Training Tips
Here's how we make the most of each hunt
Working Your Dog in the Winter
by The SportDOG Staff
Keep your training sessions with your dog brief and efficient to stave off cabin fever while keeping your dog safe in inclement weather. For those of you caught in the polar vortex, you know it can limit your time out with your dog. The freezing cold temperatures can make it tempting...
Understand This Before You Train
by Charlie Jurney
Every animal on the planet has an alpha or beta relationship with every other animal. We usually think of 'beta' as submissive and beaten down, but in wild packs or herds, that is not the case. The beta dog in a pack of wild dogs is still quite happy and...
Poor Performance in Bird Dogs
by The SportDOG Staff
Your gundog has been a strong, eager hunter with lots of verve and zest, but now he has lost that zest, speed and stamina. He still eats well, is bright and alert and has normal bowel movements. Have you over-trained the dog or is it poor nutrition, heartworms or...
What Does 'Socialising' Your Puppy Mean?
by Tom Dokken
You hear a lot about 'socialising' your puppy, but what does that mean and why is it important? Socialising is actually training. By that I mean that every time you are with your puppy he is learning something. You need to make sure he's learning what you want him to...
5 Reasons to Own a Hunting Dog
by The SportDOG Staff
If you already own a hunting dog, you know there are a million reasons to do so. If it's a decision you've been considering, we've pooled our TOP 5 REASONS why you should go ahead and pull the trigger to bring home that pup. Health – Ever heard the saying “if your dog’s...
Hunting with Children
by The SportDOG Staff
Hunting with children is an entirely different beast. There are two very important things we must all remember. Firstly, it's all about the children, not you. Secondly, no matter how mature you think a child is, they do not think like an adult. Let's look at the first one; it's...
Where to Start with a Trained Dog
by The SportDOG Staff
I get clients from time to time who want a dog that is already well on its way to being trained. They don’t want to go through puppyhood and all the pleasures of house training, chewing, obedience, and those razor sharp teeth. No, they want a dog that is between...
Holding your Children’s Attention When They Are Young
by Tom Keer
When my daughter and son were younger, they both wanted to be firefighters. That passion came about after our local Fire Chief Joe and his crew visited their school. The demonstration included an inspection of the fire engine, the helmets, the axes and pike poles, and the siren. I thought...
Dealing with a Heat-Related Emergency
by The SportDOG Staff
We lose more dogs to heat-related emergencies than almost any other. If you take preventive measures before heading out to the field, there’s much less of a chance your dog will get into trouble. But when a dog starts to show signs of heat stress, knowing how to deal with...
Training Commands: Speak Less, Reinforce More
by Charlie Jurney
No matter how good our intentions, we hunters and dog trainers as a whole commit one error that sets our training progress back and creates additional problems. We commit this error over and over again, and it’s vitally important to recognise it and fix it. What am I talking about?...
Building a First Aid Kit
by The SportDOG Staff
My background is somewhat different from that of many of the dog handlers on the SportDOG® ProStaff. I'm a tactical paramedic. I work with law enforcement and service dogs. In fact, I've never hunted with dogs. However, I've trained explosive-detection canines, and I specialise in cadaver dogs. Today, I teach canine...
5 Things Dog Trainers Do Best
by The SportDOG Staff
Dog trainers are one of a kind. We all come from different backgrounds, careers, and experiences. We have different styles and beliefs about what we do, but still, there are a few things we all share. We all share some pretty awesome strengths. Here are some top 5 places where...
5 Reasons Your Child Needs a Hunting Dog
by The SportDOG Staff
It should come as no surprise that we’d encourage everyone to have a dog. They’re kind of the basis of everything we do, and we love it. Most of us have had dogs since we were children. Many of us would tell you that our dog was one of the...
The Evolution of Dog Training: Communication is Key
by Lynne Frady
When I started training I was young and green, there were not many training groups in my area to work with, just a few older gentlemen that got together once a month to train. I can’t complain because they welcomed a snot-nosed girl to train with them and I did...
Simple Trick to Keeping Your Dog Hydrated Whilst Hunting
by Bob Ford
Conditioning and hunting dogs in the hot months of summer and early season requires that we are careful about hydration. No doubt about it, my dogs will drink from the nastiest mud puddle in the field, but I prefer that they do not. Stagnant water in the field could carry...
How You Helped Build TEK 2.0
by The SportDOG Staff
Hunting season is upon us. Excitement is high for the whole hunting community, but we’d wager no one is quite as thrilled as we are about what’s coming this season. TEK 2.0 will be hitting retailers near you this season! It’s hard to fully express how excited we are about...
