Pigeon coop

Well thanks to a patriot's day respite from work I have begun the construction of a pigeon coop. Surprisingly she who must be obeyed has not had a major objection to it's construction OR eventual location. So I am currently putting the finishing touches on the coop and will be searching for some residents soon. Should have a flock up and running by this summer assuming all goes well. Wish me luck.

Well things have slowed down here for the time being. Still trying to find time to build a coop. Hopefully this week will do it but the weather has not be cooperating. We'll have to wait and see

When is it Time to Steady a Dog

Well for those of us who want a finished trained dog this is always the question. Some people say that once the dog starts standing it's game you can begin the process others wait until they will let you flush. Me - I think it comes with a certain amount of maturity. We are asking them (the dogs) to do something against their nature to just stand a watch a bird fly so IMO they need the maturity to accept that what they could do they can no longer do.

For Zoe that time has come. I was running the dogs at a new location scouting for covers on some high ground since most of my covers are either under water or currently inaccessible. Well to make a long story short Zoe exhibited what I needed to see handling a couple of grouse with nice manners. This past fall she had handled the birds quite well pointing those she smelled which she has done since she was 6 months old as she was forced to the lead-off role when Ivy scratched a cornea the first week of the season and was put on the IR for 2 weeks. Yet this weekend was something different. She handled running birds like she was a broke dog. moving when they moved stopping and pointing when they stopped essentially trying to hold the bird without putting to much pressure on it to case it to fly.

Needless to say I was quite happy with her performance and she showed to me that she is now finally ready to begin the steadying progress. Time to build that pigeon coup and get it done over the summer....