Mick's first training day on live birds!

[Mike Koneski]

Had Mick, our six month old tri-color Setter out on 2/24 for his first day on live birds. Haven't had the chance to work with him for three months, so this was his big day. We put him in the yard with a clipped wing chukar first. His predator switch turned on after a couple minutes and we worked him on the check cord for some beginner retrieving. We then put him on three planted birds in the field. He found all three and pointed. The first I shot on the flush and Mick didn't flinch. He hears shotguns all the time here so that was no surprise. The second bird he found and pointed. It flushed low so I had to wait for it to get some "sky" under it. I hit it in the woods and it dropped and ran. Mick scent trailed it 30 yards down through the snow covered woods and pointed it under a bush! He was rewarded by being allowed to carry it back to the tractor path. The third bird was already mobile when we rounded the next bend. It put on it's track shoes. We let Mick go and once again, he scent trailed it 40 yards through the woods and down a bank. He pointed the bird at the base of a tree where there was a spot of barren ground. We flush the bird and when my 16g Parker dropped that bird too Mick was on it!! My buddy looked at me and said "Looks like you have another bird dog whether you want one or not!" Mick got to carry that bird all the way back to the truck. I only have one photo from the early part of the training so that will be here after the story. I hope to get more next week. With the warming temps I plan on doing more training next week.

[Dean Romig]

What a great start. Congratulations!





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[Mike Koneski]

Here's a close up of The Mick!

[Robert Brooks]

That is a fine setter! Bobby

[Andrew Sacco]

I've seen him. He's a freaking cutie...beautiful boy! (the dog Mike, not you).

[Daryl Corona]

Nice start big guy. It sure feels good when they start out with no particular problems to correct.

Very handsome pup.

[Ed Norman]

great story Mike, congratulations and what a good looking dog that is.

[Phillip Carr]

I’m a pointer guy but one of these days I may break down an get a Setter just because they are so dang pretty.

[Mike Koneski]

I’m a pointer guy but one of these days I may break down an get a Setter just because they are so dang pretty.


Come over from the dark side Phil!! :rotf::rotf:

[Mike Koneski]

BTW, I forgot to mention that Mick came out of our litter from the first breeding we did between DeCoverly's Natty Jo and Royal Sterling's Schuyler. He was my pick of the litter. Jo had nine pups and he stayed here. The rest were all sold by four weeks and went to their new homes in October.

We will probably do one more breeding in summer of 2022.

[Andrew Sacco]

BTW, I forgot to mention that Mick came out of our litter from the first breeding we did between DeCoverly's Natty Jo and Royal Sterling's Schuyler. He was my pick of the litter. Jo had nine pups and he stayed here. The rest were all sold by four weeks and went to their new homes in October.

We will probably do one more breeding in summer of 2022.

Master of the "soft sell" :bowdown:

[Mike Koneski]

Nice one Andy!! :rotf: Price just went up.

[Garry L Gordon]

Mike, I don't know what training you did to get to this point, but you should be giddy with the results as you describe them. Congratulations. I love all hunting dog breeds, but it's worth picking out cockle burrs and tending bloody tail tips to have a dog with long hair, feathers on its legs and tail...and a tail that tells all (especially one that shows intensity on point no matter what "o'clock" it is).

[Mike Koneski]

Nothing but basic sit-come-stay. I haven’t been able to get out with any of the Setters since the end of November. 12/9 I had a hip replaced so I’m just getting back in action again and loving it! Nothing better than an English Setter!! 😁

[Garry L Gordon]

Nothing but basic sit-come-stay. I haven’t been able to get out with any of the Setters since the end of November. 12/9 I had a hip replaced so I’m just getting back in action again and loving it! Nothing better than an English Setter!! 😁

Great breeding gives us "naturals" in the field. (BTW, my hip replacement is now going on 6 years and was one of the best decisions I ever made. I'm working on wearing it out following my dogs. Have fun. Keep walking.)

[Mike Koneski]

Will do. Thanks Garry!