Training Tips
Here's how we make the most of each hunt
The Ultimate SportDOG Guide: Choosing the Best E-Collar for Your Dog
by The SportDOG Staff
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to choose the best e-collar for training your dog, ensuring that when the time comes, you’re equipped with a tool that’s up to the task, no matter how tough the conditions.
Avoiding and Dealing with Heat Emergencies
by The SportDOG Staff
Take some time to understand the many factors that can lead to a heat emergency, prepare for your outings to avoid such an emergency, and then have an action plan in place to deal with the Big 3: heat stress, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
All About Retriever Training Dummies
by Tom Dokken
Training dummies are a staple of a good retriever training program.
5 Starter Tips for Raising a Great Pointing Dog
by LTC Jim Morehouse
So, you have a new pointing dog puppy in your house. Congratulations! I hope all your hopes and dreams about turning that pup into a bird-finding pro come true. But, as is true with all things in life, excellence doesn’t happen overnight. Everything is a process, and that’s especially true...
6 Travel Considerations for the Hunting Season
by Tom Dokken
One-day or weekend bird-hunting trips are nice if you’re fortunate to have good destinations close to home, but for many hunters, long-distance, out-of-country trips are the norm. These extended adventures require more planning if you want to enjoy them to the fullest. Here are some considerations to keep in mind. Where...
How Tone and Ambience Can Enhance Your Upland Bird Shooting
by Tom Dokken
A flushing dog that has learnt to work at just the right distance in front of hunters is a huge advantage in a pheasant field or grouse covert. 'Just the right distance' varies with terrain and personal preference, but I think we can all agree that anytime your dog puts...
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 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...
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...
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...
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....
When Your Dog Should Enter the Hunt
by The SportDOG Staff
Young dogs take a while to develop into the hunting or field trial champion you desire. Your knowledge that the pup you selected is from proven hunting stock is just the start. I have been spoilt. During the hunting and field trial seasons, I have always had older, veteran dogs to rely on...
Talent Is Not Obedience
by The SportDOG Staff
Whoa! Can your hunting dog 'whoa' or stop immediately? Does it always come when called? Will it turn on command or always sit or lie down when instructed? Will it gently deliver a bird to your hand without chewing the least little bit? Good bird dogs have been...
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...
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...
