Bird Dogs In Winter

"Patience is not the ability to wait but how you act while waiting."
Joyce Meyers

It's the middle of January here at All Things Brittany.  We've had a few significant snowfalls and as I write the white stuff is still coming down.  We've had a bit of a catastrophe here the last couple of weeks concerning our flock of homing pigeons.  A persistent and vicious varmint has gone on a killing spree and despite all of John's efforts to trap the thing, we have lost a large number of them. Some of the pigeons are second generation. It's sad.

This morning I happened to notice Treasure, Hemi, and Holly standing motionless in front of the porch door. John was out on the tractor so I figured they were watching him.  I observed them for a few more seconds and realized these three Brittanys were on point as they watched the pigeon outside on the porch railing.  Although sight pointing is something we do not encourage I decided that this offered a true "Kodak moment"for me.

Our pigeons are not in the habit of coming this close to the house, and certainly not sitting on a porch rail!  This seemed very odd.  They often do what I call 'fly-bys' when the flock soars over John as he works in the yard.  As their primary caretaker, they seem to have an affection for him and will often respond to his whistle.  Although not one to often anthropomorphize I surmised the pigeon must be traumatized by what has been happening in the johnny house and possibly looking for him.

Whatever the reason, I realized that I could turn this into a training moment despite the oddity of it all.  I uttered a slow and easy 'whoaaaaaaa', walked up behind them and gently made contact with each so they knew I was there.  Slowly I opened the door, expecting the pigeon would take off immediately upon seeing movement.  But it didn't and I had three Brittanys watching my every move. Okay bird.  Thats enough of this. I looked back at the dogs, scooted out the door closing it behind me, and shooed the pigeon off the snow covered railing and watching it as it flew away.

I went back and released my anxious but patient bird dogs. Obviously they'd marked the flight of the pigeon as they ran off in the direction it had flown.

Although not exactly the most ideal situation for serious gundog training, we'll take what we can get here in Maine during the middle of a January snowstorm. The best is yet to come!

Take care and God bless, John, Ann and All Things Brittanys