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Spring Woodcock – Are You Missing The Point?

Warmer weather is coming in a few weeks. So are the woodcock, coming back soon from southern locales, at least for those of us within their range.  Our friend and mentor Walt Lesser discussed a lot of good reasons to run dogs on spring woodcock in a post here back in 2017 titled “Spring Training on Woodcocks” .

Here though, is the point (that is a bad pun, it’s ok to groan) that is often missed. You are simply out with your dog for a run in the woods. Off leash, no gun, it’s just you and the dog,  For young dogs, I would argue off leash runs afield are just as important as proper introduction to birds and gunfire. Most of us don’t think of it this way, but while we are out there looking for a few migrant birds, we are practicing connection and communication with our dogs. Its nice to carry a blank gun, again, especially for young dogs, but the beauty of it is this doesn’t take bird pens, training partners, commitments to twice a day drills or any of that. Go when you can go. If you want to make it an active training experience, keep it simple and quiet. Plan not to call your dog much, or blow the whistle with a little less vigor. Change direction, and think about what you see your dog does in response.  Simple expectations makes this fun. If you are relaxed, your dog knows it. That is a big win for both of you.

So, I hope we’ll see you out there, and be safe.

JC Smith

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