Bailey on Pigeons

[jabba]

I caught some pigeons for my 5 month old GSP Bailey a couple days ago.

First, I took the cage full of them and put them on the porch and let both Bailey and Cooper out to check them out. Bailey was a little tentative, but Cooper was going crazy. Very excited, and eventually got to trying to get at them through the wire cage. The excitement rubbed off onto the little dog just like I had hoped. I priased her a lot whiel she was being all excited.

The next day, after work, I trimmed the wings on one, and had my brother hold the older dog while the little dog chased the wing-trimmed pigeon around the yard. Eventually she was carrying it around in full strut and I had her bring it to me. It was not hurt and I put it back into the cage. I praised the hell out of her.

Then I caught a whole one, and got them all excited and let it go and it flew away. The point was for her to realize that they COULD get away.

Then I pulled the flight feathers on one so it could almost fly... but not quite, and let her chase that one around the yard for a bit, and she could not quite get it... then I let the big dog in the chase, and he immediately ran it down and caught it. Then he let her have it and she again, pranced around carrying it in full strut. I had her fetch it to me, and took it from her. Still alive, although beat up. I killed that one and let her carry it around a little more before taking it from her again. Lavish praise for her.

Yesterday, I planted one in the launcher in the weeds, and let them out to play. The 4 year old immediately shifted from frisbee to HUNT and pointed. I whooa'd him, and the little dog sort of honored his point. The worked the wind till she got the scent too. She then worked in toward the pigeon. When she got too close, I launched the bird and it flew off. She spent the next 10 minutes sniffing around where the launcher was.

I just put the launcher up and played frisbee with them.

I am pretty pleased. I will start shooting some of the pigeons for her soon.

Jabba

[Bill]

Its pretty awsome when the light comes on Jabba. I keep thinking that here in a year or so I might pick up a GSP to run with my Molly dog. Best of both that way. Now If I can just get Dep Don to start thinking about adding a breeding pair of GSP. ;D

[jabba]

It took her 15 seconds to find the pigeon hidden in the garden today after work, by herself.
So, now I KNOW she can smell them without the big dogs help.

Jabba

[Bill]

The hard part is convincing them that they don't "need" the big dogs help ;D

[jabba]

Last night I put one to sleep, and buried it in the weeds. She again found it right away, and pointed it pretty well. It was hard for me to wait long enough to let her fail. But eventually she sniffed it out and caught the bird. Went running around all proud of herself. At one point, she let it go for a second, and it flew away up into a tree. Exactly what I wanted to happen. Then I went and got the big dog and the .22. Of course he KNEW what the game was and was all excited right off. She was still all worked up. I shot the brid for them, and she was ON it almost as fast as Cooper. Then she carried it around dead for a while.

Guns and birds now go together, and BOTH are GREAT!! WooHoo.



Jabba

[Bill]

Sounds good there Jabba. A perfect combination. Nothing more needed. Guns and birds.

[donnie]

Awesome Jabba LOVE to see the lights turn on!