Allie is coming along rather well. Here she is pointing a wing on the string. She has pointed planted birds, too - but, it is rather hard trying to take a photo while steadying her. And, it looks like she is ready to go into heat.

Long and cut

Here is Duke on the whoa table. This time he had a little trouble up there because Kathy was taking his photo. I built this table for whoa training and for hold training. The dogs love to jump off it when they are loose in the yard.

Now that Duke has been with me for awhile; I have gotten to see more of his training. I planted a couple of pigeons in yard to see if he could point them out. The first bird he wasn't too impressive with the find; he was almost on the bird before he pointed. The second bird he was walking by and got the scent cone and slammed a point that was almost breath taking. I am getting Duke more used to the leash to show him the heel command. He was trained to come with the command "here" so I may have to find a command that is not too close in resemblance to heel - maybe something in Spanish. (I teach my dogs commands in Spanish, too). I worked him on the whoa table and he knows "whoa", so I am very happy with that. His kennel (crate) training is coming along now. He goes in by himself but I do cheat with the kennel training; I give the dogs a treat after they go in. My next goal is to get him to retrieve. This weekend, I am going to take him out and do some field training on birds with a .22 blank pistol and see how it goes with him (I was told that he has had this before).

This is my latest addition to my wingshooting partners. He is a English Pointer, 11 months old. He has had some training so the training should go well with him. I am going to call him "Duke" for Conde Duque.

Tacoma's bird introduction

This is his first introduction with a bird. I don't think he'll have any problems picking up birds.

Enjoying the journey

Allie is coming along fine. Lately, her points have been the classic three legged stance with a leg tucked up; pretty to watch. She is retrieving but I still have her on a long check cord. Her basic obedience is doing well and will start the whistle on her. I have had her on planted birds in the yard which she did well on. I am enjoying the journey with her. She is still young but look forward to the future when I can hunt her and test her.

I got the blues...

Last weekend I went up to our local mountians to hunt Dusky Grouse; formally called Blue Grouse. This past weekend I have major bragging rights; I scored my first Scotch Double on Duskies. My dog, Tizona, got super birdy and took me downhill for about thirty yards - there are times you know she on a hot scent and something is ready to flush. I was standing on a small rise between an old logging road and drain. She jumped onto the old road and flush some duskies. The flush occurred behind some spruces so I waited for the instant for the birds to appear. I picked out one bird and shot; I saw two birds tumble in the air. My dog retrieved the birds and my hunting buddy came over to investigate "a witness". He later that afternoon got a pair of birds with two shots. Dusky Grouse season is a great way to start out the hunting season. My birds are on the left with the spent shell next to them.