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Training Tips

Here's how we make the most of each hunt

Categories:

Advanced, Basic, Hound, Puppy, Upland, Waterfowl

Two black labrador puppies in the waterTwo black labrador puppies in the water

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...

Yellow lab lying down calmly in crateYellow lab lying down calmly in crate

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....

Yellow lab lying down being stroked while in crateYellow lab lying down being stroked while in crate

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...

man stroking black labrador sitting on tailgate of lorryman stroking black labrador sitting on tailgate of lorry

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...

English Pointer being handled by personEnglish Pointer being handled by person

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...

man walking with black labrador on lead whilst holding training dummiesman walking with black labrador on lead whilst holding training dummies

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...

Beagle in dog crate with door openBeagle in dog crate with door open

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...

Yellow lab in orange Elizabethan collar behind tall yellow grass.Yellow lab in orange Elizabethan collar behind tall yellow grass.

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...

Yellow lab puppy jumping on puppy dummyYellow lab puppy jumping on puppy dummy

Where to Begin with Puppy Training

by The SportDOG Staff

There are several different things that need to be done for and with a new puppy. First and foremost make sure all pup's jabs are on time and up to date. Find a local vet and set up an appointment for your new companion. This is one of many places you...

Yellow lab swimming next to two duck decoys returning from a retrieveYellow lab swimming next to two duck decoys returning from a retrieve

Don't Forget to Introduce Your Duck Dog to Decoys

by Charlie Jurney

In our eagerness to train a retriever into a first-rate waterfowl dog, it’s easy to overlook small yet significant details. For instance, your dog might make you proud when he completes a lengthy retrieve. However, the first time you request him to swim through four dozen decoys to retrieve a...

Yellow labrador running through tall grassYellow labrador running through tall grass

Introducing Your Retriever to Upland Hunting

by Rick Grant

One of the most common questions I’m asked when I’m doing training demonstrations for SportDOG is this one: “How do I keep my retriever hunting within range?” Without a doubt, keeping your dog from getting too far ahead of you when he picks up the scent of a...

Retriever Training: The Transition to WaterRetriever Training: The Transition to Water

Retriever Training: The Transition to Water

by Tom Dokken

Retrievers love water, so you wouldn’t think that transitioning from land retrievers to water retrieves would be difficult. It isn’t, as long as you follow a few simple guidelines. The key to a smooth introduction and continued improvement on water retrieves is to work in baby steps, just like you did...

Man and woman petting and rewarding yellow labrador for retrieving dummyMan and woman petting and rewarding yellow labrador for retrieving dummy

Keeping the Fun in Retriever Training

by Charlie Jurney

Wouldn’t it be nice in the middle of a tough day if someone stopped by and said a few words that made all your worries disappear? Instantly your negative feelings would vanish and you’d be happy. Well, in retriever training, there is something that can have that effect on...

man stroking black labrador dog on tailgateman stroking black labrador dog on tailgate

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...

Yellow labrador wearing a cone collar on a green lead in a duck hideYellow labrador wearing a cone collar on a green lead in a duck hide

Pup’s First Hunt: Building Your Future

by Chris Akin

A puppy's first season, and more specifically, his first hunt, can be the most pivotal in his life as a gun dog. You only get one chance to make a first impression, and that impression can have a major impact on how a young dog is moulded into a hunting...

lady kneeling on ground stroking two black labrador puppieslady kneeling on ground stroking two black labrador puppies

Where to Find a Dog with the Right Stuff - Part 1

by Charlie Jurney

Each time someone rings to enquire about locating a puppy, I have flashbacks to my first dog, Sam. I purchased Sam from a mate who had an athletic, eager hunting dog. He decided to breed his girl to a very nice looking male whose ancestors found fame in the show...


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