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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

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.

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...

handheld transmitterhandheld transmitter

Picking the Right E-Collar

by Tom Dokken

Purchasing your first SportDOG Brand® remote training collar or upgrading from an older model isn’t particularly difficult, but it does require some thought about which features are most important to you and how the collar is going to be used. Thankfully, SportDOG offers enough products that you can easily match...

Building a Steady RetrieverBuilding a Steady Retriever

Building a Steady Retriever

by Tom Dokken

A retriever that remains calm in a duck blind and concentrates on watching birds fall is a joy to hunt with. In a perfect world, that’s how all retrievers would behave. While a steady retriever is something that most hunters want, the reality is that very few retrievers are truly...

Black lab puppy with live pigeon in mouthBlack lab puppy with live pigeon in mouth

Make Your Upland Retriever Crazy for Feathers

by Tom Dokken

There’s nothing better than a hard-charging flushing dog that is absolutely crazy for birds. But how do you make sure your young retriever will turn out like that? Here are the steps I use. You can introduce your retriever to feathers when he is very young, say up to 12 weeks....

Yellow lab puppy in back of SUV with window openYellow lab puppy in back of SUV with window open

What Does “Socializing” Your Puppy Mean?

by Tom Dokken

You hear a lot about “socializing” your puppy, but what does that mean and why is it important? Socializing is actually training. By that I mean that every time you are with your puppy he is learning something. You need to make sure he’s learning what you want him to...

Off-Season Tune-Ups for a Better FallOff-Season Tune-Ups for a Better Fall

Off-Season Tune-Ups for a Better Fall

by Tom Dokken

Sometimes during hunting season our dogs “get away with stuff,” for lack of a better description. This happens to everyone because, let’s face it, when the hunting is good, stopping to work on training isn’t top of mind. After all, bird seasons only last for a few short weeks or...

lady kneeling with fence flags in her hand looking at yellow lab laying down behind fence flags in groundlady kneeling with fence flags in her hand looking at yellow lab laying down behind fence flags in ground

What you MUST Understand About Dog Containment Systems and E-Collar Training

by Tom Dokken

Just like modern e-collars, the newest in-ground fencing systems, also known as containment systems, have improved life for dogs and their owners. A containment system helps keep your dogs from wandering out of the yard, which is great for their safety and your own peace of mind. A containment system can...

Retriever Training: The Transition to WaterRetriever Training: The Transition to Water

Retriever Training: The Transition to Water

by Tom Dokken

Retrievers love water, so you wouldn’t think that transitioning from land retrievers to water retrieves would be difficult. It isn’t, as long as you follow a few simple guidelines. The key to a smooth introduction and continued improvement on water retrieves is to work in baby steps, just like you did...

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...

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...

Choosing the Right E-CollarChoosing the Right E-Collar

Choosing the Right E-Collar

by Tom Dokken

Here is a list of the SportDOG® e-collar systems we will be discussing in this remote trainer guide: SportDOG SD-825X remote trainer SportDOG SD-1225X remote trainer SportDOG SD-1825X remote trainer Purchasing your first SportDOG® Brand remote training collar or upgrading from an older model isn’t particularly difficult, but it does require some thought about...

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...

Tom Dokken walking through field with black lab. both holding sheds and looking at each otherTom Dokken walking through field with black lab. both holding sheds and looking at each other

Tom Dokken: Dedicated to the Dogs

by Tom Dokken

Looking back over my last 40 years as a professional dog trainer it seems like it was just yesterday. Although dog training has changed allot over the years, the starting point remains the same. As a young high school kid, I remember the day that made me realize that I...

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.

Black lab walking on a loose leash at heelBlack lab walking on a loose leash at heel

In Control for Safety - Video

by Tom Dokken

In this SportDOG Training Tip (originally aired on Pheasant's Forever Television) SportDOG Senior Pro Staffer Tom Dokken gives tips on using your remote collar to protect your hunting dog.

AUTHORS

Raised in the Finger Lakes area of New York State, Jim was involved in hunting and birddogs from an early age. Upon graduation from college, he joined the US Army in 1967. He served until 1989, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After his retirement, Jim and his wife...Raised in the Finger Lakes area of New York State, Jim was involved in hunting and birddogs from an early age. Upon graduation from college, he joined the US Army in 1967. He served until 1989, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After his retirement, Jim and his wife...

LTC Jim Morehouse

6 articles

Raised in the Finger Lakes area of New York State, Jim was involved in hunting and birddogs from an early age. Upon graduation from college, he joined the US Army in 1967. He served until 1989, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After his retirement, Jim and his wife...

Ben Garcia believes there is one secret to dog training: "Know where you want to go and where you want your dog to finish." Ben says that goal is the key to develop your best friend in the field.  With this in mind, Ben treats every dog as an individual,...Ben Garcia believes there is one secret to dog training: "Know where you want to go and where you want your dog to finish." Ben says that goal is the key to develop your best friend in the field.  With this in mind, Ben treats every dog as an individual,...

Ben Garcia

1 article

Ben Garcia believes there is one secret to dog training: "Know where you want to go and where you want your dog to finish." Ben says that goal is the key to develop your best friend in the field.  With this in mind, Ben treats every dog as an individual,...

Gary has been hunting upland game for 15 years. Training Labs and German shorthairs for upland hunting is his specialty. Whether hunting pheasant or quail in Indiana, it is a great feeling to see a dog that he has trained point a bird and then retrieve it.Gary has been hunting upland game for 15 years. Training Labs and German shorthairs for upland hunting is his specialty. Whether hunting pheasant or quail in Indiana, it is a great feeling to see a dog that he has trained point a bird and then retrieve it.

Gary Sheffer

1 article

Gary has been hunting upland game for 15 years. Training Labs and German shorthairs for upland hunting is his specialty. Whether hunting pheasant or quail in Indiana, it is a great feeling to see a dog that he has trained point a bird and then retrieve it.

Born and raised in the mountains of western North Carolina, Kim Bishop, along with his wife Kirsten, own K&K Kennels. Kim has been competition hunting with hounds since the age of 18, has made four UKC and three AKC World appearances, and has many titles under his belt, including four...Born and raised in the mountains of western North Carolina, Kim Bishop, along with his wife Kirsten, own K&K Kennels. Kim has been competition hunting with hounds since the age of 18, has made four UKC and three AKC World appearances, and has many titles under his belt, including four...

Kim Bishop

2 articles

Born and raised in the mountains of western North Carolina, Kim Bishop, along with his wife Kirsten, own K&K Kennels. Kim has been competition hunting with hounds since the age of 18, has made four UKC and three AKC World appearances, and has many titles under his belt, including four...


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