First run. Clip-wing in my pocket. I started Larsen and quartered him. His quartering looked crisp. Twice I pipped him to a halt right in front of me, and then told him to go on. After a bit, I put the clip-wing down and let him find it for a "yippee" find. He found it and brought it in. After a quick pat, I pipped him to stay still and stepped away from him and tossed the bird. I then walked and picked it up. I tossed it a second and third time. Then I let him fetch it. Larsen was nice and steady. Good boy.
Second run. In this run, I tried to implement the steady-to-wing drill. I sat Larsen and walked 20 yards away. Cathy showed him the bird and dropped it about 18 yards from Larsen. I gave him a quiet pip. After a wait, I commanded "Larsen" and he took off toward me to get the bird. He got a nice flush, and I hit the whistle and stood by him and he sat. More soft pips, and a pat. (I forgot to give him a treat.) Then I called him to me. Good boy.
On the second turn on this run, Kathy P. said don't be surprised if things are different since he now knows the game. Sure enough, I said "Larsen!" and the little dog simply sat there. Finally, I said "fetch!" and he sauntered over near me as if not to get into trouble again. The scent of the bird finally made him turn in and he scared it up. This time, he took off after the bird. Cathy pulled him in as gently as possible. I gave him a pat and then let him go over a dead bird, which turned out not to be dead at all and flew off, with Larsen on the chase. He found the bird and returned it trailing the check cord. Good boy, I guess!
On the third turn on this run, more hilarity ensued, with a dropped check cord, a flying dead bird, and general chaos that only a spaniel would love.
Last time, the dog did very nicely. By error, I once again tossed out a live dead bird for him to retrieve and the bird took off to the tree line. Larsen, bless his heart, stayed hupped. A great time to end.
No comments:
Post a Comment