Most cool mornings I work the young dogs on pigeons. I took some pictures of the training grounds, more specifically, of the way I hide the pigeons in the the release traps. I completely cover the release traps with grass so the dog has no chance to see the bird or trap. I don’t want them to sight point in any way.
A strip of grass left to hide pigeons in, for the dogs.
There is a release trap and pigeon there.
Another pigeon here.
The pictures are from a few days ago. Yesterday, during the work out I had hidden the birds in a strip of grass that was surrounded by trees with just a small circle of open grass. The strip of left over grass was only about 7 or 8 yards long. I put a release trap with a pigeon in it on both ends.
I heeled Boss to the highway out front then back to the training grounds after whoaing him on all 3 place boards. I had whoaed him several times before and after the place boards. He’s starting to really understand what “whoa” means.
We had a pretty good breeze from the west when we approached the circle of trees. I heeled him through a break in the trees and whoaed him. We were 20 yards or more from the strip of grass. I took the piggin’ string off and tapped his head. He didn’t move. Usually, when I whoa him his tail is up. I tapped his head again thinking from all of the whoaing up to this point he was just being sticky. He still didn’t move.
I walked out in front of him and noticed that he was breathing the scent in through his mouth. He was on point. I hadn’t brought my stake with me so I tied his check cord to a tree limb. I went back in front kicking the cover. I flushed the farther pigeon. He didn’t move.
He was still 20 yards or farther from the pigeon that was left. I walked through the tall grass kicking the cover. After maybe a minute of me kicking the cover I flushed the second pigeon. He still didn’t move. I stroked his sides and told him what a good boy he is. I untied his check cord and heeled him away. I released him to run. After a couple of laps of the training grounds with me on the 4-wheeler I put him in the kennel.
After reloading the release traps I brought Abby out. Abby and now Josie, too, try to lead me. I do a lot of u turns and left turns when they get too far ahead of me as we are heeling toward the training grounds. The dogs know there are birds and they want to hurry. I don’t take them all the way to the highway. We just cut across the yard and hit all 3 place boards.
Because I led Boss right into the scent cone, I took Abby into the circle of trees from a different break. I whoaed her and took the piggin’ string off. When I tapped her head to release her she went to the strip where I had birds hidden the day before. After she checked it she came in front of me.
Boss on a pigeon.
She was going really fast when she hit the scent cone and slid to a point. I had the stake with me now and I tied her check cord to it. Abby was closer to the birds than Boss had been so I walked both sides of the strip from end to end, kicking the cover. I flushed the farther pigeon and she took a step with the check cord stopping her. I set her back.
After she got the scent of the bird, still in the grass, I started kicking the cover again. I went from end to end on both sides. When I flushed the pigeon she jumped really high trying to catch the bird. I set her back. I walked the strip some more then heeled her away. I ran her a couple of laps with the 4-wheeler then put her in the kennel.
Josie was next. She used to be really good about heeling but now she just wants to lead me to the training grounds. I make lots of turns and sometimes just take really small steps. The young dogs just want to get to the place boards then go to the birds.
Abby on a pigeon.
When she pointed Josie was almost in Abby’s foot prints but then she wanted to take a step. I set her back, whoaed her and tied the check cord to the stake. I walked both sides of the strip of grass and because she had taken a step after going on point, I made her stay on point longer, before flushing a bird.
When I flushed the first pigeon Josie tried to get it but the check cord stopped her. Then she tried to get the other bird still hidden in the grass. I set her back and whoaed her. I stroked her sides and brushed her up. Then I walked up and down the strip on both sides several times. I made her stay on point a long time before I flushed the bird. She tried really hard to catch the bird. I set her back and whoaed her.
I kicked the strip some more then heeled her away. I would have run her off the 4-wheler a couple of laps but she went back to the kennel after one lap. I put her up.
The older 3 dogs don’t always get to work but a lot of times I just run them off the 4-wheeler to get them some exercise. I also work Mann and Sally on retrieving. I cut a hot dog in 18 or 20 slices so they get a sliver each time they retrieve a bumper, correctly.
Josie on a pigeon.
Neither of these dogs really, really like to retrieve but I think they are liking it better since I have been giving them the hot dog slivers. Usually, dogs like what ever they are trained to do. I clean pens twice a day and each dog goes back into their kennel without me saying anything to them, most times.
They heel and whoa when they are told too as well as jump onto or into anything when they are told, “up” or “kennel”. And they act happy to do it. Sally acted happy about the retrieving the last time and Mann is getting better. Maybe they are just happy about the hot dog. What ever works.
I used to give Lady the head of the quail when she brought it to me. She was the best retriever I have ever had. As she got older she thought the head was hers even if another dog retrieved the bird. And she usually got it.
An old structure I saw in Kansas several day s ago. Not sure what it was.
Years ago, Dennis Garrison had a Brittany that he would give the heads. It may have been because he forgot to give her the head a few times but she got to taking the head herself before she brought the bird. It wasn’t long she figured out that she could get a little more if she wanted. She still brought the bird to him but some of the time part of the breast was gone, too.
Remembering the personalities and the quirks of some of the dogs I’ve been around in the past makes having dogs something special. My life would not be complete without dogs to work with.