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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

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to choose the best e-collar for your dog and your specific training goals, ensuring that when the time comes, you’re equipped with a tool that’s up to the task, no matter how tough the conditions.In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to choose the best e-collar for your dog and your specific training goals, ensuring that when the time comes, you’re equipped with a tool that’s up to the task, no matter how tough the conditions.

The Ultimate SportDOG Guide: Choosing the Best E-Collar for Your Dog

by The SportDOG Staff

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to choose the best e-collar for training your dog, ensuring that when the time comes, you’re equipped with a tool that’s up to the task, no matter how tough the conditions.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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...

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...

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...

Yellow lab walking through water in vest with snow goose in mouthYellow lab walking through water in vest with snow goose in mouth

6 Keys for a Better Snow Goose Hunt with Your Retriever

by Chris Akin

Snow goose hunting brings its own, unique set of thrills in the world of waterfowling. Spring seasons, liberal or no bag limits, the use of electronic callers and unplugged shotguns add up to a wild time when you’re lucky enough to find countless thousands of birds in your hunting area. Not...

Draathar running through the snow.Draathar running through the snow.

5 Must-Read Safety Tips for Working Your Dog in the Winter

by The SportDOG Staff

Keep your training sessions with your dog quick and efficient to stave off cabin fever, while keeping your dog safe in inclement weather. For those of you caught in the polar vortex, you know it can limit your time out with your dog. The freezing cold temperatures can make it tempting...

Beagle being quiet with bark collar on. Barn in the background.Beagle being quiet with bark collar on. Barn in the background.

5 Reasons To Use The SportDOG Brand® NoBark SBC-R Collar

by The SportDOG Staff

Let’s face the facts … dogs bark! For most dog owners, barking is considered a norm. However, there are a variety of circumstances and situations in which owners seek out ways to correct this behavior. Most commonly, owners look for assistance through the use of an electronic bark-control collar. Leading the way...

Yellow Lab puppy holding puppy dummy retrieving tool in mouth.Yellow Lab puppy holding puppy dummy retrieving tool in mouth.

3 Ways You’re Ruining Your Gun Dog Puppy

by Greg McGuffin

Owners of puppies make countless training mistakes. They may not know it initially, but it’s the little things that separate professional trainers from owners that dabble in training. As a professional trainer, I’ve see every type of misguided puppy and spent countless hours undoing bad habits. Commonly, when a 6-month-old puppy...

Waterfowl gear with focus on camouflage e-collarWaterfowl gear with focus on camouflage e-collar

How To Choose An E-Collar For Retriever Training

by Charlie Jurney

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 fortunate that my time and experience in retriever training have allowed me to experiment with a lot...

Yellow lab panting with e-collar onYellow lab panting with e-collar on

Summer Hazards – 5 Precautions for your Hunting Dog

by The SportDOG Staff

Summertime means extra fun in the sun, but it also means some new dangers. These tips will help make sure you and your hunting partner stay safe in the field: Increased Hydration – Warmer weather means increased chanced of heat exhaustion for you and your dog. Even mild temperatures can pose...

English Pointer being handled by personEnglish Pointer being handled by person

Dealing with Hunting Dog Injuries

by The SportDOG Staff

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 make the veterinarian’s job much easier. Remember the watchwords: flush, fill and wrap. Flushing Fresh cuts may look quite...


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