Training Days

Spot being backed by Reba and Slick

With the warmer weather fast approaching we have been getting out to the training areas to get some wild bird work in before the Snakes come out of their holes . we have two areas that we go to, both are open enough so the dogs get a good run in and both hold Birds ,Scaled Quail only in one spot ,Scaled and Mearns in the other . The goal is simple .Get the Dogs and Myself out for some  exercise, get the dogs handling , get the Dogs into Birds and get  them steady .Most of the time Tish is along also , so I work her on the Birds the Pointers miss (usually singles ) when the Pointers are on point I walk her in at heel then if the covey does not get up I relocate the Pointers ,if nothing happens then Tish is released for a flush. It's a lot of work but rewarding especially when things happen the way the should .
Because of the dry conditions scenting is  extremely tough ,therefore the dogs sometimes "bump" birds  this is an opportunity to work the dogs on "stop to flush' .Dixie is out with us to , with check cord in tow .I let her run  until I think she might be a little lost then call her in , the reward is water . She has scored points on Doves ,Meadow Larks ,Scaled ,Gambles and Mearns Quail and now has several backs under her belt .
We have been backing this up with some basic obedience stuff re .heeling , coming in on whistle blasts and retrieving work .How I work my dogs may not work for you , that's cool ,what I am accomplishing is letting the dogs be dogs , under some control.

Dixie learning to heel without a lead

Dixie pointing a Dove

Reba Pointing Scaled Quail

Okie ,Buddy and Dixie on a Mearns covey find

Buddy pointing a single Mearns

Tish about to flush a Scaled Quail