Post
by Fran Seagren » Sat May 25, 2013 9:51 pm
I need to take my camera training. The only pictures I have of training are the ones other people have taken. I'm always thinking, "That would be a great picture."
A week or so ago, I was romping all five of our dogs (two red setters, one young brittany, and two labs). When I take all of them at the same time, I want the labs to "stay close" - same quartering distance as when we're hunting. The pointy dogs should be "out there" also like when we're hunting. My red guy, Robert, was straight out in the front when he goes on a point. I slowed down to see what would happen. His mother, Ruby, who was off to the left turned back our direction and spotted Robert, stopped, and honored his point. As he came over the rise from the same direction Ruby had been, Seven, our young brittany spotted Ruby and maybe saw Robert, too, and he slowed down and I was happy to see him stop and honor, too. Meanwhile the labs who had their noses in the long grass as they quartered back and forth in front of me both spotted the other dogs on point. They "knew" they should stop and they actually started to sit. Then, both of them changed their mind and charged ahead in hopes of busting a bird. I called out "Wup!" And, they both sat. As I waited to see if the labs would behave, that's when I thought, "This would be a great picture."
I walked toward where Robert was standing. I walked back and forth trying to find what he was pointing. It's not like there are any wild birds at these training grounds and the pro was gone. Then, I found it, an empty bird basket forgotten by the trainer. I don't know if this is good or bad - that Robert would point an "empty" bird basket! He's always had a good nose and I truly can't remember him ever pointing anything except birds. But, the "picture" still would have been fun to have. Maybe I'll try and recreate the scene and take a picture. But, this time, I think I'll have a bird in a bird basket.
