A few days ago I shot over Ace from about 50 yards out with my 12 gauge. He was intent on chasing a bird and did not flinch at all at the sound of the gun. For the last week or so I had been firing a blank gun when he was chasing birds. He seemed to be doing well and his bird drive was coming along nicely. He still has not yet pointed a bird, but I am sure this will come.

Today I took Ace out with my Brittany “Annie” to chase some pheasants on the pheasant preserve. I brought my gun along just in case the right opportunity came along. Annie found some birds feeding in an uncut grain field and she went on point. Ace slowed and started advancing to see what Annie was up to. A rooster flew up and both dogs gave chase. The situation was perfect and the dogs were about 50 feet away and I dropped the rooster with one shot. Annie beat Ace to the downed bird so I held Annie and threw it out for Ace and he retrieved it nicely. We jumped a few more birds but the dogs were too close so I didn’t shoot. We will try this again in a few days.