If you have been watching the news lately or reading metropolitan newspapers, you may have noticed articles about a “new” flu outbreak in dogs. In some sections of the country, veterinarians are...

Cuts are common in hunting dogs. Briars, barbed-wire, broken glass, or even sharp broken saplings can slice a dog’s skin as it hunts. Appropriate field care of wounds can decrease healing time and...

One of the most exciting parts about hunting is the chance to travel to new areas in search of upland birds and waterfowl. Before you pack the truck and take off, however, it’s a good idea to...

The time most hunters seem to think about getting their dog into shape, if they think about it at all, is right before the hunting season begins. It’s natural to let your dog’s conditioning slide...

Your bird dog has been a strong, eager hunter with lots of pizzazz and snap, but now he has lost that snap, speed and stamina. He still eats well, is bright and alert with normal bowel movements....

Sometimes hunters are so eager to develop their new pup into a hunting dog that they rush things. With some training exercises, if you make a mistake and try to teach something too fast, you can...

In our excitement to build a retriever into a top-notch waterfowl dog, it’s easy to forget small but important details. For example, your dog might make you proud when he completes a long retrieve....

When bark-control collars came on the market, they solved a problem that most of us have experienced at one time or another: a dog that just won’t be quiet. Most hunters are familiar with...

During our training of the pointing breeds, I’m often asked if an in-ground or “pet containment” fence is a good way to keep a hunting dog from wandering away from home. I say “Yes,” but then...

Opinions on the right way to choose and use a remote electronic collar for retriever training are as varied as the countless training methods used to create a top-notch waterfowl dog. I’ve been...

Most hunting dog breeds have flop ears. This drooping ear flap contributes to a high incidence of ear infections because it decreases air circulation and traps bacteria, fungi and debris in the...

As I travel across the country attending field trials, visiting kennels and hunting, I get a lot of questions about dog food for some reason. One topic that stimulates many questions is protein...

During the 2009-2010 hunting season, most of us endured our most interesting upland season in quite some time. The entire country experienced unique weather conditions this fall and winter. Hard...

The 2010 hunting season is just around the corner, and in many states the Sharp-tailed grouse and Partridge season are the first to kick off. This is where our summer dog training and conditioning...

People seem amazed when they see a running dog instantly stop at the sound of a whistle. The funny thing is, there’s really nothing amazing about it if the dog has been trained properly. While...

If you own a waterfowl dog, chances are that sooner or later you’re going to ask it to perform upland duty. It might be a pheasant hunt as a sideline to your Dakota duck hunt, or maybe an afternoon...

It's no secret that giving your hunting dog lots of experience with live birds in the off-season will make him a better hunter when fall comes around. But what types of birds are best? The short...

It’s a term commonly heard among retriever trainers who run dogs in hunt tests and field trials: “force fetch.” Others call it the “conditioned retrieve,” “force breaking” or, the term I prefer,...

In an earlier article I talked about the importance of properly introducing the most important pointing dog command, “Whoa.” This article covers the next steps to producing a dog that reliably...

A dog that searches for birds in a consistent pattern covers ground efficiently and hunts with confidence. Whether you’re hunting quail, grouse or pheasants, the result is the same: more shooting...