Training Tips
Here's how we make the most of each hunt
Making the Case for E-Collar Simplicity
by Chris Akin
Depending on your background, your opinion about using an electronic training collar probably falls into one of three categories: 1) You think the modern e-collar is the greatest tool ever invented; 2) You believe the evil 'shock' collar has no place in dog training; or 3) You are afraid to...
Finding Your Dog's “Just Right” E-Collar Level
by The SportDOG Staff
Many times, for a new hunting dog owner who's just purchased their first remote trainer, there's an urge to strap on the collar straight away and start pressing buttons. Some novice trainers mistakenly believe that a modern e-collar is a magic remote control, whereby dogs instantly and robotically obey...
How To Effectively Communicate With Your Dog
by The SportDOG Staff
The reality with dogs is that they don’t speak English. They don’t speak French or Latin or Spanish. Dogs are associators. Dogs learn to associate human words with actions and events and therefore you can absolutely communicate effectively and clearly with your dog - both verbally and non-verbally. Below, we’ll discuss...
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Training Your Gundog
by The SportDOG Staff
The best thing about the years that SportDOG® employees and our ProStaffers have spent training dogs is that we've made mistakes. We preach the value of mistakes because you’ll learn from them even more than your successes, but there's no reason you can't learn from ours as well. These are 5...
Dog Training: When the Trainer Becomes the Trainee
by The SportDOG Staff
In the gundog world, I often hear people say, “I trained that dog.” But, is that statement really true? Have you ever considered the fact that maybe the dog you just “trained” actually trained you? Here are two instances when you have become the trainee. 1) CLEVER DOGS At some point...
What's Your Sport Dog Saying To You?
by The SportDOG Staff
Although our hunting dogs can’t talk with us, they do give cues that we can interpret. These are simple signs that any dog owner can learn to read and understand. Signs Your Dog Is Nervous During Training A nervous or timid dog will make mistakes. If you notice any of the cues...
Why One Hunting Dog Isn't Enough
by The SportDOG Staff
Do you ever stop and look around your house, and think, "man, I have a lot of dogs?" It's OK. Upland hunters and waterfowlers are always acquiring more. We need more shotguns, more cartridges to pump through them, more floating decoys, more field decoys. Boats, motors, leases, land access …...
Gun Dog Training: 3 Things Your Puppy Should Learn
by The SportDOG Staff
If you’re reading this article, you probably own, have owned, or are thinking about owning a gun dog puppy. To train your puppy to be a retrieving machine, here are three things that are crucial to teach it from day one. 1) Socialise, Socialise, Socialise Your home is unfamiliar to your new...
5 Essential Safety Tips for Walking Your Dog in Winter
by The SportDOG Staff
Keep your training sessions with your dog brief and efficient to ward off cabin fever, whilst keeping your dog safe in inclement weather. For those of you caught in the polar vortex, you're aware it can limit your time out with your dog. The freezing cold temperatures can make it tempting...
3 Common Dog Training Mistakes To Avoid
by The SportDOG Staff
Training a hunting dog is a fun and enjoyable experience. If trained correctly, the results will be a dog that is a joy to take hunting and a valuable partner in the field. The SportDOG® Pro Staff weighs in on the three most common dog-training mistakes to avoid. Waiting Too Late...
5 Things to Remember When Training Your Hunting Dog
by The SportDOG Staff
Training your own gundog can be one of the most rewarding and humbling experiences of any pet owner's life. The sense of pride and elation that one feels after their dog has learnt a new command is only rivalled by the feelings of doubt and frustration after a training...
5 Training Tips to Beat the Summer Heat
by The SportDOG Staff
Keeping a hunting dog in shape during the off-season will give it the best chance to perform at peak levels once the hunting season opens in the autumn. The continued workouts will maintain tough paw pads, supple joints, proper weight, and preserve endurance and stamina. To achieve this, training must...
3 Ways You’re Ruining Your Gundog Puppy
by Greg McGuffin
Owners of puppies make countless training mistakes. They may not know it initially, but it’s the little things that separate professional trainers from owners who dabble in training. As a professional trainer, I’ve seen every type of misguided puppy and spent countless hours undoing bad habits. Commonly, when a 6-month-old puppy...
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...
