Training Tips
Here's how we make the most of each hunt
6 Tips for Containment System Training
by Charlie Jurney
Judging by the number of homes whose yards are decorated with white pet containment training flags these days, it seems that in-ground fencing has gone mainstream. It’s great that dog owners are taking responsibility for keeping their pets from wandering. While the basics of setting up and training a dog...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Training Commands: Talk Less, Reinforce More
by Charlie Jurney
No matter how good our intentions, us hunters and dog trainers as a whole make one mistake that sets our training progress back and creates extra problems. We make this mistake time and time again, and it's bloody important to recognise it and sort it out. What am I talking about?...
