Training Tips
Here's how we make the most of each hunt
3 Ways You're Stuffing Up Your Gun Dog Pup
by Greg McGuffin
Puppy owners make heaps of training blunders. They might not realise it at first, but it's the small stuff that sets apart pro trainers from owners who just have a crack at training. As a pro trainer, I've seen every kind of dodgy pup and spent endless hours fixing up poor habits. Typically, when a 6-month-old puppy...
Proper Introduction to the E-Collar
by Chris Akin
The e-collar is a ripper of a tool. It can fine-tune a dog, extend your control, and even save an animal’s life. But here’s the thing: You gotta understand what it is. It’s not a magic bullet. I reckon it’s a polishing tool. It’s an enforcement tool and a distance minimizer. What...
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 mate stay safe out in the bush: Increased Hydration – Warmer weather means increased chances of heat exhaustion for you and your dog. Even mild temperatures can pose...
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 vet’s job much easier. Remember the watchwords: flush, fill and wrap. Flushing Fresh cuts may look quite...
Where to Find a Dog with the Right Stuff - Part 3
by Charlie Jurney
I talked about getting the pick of the litter in Part 2 of this article series. Now you have to decide whether you want a started dog or a finished dog. So now you know what you’re looking for in a puppy, but what if you do not want to deal...
When Your Dog Should Enter the Hunt
by The SportDOG Staff
Young dogs take a while to develop into the hunting or field trial champion you want. Your knowledge that the pup you chose is from proven hunting stock is just the beginning. I have been spoiled. During hunting and field trial seasons, I have always had older, veteran dogs to rely...
Spring Training for Beagles
by The SportDOG Staff
Spring's in the air, which means rabbit season's over in most parts of the country. So now what? I've got a kennel chockers with Beagle rabbit hounds and no hunting, making this the perfect time to give a bit more attention to those younger hounds. Spring is a...
Keeping the Fun in Retriever Training
by Charlie Jurney
Wouldn’t it be nice in the middle of a rough day if someone stopped by and said a few words that made all your worries disappear? Straight away your negative feelings would vanish and you’d be happy. Well, in retriever training, there’s something that can have that effect on...
Poor Performance in Bird Dogs
by The SportDOG Staff
Your bird dog's been a strong, keen hunter with heaps of pizzazz and snap, but now he's lost that snap, speed and stamina. He still eats well, is bright and alert and has normal bowel movements. Have you over-trained the dog or is it poor nutrition, heartworms or...
Understanding Hunting Dog Ear Infections
by The SportDOG Staff
Most hunting dog breeds have floppy 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 ear. The floppy ear also makes it a bit more difficult for the owner to spot ear problems straight away. Contributing...
Retriever Training: The Transition to Water
by Tom Dokken
Retrievers love water, so you wouldn't reckon that transitioning from land retrieves to water retrieves would be hard. 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...
Understanding Canine Influenza
by The SportDOG Staff
If you've been keeping an eye on the news lately or flicking through the city papers, you might've clocked stories about a 'new' flu outbreak in dogs. In some parts of the country, vets are reporting a near-panic situation about this dog flu news. Here are the facts. Canine Influenza Virus is a relatively...
Pup’s First Hunt: Building Your Future
by Chris Akin
A puppy's first season, and more specifically, his first hunt, can be the most pivotal in his life as a gun dog. You only get one chance to make a first impression, and that impression can have a major impact on how a young dog is moulded into a hunting...
4 Good Reasons to Crate-Train Your Dog
by Rick Grant
One of the first things you should do when you get a new puppy is get him used to spending time in his crate, or portable kennel. If your dog lives in the house, the crate is a good place for him to be when you don’t want him underfoot....
Watch for Displacement Behaviour
by Charlie Jurney
No matter what breed of dog you're training, at some point the dog will try any number of tricks to avoid giving up its alpha position. Yawning, scratching, sniffing, head shaking and licking are all ways in which your dog will attempt to delay performing a command. Your dog may...
What Does 'Socialising' Your Puppy Mean?
by Tom Dokken
You hear a lot about 'socialising' your puppy, but what does that mean and why is it important? Socialising is actually training. By that I mean that every time you're with your puppy he's learning something. You need to make sure he's learning what you want him to...
