DAY 1

Take one of your pigeons and put it a stocking or jacket. You want the pigeon to be able to move a little but not enough to get away. Have a cat carrier or something to hold your birds. Warm up with bumper work. Reinforce your hold command with a bumper that has a wing on it.

1. Show the bird to your dog. He might turn away and not show any interest at all. Try to tease him with the bird. Say,”LOOK WHAT I'VE GOT".

2. Place the pigeon in the dog’s mouth, Say HOLD! Place your hand under his chin to help him. This is very scary so you need to tell him over and over how very good he is. Remember the spit reflex in bumper work part 1? Well, your dog may revert back to that. This is a normal response. Just keep your hand under the dog’s chin and he will stop that reaction. As soon as he stops, say your release word and PRAISE! Put the bird away, you are finished for the day.

Day 2

Start with a bumper warm then get your pigeon out. Your dog may have this “not me” look on his face. (See picture #1) Open his mouth, place the pigeon in and say HOLD! 10 –15 seconds, then take it. PRAISE! Try again, say HOLD! Try 20 seconds, then take it. Try again, this time go back to a shorter time. Stop! PRAISE! PLAY!

You are finished put the pigeon away. Let you dog watch you take the stocking or wrap off. You can tease your dog now to see what kind of prey drive he might have. He might be excited and want you to put it down or he might walk away. That is okay, time is on your side. Do not push this. Your dog will feel comfortable around a live bird in his own time.

Day 3

Warm up. Get your dog working. Now it is time to take the dog with you to get the bird ready. Tell him to stay while you get the pigeon out of his cage. The pigeon will fly around the cage and that should get your dog’s attention.

1.Catch the bird and hold it right in front of your dog. While the wings are flapping, start to wrap or put the stocking on the bird. If your dog wants to leave, use your long line to grab him and say, “come back here you”.

2. After a nice HOLD, ask your dog to carry it a short distance. You might have to support his chin as he moves with the bird. Make sure you keep your dog on a long line (ALWAYS) Why? Your dog might want to take the pigeon for a walk on his own. You do not want him to play with the bird or kill it.

3. If the dog is making good progress, tell him to stay, give him the bird and try a recall.

4. If your dog has a nice hold, let him carry the bird back to the cage. Unwrap the bird and let him see the wings flap. Place the bird back in the cage. Watch you dog, See if he is more relaxed around a live bird.

Day 4

Up to this point the feet have been inside the stocking. Wrap the pigeon but leave the feet out. You can tape the feet together. Place the bird inside his mouth. The feet will move and your dog will most likely drop the bird. Arrange the bird in his mouth so the feet are sticking out of the dog’s mouth. You might have to reinforce the hold with an ear pinch. Make him HOLD, then release. Repeat 2 or 3 more times before you put the bird away. Make him carry the bird back to the cage. Stop! PRAISE! PLAY!

Day 5

Start your next practice with some bumper work. Why? You have been assisting the take hold process so much with the live bird that you might have lost your quick grab. So try some bumper work in the morning and live bird work in the afternoon. Make up a schedule. Do not lose what you had to something new.

Wrap your pigeon up and place it in some tall grass. Bring your dog out to the grass and let him watch. As the grass moves, see if your dog can go in and pick up the bird. If he does, you run away from him. Tell him to come, hold. Run away again. Let him chase you with the bird in his mouth. Now he feels like he is playing a game while he is carry a live bird. If he wants to play with the bird and not come to you, you have your line long to make him come. Stop! Put the bird away.

Day 6

Up to this point you have been placing the bird in his mouth. Now it is time to ask him to take it. Reinforce with the ear pinch. Repeat. If your dog clamps down on the bird because you forced him, Say NO! HOLD! If he tries to take the bird with a weenie hold, pinch again. If his grab is not quick and sharp, pinch again. Keep going until your dog will grab the bird with total confidence. Stop! PRAISE!

This is the hardest practice you will have with the live bird. Don’t give up! Now you are ready for some ground retrieves. GOOD FOR YOU, YOU DID IT!