and put e-collars on her neck and flanks. I hooked a short check cord to her regular collar and led her out with the piggin’ string. That’s a lot of equipment for one little dog but we are working on a lot of different commands. As I heeled her to the training grounds I whoaed her several times. After a few times of whoa I whoaed her and took the piggin’ string off. I released her to hunt.
She’s not used to the check cord and thinks she must stay pretty close to me. Each time she runs a little bit better but after losing her for 5 hours the other day I’m okay with her staying close until she gets used to me. She circled the brush pile and was headed for the thicket in just the right place to catch the scent of the pigeon at about 15 yards and pointed. I took pictures then walked in front of her. I stood, watching her for a few seconds then kicked the cover and flushed the pigeon. She chased for a little way then came back to check the trap.
After the first pigeon she wasn’t bothered by the check cord anymore. She was ahead me by quite away when she slid to a stop on the second bird. I took pictures of her as I got in front. I stood and watched her for a little while then kicked the cover and flushed the pigeon. She chased for a ways.
As we walked back toward the kennel I called her to me by hitting the tone on the e-collar around her neck and saying, “here”. She came to me. She then noticed the check cord and wouldn’t get over 30 yards away from me. I called her to me another couple of times. When we got to the retrieving bench I called her to me and had her jump on it by saying, “up” and tugging on the check cord. I walked her back and forth petting her every few feet. Mr. Wehle had a loving bench and that’s the way I’m using the retrieving bench.
I put her on the ground and led her to the air line crate I’m using to teach the kennel command with. When we start I have to force her into the kennel but after a few times she goes in on the command. When she’s going into the kennel on the command most of the time I will start introducing her to the e-collar. The first time she feels the electricity will be on this command and she will be going away from me. I, also, will use the lowest setting she can feel.
Both of these young dogs really enjoy getting out and finding birds. Their owner really enjoys getting them out to find birds. This is a lot more fun than painting, cleaning, or plumbing on a rental unit.
Betsy on a pigeon.
Sally pointing a pigeon.
Sally