Training Tips
Here's how we make the most of each hunt
Season is Coming - A Checklist for Opening Day
by The SportDOG Staff
The most anticipated time of the year is upon us…Opening Day! As you and your hunting mates plan the first big trip, it’s important to make sure you’re fully ready for what lies ahead. There’s nothing worse than getting out in the field and realising you’re missing equipment, something got...
5 Ways to Improve Hunting Photos
by Tom Keer
Let me be honest: I am not a professional photographer. Over the years I’ve been fortunate to capture some good images, but it’s been luck of the draw. As a writer I’ve been blessed to work with a lot of excellent photographers and they have kindly offered me some constructive...
Shed Hunting: Help Your Dog Help You - Part 2
by The SportDOG Staff
In my last article I described the benefits of shed antler hunting in the off-season and how to get your dog started in this enjoyable sport. Now let me go into more detail about how to teach your dog to efficiently search for sheds. A dog has three weapons to use...
Shed Hunting: Starting Your Dog Out the Right Way - Part 1
by The SportDOG Staff
It’s too bad bird seasons only last a few months. It seems like autumn arrives and brings the excitement of pheasant and duck hunting, but then before you know it winter has set in and all you can do is dream and wait for the next season. Thankfully there’s another...
Improve Your Dog's Work by Hunting a Different Species
by Tom Keer
If I were to look back on my bird hunting life, the overwhelming majority of my days in the field were spent pursuing Ruffed grouse and woodcock. The focus of my attention has been in New England and Canada, and if I were to drill down even more, New Hampshire...
From Shelter to Field: Tips on Training a Rescue Dog
by The SportDOG Staff
The New Year often brings with it new dogs. Many of you may be looking into adding a new addition to your family as we speak. A major question we get this time of year is “can a rescue dog make an adequate hunting dog”. The short answer is yes....
Skin Laceration Repair in the Field
by Shawn Kinkelaar
There is nothing finer than being out in the countryside during autumn with bird dogs. The whirr of wings as a covey of scaled quail bursts from the sand sage can shake the cholesterol from the morning's greasy spoon full English breakfast. Gun smoke clears the air as the setter climbs through the taut five-stranded...
Tom Dokken's Top 10 Tips for Dog Training
by The SportDOG Staff
Senior ProStaffer Tom Dokken has forgotten more about dog training than most of us will ever know, so it'd be almost impossible to get everything in one place, but Tom shared some of his Top 10 Tips for dog training: 1. Never give a command you cannot enforce. If you do...
Proper Dental Care for Your Dog
by The SportDOG Staff
You put a lot into your dog’s health. Make sure you don’t mess up any of your good work by overlooking a vital part of your dog’s wellness regimen: Dental Care. Dogs accumulate plaque and other germs just the same as humans do and these can pose serious health risks to...
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...
