2018 Dog of the Year Winners
Every entry deserves recognition, but in the end this was a contest. Following are brief bios of the three winners and the great prizes they received from our generous sponsors.
Hunting Dogs
Go Away!
Teaching your dog to “Go Away”
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.
Duck-Season Details
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.
Dealing with Cancer
The cruel realities of canine cancer.
Feeding for Hunting Success
Keeping your dog in shape year-round is important, but proper conditioning is only half the equation.
Searching for Sheds
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.
Dogs on a Plane
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.
Helping Your Retriever Go the Distance
Following some simple but important principles during training sessions will help your dog be more successful in the field.
The Deadly Sins of Dog Training
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 Cocker Craze
The growing popularity of English cocker spaniels
Snake Safe
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.