Zoomie will turn 13 months in a week. I've been training him at a private club on "canned" pheasants since November & his learning curve simply astounds me!
Last weekend, on New Year's Day, I had Zoomie out with my son & his buddie. We were going along a hedgerow, where I knew a bird to be in the area. I was just watching Zoomie run along the row, when he stopped on a dime, turned 90 degrees, & locked up! I tell him "whoa, & he waits until I catch up. I can't see the bird, & suspect he's a runner. I say "go ahead", & Zoomie creeps in until I say "whoa" again. He ends up breaking & flushing the bird, & I let it go. Later on, we lose Zoomie in some tall grass, & I call him, no response. I call him again & nick him, no response. So we start working the grass. My son stumbles on the dog & the bird that he had locked up on. The bird flies up in my son's face, & that one got away! I would have loved to knock that one down for the dog, but, oh well
The day ended with Zoomie finding & pointing all his birds.Yesterday, Zoomie & I are roaming around a forest preserve, strictly for exercise. We happen upon a shallow pond filled with ducks & geese. Zoomie locks up about 50 yards out. Two ducks fly off & I call out "whoa". The rest of the birds take off, & Zoomie stays put! Finally, I say "okay" & Zoomie takes off after the birds!
I couldn't be more pleased! This dog has taught himself (& me) so much in the last two months, it's incredible!
Hopefully, next season, we can meet some wild birds!
