Yesterday morning I had let the dogs out for their morning exercise and come in to get something from my desk. I look out of the window and could see Mae the pointer standing stock still, tail wagging just a little. Then she moved and set up again looking very intent (running bird). Soon Copper came up to see what was going on and stopped stock still right behind her. Of course I did not have my spring mindset and at first thought “I wonder what those dogs are watching?”
I opened the door and the answer was quite plain, they were on point as the first woodcock of the spring lifted from in front of Mae and flew back over the kennel building settling down again not twenty yards away. I went out and released both dogs feeling a little silly for not seeing that not only were they on point but that Copper had backed Mae perfectly. What more could I ask? Especially after a long winter without working any birds.
Mae worked over the area where the bird had obviously spent the night behind the garage and I called Copper to where I had watched the bird light down. Sure enough Copper came right up and pointed the bird that I could see running frantically along the stone wall ahead of us. He flew as soon as he was well away and we did not follow him.
So there it was, the first woodcock of the spring not ten yards from my door worked perfectly by both pointers without any coaching by me! Even though I have seen dogs point birds thousands of times I still think it is an amazing thing.
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