Saturday, February 1, 2014

Using the barrel to start breaking your derby

Above are two pictures of my barrel set-up.  Notice I have a metal frame around my barrel, and in the second picture that I have a cpvc pole 8 feet tall, with a 10 foot cord on it, 12 feet in front of the barrel .
I do not introduce birds until the third day.  For the first three days, I set the dog up on the barrel, with an electric collar on the flank, attached to two bungee chords from the top on the metal frame. I stroke the dog under his chin, up his back, up his tail, and up between his back legs , in that order.  I then point a finger at him, say whoa ONCE, touch him with the E collar once on the lowest setting,  and walk a big circle in front of him to get to the other side.  Repeat this same sequence on the far side, and take the dog down , and walk him around or put it on a stake out for 2 or 3 minutes.  Repeat this sequence 3 times, and put the dog up.  Do every day 3 days in a row, then introduce birds in a crate.  Guarantee, he will come off that barrel to get to them.  Touch him one time with the electric collar, on it's lowest setting, and put him back up on the barrel. and repeat the stroking sequence , say whoa ONE time, and walk out and kick the bird crate.  When he stands for this without moving, put one of your birds on the tether, and let it walk around on the ground.  If he moves, touch him one time(low setting), and stroke him again.  When he stand for this, without moving,  usually about 3  times, then walk the bird up, and make it fly it's circle in front of the dog.  As the work progresses, you can move the barrel up closer to the pigeon, until it brushes the dog on it's circle flight. This sequence of training should take from 8 to 10 days from start to finish.  When your done, you can walk in front of him on point, point your finger, and flush and shoot.  The finger pointing becomes an unsaid whoa.   bud

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