Training Tips
Here's how we make the most of each hunt
TEC 2.0: Utilising the Trip Computer
by Matt Mates
If you’ve paid attention to the reviews for the TEK 2.0 system from SportDOG Brand®, you’ll know that hunters are really impressed with the mapping feature. Count me as one of them. Whilst a lot of hunters and dog handlers rely on the screen’s information to help them locate a...
TEK 2.0: Voice Feature
by Jeffrey Wood
The SportDOG Brand TEK 2.0 e-collar and tracking unit has turned out to be a fantastic addition to my training tools. I train my Mountain Curs hard all year round. During the hottest summer days, I train first thing in the morning, and then again in the evening. I’ve been using...
TEK 2.0 Enhances Success in Grouse Hunting
by The SportDOG Staff
The TEK 2.0 from SportDOG Brand® has turned out to be a real difference-maker in my grouse and woodcock guiding in northern Minnesota. I admit I wasn’t always a fan of using a tracking product, because to me it sounded like one more piece of equipment I’d have to maintain...
Proper Introduction to the E-Collar
by Chris Akin
The e-collar is an amazing tool. It can fine-tune a dog, extend your control, and even save an animal’s life. But here’s the thing: You must understand what it is. It is not a magic bullet. I call it a polishing tool. It’s an enforcement tool and a distance minimiser. 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 ensure you and your hunting partner stay safe in the field: Increased Hydration – Warmer weather means increased chances of heat exhaustion for you and your dog. Even mild temperatures can pose...
Where to Find a Dog with the Right Stuff - Part 2
by Charlie Jurney
In Part 1 of this article series, I discussed buying a puppy and considering pedigrees. Now we'll delve into the best breeder and how to choose the right litter. The most sensible way to find a well-bred puppy for yourself is by doing a great deal of research. Ask each breeder...
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....
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 desire. Your knowledge that the pup you selected is from proven hunting stock is just the start. I have been spoilt. During the hunting and field trial seasons, I have always had older, veteran dogs to rely on...
Talent Is Not Obedience
by The SportDOG Staff
Whoa! Can your hunting dog 'whoa' or stop immediately? Does it always come when called? Will it turn on command or always sit or lie down when instructed? Will it gently deliver a bird to your hand without chewing the least little bit? Good bird dogs have been...
Understanding Canine Influenza
by The SportDOG Staff
If you have been watching the news lately or reading metropolitan newspapers, you may have noticed articles about a 'new' flu outbreak in dogs. In some parts of the country, veterinarians are reporting an almost panic situation around this canine flu news. Here are the facts. Canine Influenza Virus is a relatively...
Reward-Based Training for Labradors
by Charlie Jurney
Imagine you go to work this week giving your best efforts to satisfy the boss and make the company successful. During that time you forgot to return one phone call and came in five minutes late on Thursday because of a wreck on the motorway. The rest of the week...
Dealing with Hunting Dog Injuries
by The SportDOG Staff
Cuts are common in hunting dogs. Brambles, barbed wire, broken glass, or even sharp broken saplings can slice a dog’s skin as it hunts. Appropriate field care of wounds can reduce healing time and make the vet’s job much easier. Remember the watchwords: flush, fill and wrap. Flushing Fresh cuts may look quite...
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 receive 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...
Training Your Retriever for Double Duty
by Charlie Jurney
If you've got a waterfowl dog, odds are that at some point you'll want it to do some upland work. Could be a pheasant hunt as a bit of a side gig to your Dakota duck hunt, or perhaps an arvo of quail hunting after a morning goose hunt. Most retrievers cope...
Spring Training for Beagles
by The SportDOG Staff
Spring is in the air, which means rabbit season is over in most parts of the country. So now what? I have a kennel full of Beagle rabbit hounds and no hunting, making this the perfect time to give a little extra attention to those younger hounds. Spring is a...
Getting Your Retriever in the Thick of Things
by Rick Grant
If you were going to go pheasant shooting on a farm where you’d never been before, where would you start your search? You would probably head for the thickest cover because you know that’s where birds feel safest and therefore tend to hang out the most, right? Well, when you...
