Bird dog optimism always runs high leading up to the waterfowl or pheasant opener. But, by this time of the year, reality has likely poured water on that fire and hope given way to frustration about your dog’s performance.
This is often the case with young and middle-aged dogs, with the seasoned veterans less likely to throw you for a mid-season loop. Acknowledging this is the first step, but you really need to understand why your GSP or Lab...

Bird dog bias is a real thing, and we all suffer from it. That’s why when we reminisce on last season, we tend to remember the things that went right. It’s human nature to fondly recall the near-flawless dog work on late-season roosters or the rare day when you exited the Northwoods early after limiting out on ruffs.
It’s not so easy to remember the coveys of quail your pointer bumped 75 yards away or the time he charged through an entire...

Many hunters believe their only job is to teach their dog how to hunt. In reality, a good handler will focus on keeping their dog happy, healthy, and safe. A halfway-decent bird dog will know the basics of finding a sweet-smelling bird as soon as his wobbly legs will hold him up. But to listen, take direction, and keep away from danger? Not so much.
One tool that is a must for all sporting dog owners is a good crate designed to withstand serious...

The most popular hunting dog in the country is the Labrador retriever. These do-it-all canines are the overwhelming choice for waterfowlers and upland hunters alike, and depending on how old you are, you might remember they used to only come in three colors: black, yellow, and chocolate.
Today’s Lab is available in silver, red, and champagne as well, that is, if you’re willing to loosen up your definition of what “pure-bred” means. I’ve found...

Upland hunters are an interesting bunch. We pay close attention to the whisper numbers for game bird counts, and often plan our days afield based on how many roosters are supposed to be on the landscape. During the last decade, those numbers have crept north almost across the board, but that doesn’t keep folks from longing for the “good ol’ days” of upland hunting.
Admittedly, we aren’t back to the boom years of the ‘90s, but is it as doomy and...

Each year, roughly 8,000 humans are bitten by venomous snakes in North America. That number is almost certainly higher for dogs, though it is not reported on a national scale. Of the bites inflicted on us and our canine counterparts, the culprits are pretty much guaranteed to be a type of rattlesnake or cottonmouth. Both belong to the North American pit viper subfamily, which contains about two dozen species.
Pit viper venom varies in potency...

The American Kennel Club is an organization that, among other things, facilitates the recognition and registration of pure-bred dogs. Because of this, it’s common to see litters of gun dogs advertised as AKC-registered. Aside from being a hedge against any hint of mutt-dom in your dog, what does this really mean? Very little.
If you’re looking for a dog that won’t succumb to an avoidable, genetic time-bomb, or for a dog that should be intelligent...