Mick's first training day on live birds!

[Mike of the Mountain]

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.