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Training Tips

Here's how we make the most of each hunt
Training Tips

Categories:

Advanced, Basic, Hound, Puppy, Upland, Waterfowl

Black Lab running through grass pantingBlack Lab running through grass panting

The Perils of Hot-Weather Hunting

by Tom Dokken

Having your dog go down from heat stress, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke are all too real possibilities when you work a dog in hot weather.

Hunter giving water to an english setterHunter giving water to an english setter

Avoiding and Dealing with Heat Emergencies

by The SportDOG Staff

Take some time to understand the many factors that can lead to a heat emergency, prepare for your outings to avoid such an emergency, and then have an action plan in place to deal with the Big 3: heat stress, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

woman and dog with dummywoman and dog with dummy

All About Retriever Training Dummies

by Tom Dokken

Training dummies are a staple of a good retriever training program.

Skunks and porcupines can be a real concern for hunters using sporting dogs. I’ve been involved in plenty of porcupine quill-pulling parties, and trust me, it is a horrible ordeal. Skunks, while not as dangerous, certainly can ruin your day, or even your whole trip. Skunks and porcupines can be a real concern for hunters using sporting dogs. I’ve been involved in plenty of porcupine quill-pulling parties, and trust me, it is a horrible ordeal. Skunks, while not as dangerous, certainly can ruin your day, or even your whole trip.

Avoiding Prickly Situations

by Craig Leair

Skunks and porcupines can be a real concern for hunters using sporting dogs. I’ve been involved in plenty of porcupine quill-pulling parties, and trust me, it is a horrible ordeal. Skunks, while not as dangerous, certainly can ruin your day, or even your whole trip.

Setter puppy pointing at a wing tied to a string.Setter puppy pointing at a wing tied to a string.

5 Starter Tips for Raising a Great Pointing Dog

by LTC Jim Morehouse

So, you have a new pointing dog puppy in your house. Congratulations! I hope all your hopes and dreams about turning that pup into a bird-finding pro come true. But, as is true with all things in life, excellence doesn’t happen overnight. Everything is a process, and that’s especially true...

Retriever Training: Making the Most of Spring SeasonRetriever Training: Making the Most of Spring Season

Retriever Training: Making the Most of Spring Season

by Lyle Steinman

When winter drags on a little too long and it feels like spring will never get here, it’s really easy to procrastinate with your retriever training. Sure, you’re looking forward to bluebird days when you can get out and work on water training. This feeling of urgency to get back...

Retriever wearing a camo vestRetriever wearing a camo vest

Retriever Care in Cold Weather

by Chris Akin

Cold-weather waterfowling can mean a lot of extra work in sometimes nasty conditions, but those of us who take on those challenges are often rewarded with some of the season’s best hunting. It’s extremely satisfying to limit out when the wind is howling and ice is forming on the decoys,...

Dog in field wearing SportDOG training collarDog in field wearing SportDOG training collar

The Right Way to Cure Crowding

by Shawn Kinkelaar

One of the core principles of effective dog training is that the timing of a correction is critical. A dog associates a correction with whatever it is doing at the moment. Waiting too long to make a correction can create confusion. It doesn’t matter whether the correction is verbal, a tug...

Retriever wearing SportDOG collarRetriever wearing SportDOG collar

Dove Hunting is Great Prep for Waterfowl Season

by Tom Dokken

If you’re training a young retriever for waterfowl hunting, it makes sense that dove hunting should make for great practice. Both require your dog to remain steady, watch the sky and mark downed birds. If a dove hunt is going to be your dog’s first real hunting experience, you will find...

Beagle in kennel wearing NoBark collarBeagle in kennel wearing NoBark collar

6 Travel Considerations for Hunting Season

by Tom Dokken

One-day or weekend bird-hunting trips are nice if you’re fortunate to have good destinations close to home, but for many hunters, long-distance, out-of-state trips are the norm. These extended adventures require more planning if you want to enjoy them to the fullest. Here are some considerations to keep in mind. Where...

Dog runing through tall grassDog runing through tall grass

Think Smart when it Comes to Summer Training

by Shawn Kinkelaar

The list of things you can work on with your pointing dog during the summer months to prepare for the upcoming hunting season is plenty long. In addition to training and/or revisiting things from the last hunting season that need improvement, this is also a time to keep up with...

How Tone and Vibe Can Improve Your Upland Bird HuntingHow Tone and Vibe Can Improve Your Upland Bird Hunting

How Tone and Vibe Can Improve Your Upland Bird Hunting

by Tom Dokken

A flushing dog that has learned to work at just the right distance in front of hunters is a huge advantage in a pheasant field or grouse covert. “Just the right distance” varies with terrain and personal preference, but I think we can all agree that anytime your dog puts...

