Barrel Training Part 1

Hello, Welcome to Three Arrow Farm, home of the Mountain Man Kennels. I’m Bud Moore and I have been raising and campaigning major circuit pointing dogs for over 50 years. 

 

Introduction

Today, I would like to take you through the physical facilities where we start the formal education of our young dogs. Remember young dogs, no pressure, very little electricity. This is where we introduce the electric collar.

Introducing the Barrel
Notice we start out looking at our barrel. Our barrel is stable, in a metal angle iron frame. Very inexpensive to have welded and fabricated. It has a lip half way up, all the way around. When your dog jumps off, this lip gives it someplace to put its feet to keep from hanging itself. I like something rough on top of the barrel to give the dog something to stabilize itself. But not too stable, as you want the dog to be tense (high and tight). This is where you help Mother Nature (genes) and put some style into the stance of your dog. On this barrel we are going to teach your young dog that “whoa” means plant all four feet and do not move. You are going to use this barrel every day until with one command your dog stays put with style.

On the top bar we can have two bungie cords. One for the collar, one for the flank if you think you need a flank collar. I like to put my electric collar on the flank. These bungie cords are adjustable in length so they can apply some pressure to keep the head up, yet allow the dog to jump if and when he wants “to be a puppy”, yet does not allow him to escape. He is always under your control.

Also, we are showing you how we introduce birds to this part of his education. Control – always be in control of the situation, so the birds are in cages. 
 

This allows your pigeon to hit the ground and walk around in front of the young dog on the barrel.

 

We show you how close to have your barrel to the pigeon pole and how to attach a cord to the pigeon so as not to harm the pigeon. When you have your young dog standing right on the barrel, you will fly a pigeon in front of him about 18 to 24 inches from his head. But that’s a later lesson.

Lesson # 1, Stand Still with Style

Here we want to teach the young dog to stand still with style. This comes in handy when you win a placement and get your dog lined up for a picture. Never tell your dog a command more than once. When you keep repeating “whoa” to get him to stop, which one do you want him to listen to and which “whoa” to ignore? Do not teach your dog bad habits, like ignoring a command.

Take your dog to your barrel and stand him up on top of it. Attach the front bungie to his collar, and the back bungie to your electric collar which you have put on his flank. You want your electric collar on its lowest setting. You will only use it to get his attention at this stage.

Lots of hands on. Stroke him under his chin and up his tail. High head, high tail. Style. He will be nervous because the top of this barrel is round and slippery. He will have to tense up to keep his balance. This is where you give him confidence, and teach him when he stays still, he gets lots of hands on. All young dogs like lots of hands on. It’s comforting and gives them confidence. When he stands still, tell him “whoa” and give him a visual sign, and walk out front of him. I like to point a finger at him with my palm down. When he moves or lets his style down, touch him with the electric collar on its lowest setting. This tells him “I said stay still, all 4 feet still, high head, high tail.” Then walk back to him and stroke him up again.  Repeat several times. 
 

 

Tell him, or in this case her, “whoa” every time you walk out front, but only once when you walk out front.

This session should last about 10-15 minutes. Do this several days in a row. It usually takes 3 or 4 sessions to get him to stand still.

When after several sessions, he is standing still, now introduce birds out front. This should take you back to day one, as he will want to get off that barrel and get up close and personal with those birds. When he moves, touch him once on the low setting, and only once, with the electric collar. You are only reminding him, stand still, not punishing him! Hands on – stroke – stroke – stroke! Then, tell him “whoa”, walk out front and move the birds with your foot – a repeat performance will probably happen. Touch with the collar, walk back and stroke, stroke, stroke. After a couple of these sessions, you will have a high, tight, stylish, young dog. Now you are ready to introduce the pigeon on the pole, out front.

Lesson #2, Pigeons

Attach a pigeon as shown and allow it to walk around on the ground. Put your dog on the barrel, stroke it and tell it “whoa” one time as you walk out front. Point your finger, palm down, and walk to the pigeon. Look at your dog all the time. Do not allow any movement. If you have any movement, go back to the last lesson. Repeat the “stand still” lesson.

When you can walk out front of the pigeon and your dog stands still, pick up the pigeon, looking at your dog. Gently throw the pigeon at the dog. The pigeon will fly a circle right in front of the dog. He will probably lean in and snap or jump at the pigeon the first time. If this happens, touch with the e-collar, go back to him, restack him and stroke, stroke, stroke. Repeat this lesson only 3 times and put the dog up. Repeat every day, once a day, until the dog will stand still with the pigeon flying in his face. When he will stand on the barrel for you to fly pigeons, you can introduce the gun.

Lesson #3, Introducing the Gun

With your dog “barrel-wise” and “pigeon broke”, now you can introduce a gun shot. I like a 22 caliber pistol and shoot nail gun loads that can be purchased at any lumber yard. They come in several strength levels (noise intensity). Start  out with a box of the lowest level as they will produce the least percussion (ear drums) and noise. They are also not as expensive as regular blanks.

Put your pup on the barrel and fly one pigeon for him. Reward good behavior by stroking him. Now go back out front and fly another pigeon. Just as the pigeon gets past your pup on his circle (as close as you can react), fire one shot only. Point the pistol behind you so the noise and percussion goes away from you and the pup. Then walk back to the pup and stroke – stroke – stroke.

I like to change pigeons every three flights as this keeps them fresh and flying good, close circles. After 3 or 4 of these sessions, you are ready to check cord and let your pup point his own birds.

 

Until next time… Bud

Article first published in 2011, updated July 2014