Training Tips
Here's how we make the most of each hunt
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 dodgy 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...
Reward-Based Training for Labs
by Charlie Jurney
Imagine you go to work this week giving it your all to please the boss and make the company successful. During that time you forgot to return one phone call and rocked up five minutes late on Thursday due to a prang on the motorway. The rest of the week...
Where to Find a Dog with the Right Stuff - Part 1
by Charlie Jurney
Every time someone rings up to ask about finding a puppy, I get flashbacks to me first dog, Sam. I bought Sam off a mate who had a sporty keen hunting dog. He decided to breed his sheila to a real good-looking bloke whose ancestors found fame in the show...
Understand This Before you Train
by Charlie Jurney
Every animal on the planet has an alpha or beta relationship with every other animal. We usually reckon “beta” as submissive and beaten down, but in wild packs or herds, that's not how it goes. The beta dog in a mob of wild dogs is still quite happy and...
Getting Your Retriever in the Thick of Things
by Rick Grant
If you were gonna go pheasant hunting on a farm where you'd never been before, where would you start your search? You'd probably head for the thickest scrub 'cause you know that's where birds feel safest and therefore tend to hang out the most, right? Well, when you...
Gun Shy Dogs Can Blossom
by The SportDOG Staff
Every dog training book will preach that you must be real careful when introducing a young dog to the sight, and especially the sound of a shotgun, but rarely will they tell you how to fix a gun shy dog. Some dog training veterans simply won't give it a burl. It...
A Dog Ready for the Field
by The SportDOG Staff
Hunting seasons are in full swing. In bird fields you can hear the cackle of a gutsy rooster taking wing, along with the hoarse voice of a hunter yelling at his dog as it chases the flashy pheasant to the next paddock. It's easy to hear all about...
Talent Is Not Obedience
by The SportDOG Staff
Whoa! Can your hunting dog 'whoa' or stop dead? Does it always come when called? Will it turn on command or always sit or lie down when told? Will it gently deliver a bird to your hand without chewing the least little bit? Good bird dogs have been...
Introducing Your Retriever to Upland Hunting
by Rick Grant
One of the most common questions I'm asked when I'm doing training demos for SportDOG is this one: “How do I keep my retriever hunting within range?” Without a doubt, keeping your dog from getting too far ahead of you when he gets a whiff of a...
Where to Begin with Puppy Training
by The SportDOG Staff
There are several different things that need to be done for and with a new puppy. First and foremost make sure all pup’s shots are on time and up to date. Find a local vet and set up an appointment for your new mate. This is one of many places you...
Straight Talk About Protein for Hunting Dogs
by The SportDOG Staff
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 quality and protein’s role in dog nutrition. Protein is required by the body for two reasons: To provide...
Rigors of a Tough Hunting Season
by The SportDOG Staff
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 autumn and winter. Hard winters often turn most of our thoughts and concerns towards, 'how are the birds going to make it'? A question...
Where to Find a Dog with the Right Stuff - Part 2
by Charlie Jurney
In Part 1 of this article series, I discussed purchasing a puppy and considering bloodlines. Now we'll dig into the best breeder and how to pick the right litter. The most reasonable way to locate a well-bred puppy for yourself is by doing a great deal of research. Ask each breeder...
Don't Forget to Introduce Your Duck Dog to Decoys
by Charlie Jurney
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. But the first time you ask him to swim through four dozen decoys to retrieve a...
Tips For Dove Hunting And Gun Dogs
by The SportDOG Staff
There are heaps of things you oughta do to prep yourself and your dog for the first day of dove season. For most of us down south, it's still pretty hot during dove season. The most crucial thing is to keep yourself and your dog hydrated! There are all...
Make Your Upland Retriever Mad for Feathers
by Tom Dokken
There's nothing better than a hard-charging flushing dog that's 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....
