Rigors of a Tough Hunting Season

Harsh winters often turn most of our thoughts and worries towards, 'how are the birds gonna survive'? A question I reckon we should be more worried about is lying next to us on the couch or sleeping out in the doghouse. How did our dogs get on in these odd conditions?

If you've been out hunting through a tough winter, it's really knocked around your dog. Most upland dogs clock up 3-6 times the distance we do each season. This really takes it out of dogs over the year and they need time to recover from the hard yakka.

With that in mind, I want you to think back 9 months and ask yourself if you put a plan together to help your animal get through this season. Training your dogs goes way beyond raising your new pup. That's the fun bit! Whether you're a one dog owner or have 10 in the kennel, you've gotta work these animals.

They're athletes just like we see on the telly. When people think of SportDOG Brand®, they usually think of E-training. SportDOG carries a wide variety of training tools to help dogs young and old.

Give your dog(s) a two month break, but early this spring, I want you to consider getting the ol' bloke off the couch and go out and do some bird work or endurance training. It’s good for the both of you.

Some things that I reckon are a must are:

1. Conditioning- Roadwork for a dog is essential for muscle development, cardio, and overall stamina. You can exercise a dog using a bike, quad bike, horse, or simply by taking walks. It'll not only assist your dog in handling a demanding season, but they'll also display more flair and elegance the fitter they are.

2. Yard Work- Even the old dogs need a bit of a spruce-up with this every now and then. Yard work offers heaps more than just being handy around the house. It'll give you the assurance that no matter the hunting situation, you know your dog will pay attention to you.

3. Bird Work- Not as much of a necessity with the older dogs, it's still good to fine-tune any issues we spot in the field. Nothing beats hunting wild birds, but this is about as close as you can get.

4. Bench Work- If you've got a pointing breed, nothing's as impressive as style. Bench work reinforces style and class with confidence. It's always good to put the dog up on the bench and make him feel like a million bucks.

Keep working those dogs in the off season, and I’ll promise you that you'll have a more enjoyable hunting season with more birds in the bag, good looking dogs and the good feeling that the dogs can handle what you put them through.

Always check your local and state regulations related to dog training and the use of game birds on private and public property.