Training Tips
Here's how we make the most of each hunt
Is Your Dog Ready for Opening Day?
by The SportDOG Staff
For many, opening day is just around the corner. Whilst this is the day many of us have been waiting for for months, it’s important not to get so caught up in the anticipation that you forget to make sure you and your pup are fully prepared for your first...
Steadiness at Its Best
by Bradley Bradshaw
Have you ever been out shooting in the hide with your mates and just before shooting time a group of mallards come landing into the decoys? You know if your dog breaks on them, the hunt is over. Well I'm going to give you a training tip that will help make...
Lyme Disease - Keeping You and Your Dog Safe in the Field
by The SportDOG Staff
While there is nothing better than a day in the wild with your dog, it does come with its risks. One of these is Lyme disease. Most every outdoorsman is familiar with this tick-transmitted disease, but what you might not be aware of is that it is on the rise....
The Golden Rules of Dog Training
by The SportDOG Staff
Dog training is an art man has been trying to perfect since the domestication of canines. There are almost as many theories on dog training as there are on raising children. Many of these theories are effective and having multiple options allows you to tailor your training to your dog...
Leading the Pack
by The SportDOG Staff
Spring time is upon us (at least that’s what the weather people are telling us) which often means new puppies to train. As you begin working with your new little hunting buddy, it’s important to remember that dogs are pack animals, and as such look for a leader. If it’s...
Teaching the Down Command
by Gary Sheffer
Down, sometimes referred to as the Down Stay command, is a strong control command. Down is an essential command for all types of working and non-working dogs. The command can be used in a boat, hide, or field. I find it very useful after the hunt, to check the dog...
Recipes from the Field
by The SportDOG Staff
If you’ve been following our blog for a while, you know that occasionally we like to share some of our favourite recipes. Despite popular belief, we can cook. We’re actually pretty daggone good at it, and we assume many of you are as well. Why? Because it just goes with...
Growing Up in the Outdoors
by The SportDOG Staff
The Outdoors. It is something that we as outdoorsmen are all passionate about and something that we hold dear to our hearts. We often have some of the best times of our lives in the outdoors, whether it is in a tree stand or a duck blind, on a 4...
Keeping Steady at Retriever Trials
by Billy Mosley
It's match day. So, now what? It’s early on a Saturday morning; you pull into the test grounds excited to see how you and your retriever handle the judges' set ups this weekend. This is a common occurrence at hunt tests across the country; unfortunately another common occurrence is that the well-behaved...
Training Retrieve to Hand
by Ben Busby
We often rely on our ProStaff when we encounter difficulties in training. ProStaffer Ben Busby has offered insights on training the crucial 'Retrieve to Hand' in this week's blog. I have heard various gun dog owners remark that their dogs have been retrieving but sometimes will stop short...
10 Mistakes in Gundog Training and How Not to Make Them - Part 2
by The SportDOG Staff
Read the first 5 mistakes to avoid with gundog training in the first article in this series. Not Adapting to the Dog No two dogs are exactly alike. Like children, they all learn differently, have different strengths and possess that free-will thing that can leave you grinding your teeth in...
10 Mistakes in Gundog Training and How Not to Make Them - Part 1
by The SportDOG Staff
The best thing about the years that we and our ProStaffers have spent training dogs is that we've made the mistakes. We extol the value of mistakes because you will learn from them even more than your successes, but there's no reason you can't learn from ours. We constantly hammer...
Travelling with Your Hunting Dog
by The SportDOG Staff
Hunting season brings many of us the opportunity to travel in pursuit of game. This is a great opportunity for you and your dog to explore new territory and challenges. One of those challenges can be getting your dog comfortably from point A to point B. Travel can be stressful...
Don't Overlook Steady in Your Wetland Training Arsenal
by The SportDOG Staff
When you think of wetland hunting with your dog, the importance of water retrieves is probably the first thing that comes to mind. Steady is also an incredibly important command for a waterfowl dog. As we all know too well, the sport requires patience for both yourself and your dog...
Proper Foot Care for Your Dog in the Season
by The SportDOG Staff
For many of us, season is here. You and your pup have worked hard for this, and it’s time to enjoy it. Nothing can end that fun quicker for you and your dog than a foot injury. The following tips will help keep your hunting partner fit and ready for...
Tom Dokken: Dedicated to the Dogs
by Tom Dokken
Looking back over my last 40 years as a professional dog trainer it seems like it was just yesterday. Although dog training has changed a lot over the years, the starting point remains the same. As a young high school kid, I remember the day that made me realise that I...
