They're Back ...
That's Bella, now nearly a year old, on one of our snowshoeing excursions this winter. While this was, without a doubt, the mildest winter we've ever had in northern New Hampshire and Vermont, there were still plenty of days when we were able to get out and explore the winter woods. It kept the dogs in shape, and was beneficial for me to keep the winter blues at bay.
The lack of snowfall this winter and the recent warmup that we had has allowed us to start our sojourns looking for birds again. I suspected that the woodcock might be returning northward with all of the mild temps, and this suspicion was confirmed last week when I bumped a woodcock getting to a fishing spot along the river. Most years, we're not able to get in to the woods until early to mid-April, but this year's conditions have served to jumpstart our training.
The lack of snowfall this winter and the recent warmup that we had has allowed us to start our sojourns looking for birds again. I suspected that the woodcock might be returning northward with all of the mild temps, and this suspicion was confirmed last week when I bumped a woodcock getting to a fishing spot along the river. Most years, we're not able to get in to the woods until early to mid-April, but this year's conditions have served to jumpstart our training.
As you can imagine, Bella and Rocky will get the most work over the next month. This is a critical time for them, to reinforce some of the things they learned last fall, and the returning woodcock will be important in our lessons. The older dogs will get some runs in as well, but we'll be concentrating on the pups for the most part.
Of course, we want to see a lot of points during our runs, but we also hope to have them hold their points longer and work on their patterning and cooperation with my commands. Both pups have matured somewhat this winter (they can still be a handful when they're together), and I have noticed a difference in them lately.
Yesterday was our first true training sessions. Bella had one particularly good moment, pointing and holding pretty well on a tight-sitting woodcock. Probably a migrating bird (it didn't fly too far after it was flushed, and also appeared to be a male because of its small body size), but once Bella saw it move, the game was over. She charged and the woodcock flushed, and the long road teaching the "Whoa" command continues ...
Rocky also got a good run in, flash pointing a couple of woodcock in his hour long run. He patterned well and has not lost any of his exuberance in plowing through the heaviest of cover. He just goes for it, all of the time. He also did a good job complying with my commands and recalling when needed.
We'll keep working at it and hopefully will have some updates on progress from the pups.
Of course, we want to see a lot of points during our runs, but we also hope to have them hold their points longer and work on their patterning and cooperation with my commands. Both pups have matured somewhat this winter (they can still be a handful when they're together), and I have noticed a difference in them lately.
Yesterday was our first true training sessions. Bella had one particularly good moment, pointing and holding pretty well on a tight-sitting woodcock. Probably a migrating bird (it didn't fly too far after it was flushed, and also appeared to be a male because of its small body size), but once Bella saw it move, the game was over. She charged and the woodcock flushed, and the long road teaching the "Whoa" command continues ...
Rocky also got a good run in, flash pointing a couple of woodcock in his hour long run. He patterned well and has not lost any of his exuberance in plowing through the heaviest of cover. He just goes for it, all of the time. He also did a good job complying with my commands and recalling when needed.
We'll keep working at it and hopefully will have some updates on progress from the pups.
Bella points one of our returning woodcock on March 14.
It was a solid point, and she held it well, but as you'll see,
we have a long way to go on the "Whoa" command ...
