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Training Tips

Here's how we make the most of each hunt

Categories:

Advanced, Basic, Hound, Puppy, Upland, Waterfowl

yellow lab in white field blind out in a snow covered fieldyellow lab in white field blind out in a snow covered field

Working Your Dog in the Winter

by The SportDOG Staff

Keep your training sessions with your dog quick 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...

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. Briars, barbed-wire, broken glass, or even sharp broken saplings can slice a dog’s skin as it hunts. Appropriate field care of wounds can decrease healing time and make the veterinarian’s job much easier. Remember the watchwords: flush, fill and wrap. Flushing Fresh cuts may look quite...

Black lab getting pets from trainerBlack lab getting pets from trainer

Poor Performance in Bird Dogs

by The SportDOG Staff

Your bird dog has been a strong, eager hunter with lots of pizzazz and snap, but now he has lost that snap, 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...

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 walking with black lab on leash while hold training dummiesman walking with black lab on leash while hold 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 get 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...

Man and woman sitting in grass with two setter puppies.Man and woman sitting in grass with two setter puppies.

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 debating, we've pooled our TOP 5 REASONS why should go ahead and pull the trigger bring home that pup. Health – Ever heard the expression “if your dog’s...

Yellow lab laying down behind small white fence flagsYellow lab laying down behind small white fence flags

How In-Ground Fences Help with Hunting Dogs

by The SportDOG Staff

In-Ground containment fences are becoming more and more popular among dog owners, and for good reason: they allow your dog to enjoy freedom in the yard without the expense, hassle, and eye sore of a fence. On their own those are great reasons to consider a fence, but these containment...

Young boy sitting with black lab. Both looking to sky for ducks.Young boy sitting with black lab. Both looking to sky for ducks.

Hunting with Kids

by The SportDOG Staff

Hunting with kids is an entirely different animal. There are two very important things we must all remember. First, it’s all about the kids, not you. Second, no matter how mature you think a kid is, they do not think like an adult. Let’s look at the first one; it’s...

black lab walking on heel with man who is holding leashblack lab walking on heel with man who is holding leash

Where to Start with a Finished Dog

by The SportDOG Staff

I get clients from time to time that 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 breaking, chewing, obedience, and those razor sharp teeth. No, they want a dog that is between...

Holding your Kids’ Attention When They Are YoungHolding your Kids’ Attention When They Are Young

Holding your Kids’ Attention When They Are Young

by Tom Keer

When my daughter and son were younger, they both wanted to be firemen. That passion came about after our local Fire Chief Joe and his crew visited their school. The demonstration included an inspection of the fire truck, the helmets, the axes and pike poles, and the siren. I thought...

Charlie Jurney kneeling by yellow lab holding white plastic dummyCharlie Jurney kneeling by yellow lab holding white plastic dummy

Training Commands: Talk 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 recognize it and fix it. What am I talking about?...

Young hound dog jumping on to the tailgate of a truck and in to a dog box. Handler standing behind him.Young hound dog jumping on to the tailgate of a truck and in to a dog box. Handler standing behind him.

Get That Young Hound Started Right

by Jed Finley

There are many ways to turn a young coonhound into a top-notch trailing dog, but one of the biggest things I think you can do to help him along is to help him learn independence. I’m going to tell you the basics of how I do that as part of...

setter panting next to dog crate.setter panting next to dog crate.

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...

handheld transmitterhandheld transmitter

Picking the Right E-Collar

by Tom Dokken

Purchasing your first SportDOG Brand® remote training collar or upgrading from an older model isn’t particularly difficult, but it does require some thought about which features are most important to you and how the collar is going to be used. Thankfully, SportDOG offers enough products that you can easily match...

Setter running through tall grass.Setter running through tall grass.

Building a First Aid Kit

by The SportDOG Staff

My background is a bit different than 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 specialize in cadaver dogs. Today, I teach canine...

5 Things Dog Trainers Do Best5 Things Dog Trainers Do Best

5 Things Dog Trainers Do Best

by The SportDOG Staff

Dog trainers are a one of 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...


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