The Training Mindset
The best time to train is when you are “in the zone,” as a dog will sense this and become a willing and contented member of the working team.
The best time to train is when you are “in the zone,” as a dog will sense this and become a willing and contented member of the working team.
Going into the season, young dogs should be familiar with the situations they may encounter—such as climbing onto and retrieving from a marsh stand.
The cruel realities of canine cancer.
Keeping your dog in shape year-round is important, but proper conditioning is only half the equation.
I don’t know anyone who doesn’t get at least a little excited about finding a dropped deer antler. So it’s little wonder that using bird dogs to search for shed antlers has grown into a remarkably popular pastime.
If you believe that life’s too short to hunt over someone else’s dog, then you owe it to yourself to learn how to travel well by plane for more distant wingshooting adventures.
Following some simple but important principles during training sessions will help your dog be more successful in the field.
Among the bible rules of dog training: A dog must understand why it is being corrected and know a solution to avoid the negative in the future.
The growing popularity of English cocker spaniels
Regrettably, well-known guide and trainer Web Parton is retiring. So this piece is not a recommendation of a trainer but an indication of what to look for in a snake-avoidance clinic: above all a trainer with a feel for dogs as individuals and a willingness to invest time in their education.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to finding the "right" range. The only question is: What’s right for you?
Top pros have refined their understanding of just how early well-bred retrievers can take on training tasks.