Controlling the Hunt with the HoundHunter® 3225Controlling the Hunt with the HoundHunter® 3225

Controlling the Hunt with the HoundHunter® 3225

by Kim Bishop

One of the most common topics of discussion when it comes to hound hunting is how to get your dog to handle. By “handle” I mean getting your dog to reliably return to you even when it’s far away and out of sight. This is a very simple concept to...

Early Goose Season Means Learning Opportunities for RetrieversEarly Goose Season Means Learning Opportunities for Retrievers

Early Goose Season Means Learning Opportunities for Retrievers

by Chris Akin

With many states holding early Canada goose seasons, retriever owners have an excellent opportunity to introduce their young dogs to waterfowling, and for experienced dogs it’s a good time to provide a refresher course in hunting manners. Let’s talk about a few things you can do to make sure that...

Mid-Season Tune-Ups for Your RetrieverMid-Season Tune-Ups for Your Retriever

Mid-Season Tune-Ups for Your Retriever

by Tom Dokken

Hunting season! Time for all your summer training and hard work to pay off. Thankfully, your waterfowl dog is now perfectly behaved and executes every command and retrieve with precision, right? Wait, you’re saying that’s not true? That’s OK. I’m mostly kidding because the truth is that none of our...

A Great Summertime Water Drill for RetrieversA Great Summertime Water Drill for Retrievers

A Great Summertime Water Drill for Retrievers

by Chris Akin

If you have a young retriever and you’re looking for a great summertime training exercise, I’ve got one that’s super-simple but is also productive and educational for both you and your dog. The drill I’m going to describe is pretty basic as a “de-cheating” method, but it actually accomplishes much more...

AUTHORS

Bob has hunted with beagles from Alabama to the Quebec border in pursuit of swamp rabbits, the eastern cottontail, and hare. He has owned beagles since 1985 and trains his hounds year round, sometimes competing in field trials, but always conditioning his pack with an eye looking forward to the...Bob has hunted with beagles from Alabama to the Quebec border in pursuit of swamp rabbits, the eastern cottontail, and hare. He has owned beagles since 1985 and trains his hounds year round, sometimes competing in field trials, but always conditioning his pack with an eye looking forward to the...

Bob Ford

1 article

Bob has hunted with beagles from Alabama to the Quebec border in pursuit of swamp rabbits, the eastern cottontail, and hare. He has owned beagles since 1985 and trains his hounds year round, sometimes competing in field trials, but always conditioning his pack with an eye looking forward to the...

I’ve hunted upland game birds from North Dakota to Northern Maine, spending most of my time in my home state of Michigan. My love for pheasants dates back to my days as a youngster, first chasing them with our Labradors, German Shorthaired Pointers, or the occasional contact while running beagles...I’ve hunted upland game birds from North Dakota to Northern Maine, spending most of my time in my home state of Michigan. My love for pheasants dates back to my days as a youngster, first chasing them with our Labradors, German Shorthaired Pointers, or the occasional contact while running beagles...

Matt Mates

1 article

I’ve hunted upland game birds from North Dakota to Northern Maine, spending most of my time in my home state of Michigan. My love for pheasants dates back to my days as a youngster, first chasing them with our Labradors, German Shorthaired Pointers, or the occasional contact while running beagles...

With his wife Terri, Rick co-owns and operates Perfect 10 Kennel. Their business offers boarding, grooming, and retriever training. They also breed Labrador retrievers. Rick has 30 years of experience in retriever training, participating in everything from field trials to hunt tests to upland hunting competitions.With his wife Terri, Rick co-owns and operates Perfect 10 Kennel. Their business offers boarding, grooming, and retriever training. They also breed Labrador retrievers. Rick has 30 years of experience in retriever training, participating in everything from field trials to hunt tests to upland hunting competitions.

Rick Grant

3 articles

With his wife Terri, Rick co-owns and operates Perfect 10 Kennel. Their business offers boarding, grooming, and retriever training. They also breed Labrador retrievers. Rick has 30 years of experience in retriever training, participating in everything from field trials to hunt tests to upland hunting competitions.

Chris has spent most of his life duck hunting or training in the field. Over the years, his program evolved into one of the most accomplished hunt test programs in the country. Webb Footed Kennels, Inc. has produced more than 350 Hunting Retriever Champions, 175 Master Hunters, and 35 Grand...Chris has spent most of his life duck hunting or training in the field. Over the years, his program evolved into one of the most accomplished hunt test programs in the country. Webb Footed Kennels, Inc. has produced more than 350 Hunting Retriever Champions, 175 Master Hunters, and 35 Grand...

Chris Akin

9 articles

Chris has spent most of his life duck hunting or training in the field. Over the years, his program evolved into one of the most accomplished hunt test programs in the country. Webb Footed Kennels, Inc. has produced more than 350 Hunting Retriever Champions, 175 Master Hunters, and 35 Grand...


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