While walking with Cassie in the woods this morning I noticed her showing interest in a particular bush amongst the undergrowth very obviuosly picking up a scent quite strongly. Oh, heck, I was thinking don't tell me there's poo in there, when from right under her nose out flew a woodcock It was so nice to see her use her nose for something other than sniffing out poo! I'm hoping to take her beating soon on my friends shoot, I praised her verbally as she looked at me and rewarded her for returning to me, do you think I did the right thing? Not that I want people to shoot woodcock, but to encourage to flush out the pheasants?
What a good girl. Coco has been in hot pursuit of a Woodcock on several occasions He has stopped chasing crows now though. And he didn't chase Oyster Catchers on the beach yesterday..I hope we're getting somewhere.
Good girl. Yes, I think you did the right thing. My OH no longer hunts but we still work the dog on birds, in hopes it will help to keep him off deer trail. WE do think this backfired a bit with our ESS who was trained to hunt and the OH did hunt her. She must have wondered what was wrong with me, I never shot at anything. ETA: It does seem to keep the dog off deer trail. He put up a nice grouse just last week when out with the OH.
*checks that safe search is on* *googles wood cock* .... What a peculiar-looking bird! Good work Cassie.