Notes on the new era

Tim and I talked about the need for building on a succession of small successes.  We walked Larsen in the field.  Tim said he did not get wound up when Larsen dawdled a bit, and that the dog would soon enough return to the front, which he did.  We toured the yard and periodically Tim threw out a pigeon.

Larsen sat at the fluttering bird, which on some tosses was beating its wings directly into the dog's face.  I did not whistle to sit.  Larsen knew that he was to sit, and he did.  I reinforced with a pip.

Understand, please, that pigeon are not gamebirds and that the dog's reaction to pigeon is not as amped.  However, successful sits to the flush build that sight picture in Larsen, and help him see that I am pleased and happy at his sit.

We later switched to chukar and had a good success with a sucker bird.  Larsen sat at my command, even though the bird was really his.

Some of our work was a bit ragged, with me early or late with the whistle.  But we kept the work very low key, and very simple and earned our successes.

Larsen had a nice hunt-dead on a long-flying shot bird.  The bird got up on its own accord.  I hupped Larsen and Tim shot the bird, which continued to the tree line.  Larsen marked it and hunted it down.

The day was hot, so there was a lot of time in between as we cooled Larsen down.  Lots of ice and misty spray, and, finally, some water work to get him cool down to his skin.