Sporting Dog Basics

Hunting dogs are an essential part of the hunting tradition, providing hunters with a faithful companion, an efficient helper, and a loyal friend. Hunting dogs come in a variety of breeds, each with unique skills and attributes, such as retrieving, pointing, flushing, and tracking. Whether you ar...

Hunting dogs play a crucial role in the sport of hunting. They are valued partners who bring skill, ability, and enthusiasm to the hunt. As hunters, it is our responsibility to ensure that our hunting dogs are treated with the care and respect they deserve.  Afterall, being in the field just...

What are E-collars? Remote dog training collars, also known as electronic or e-collars, are a popular tool among dog trainers and pet owners for teaching obedience and behavior modification. These collars work by delivering a mild static stimulation or vibration to the dog's neck when t...

It’s the time of year when most of us aren’t hunting but, we’re still enjoying the outdoors whether we are camping, hiking, swimming or just relaxing outside. Our sporting dogs enjoy this time of year and pick up on the enthusiasm that most of us have for the Summer months. When planning ...

Rescuing a dog whether it be a purebred or a mixed breed is ever increasing and is having a great impact on the dog community and dog lovers worldwide. A rescued dog may have issues that a dog from a breeder doesn’t necessarily have. One of the most common issues we hear is a lack of confid...

Negative correction is often necessary in order to train your dog commands and to correct bad behavior. However, we have to be careful that negativity isn’t the only thing we communicate to our furry friends. If we want to build trust and loyalty between ourselves and our dogs then we need ...

As any seasoned raccoon hunting will tell you, coon hunting can be mighty tough on the hunter but, it takes a very special dog to be coondog. A coondog needs to have determination and strength beyond the typical dog. Rumor has it amongst the local coon hunters in my area that your dog must also h...

Whether you decide to take your dog on your vacation or just want to take him to the park it is important that your dog be safe and comfortable while traveling. Safety First For safety purposes it is best to have your dog either in a seat belt harness or in a crate while you tra...

Your dog’s health and happiness should be at the top of your priorities when it comes to being a dog owner. Your dog fully depends on you to make sure his diet, nutritional needs and his opportunities for exercise are taken care of. Developing a healthy lifestyle for your dog is easy if you...

Choosing the right training collar can be overwhelming. The options sometimes seem confusing and can make you settle for a collar that might not be the absolute best one for you. Most of the time you know a little about what you need but, not necessarily which options can give you the best bang f...

There are quite a few considerations to take into account before you can determine whether getting a dog will fit your lifestyle. It doesn’t matter whether you are looking for a hunting dog or a family pet, the responsibility of having a dog is the same and it shouldn’t be taken light...

If you need a break from your Spring dog training routine and want a challenge that will leave you scratching your head, grab your bow and try your hand at one of the most challenging hunts you will ever go on. Hunters all across the country are gearing up for the much anticipated wild turkey sea...

There’s a lot of talk about the unusual and extreme weather caused by the El Nino weather patterns and the effects it will have on the deer and other wild game populations for next hunting season. Because deer and other wild game are affected by unusual high or low temperatures and the wind...

If you have heard of shed hunting but, aren’t real sure exactly what it is, you aren’t alone. Most hunters are excited to try new things, especially with their hunting dogs and shed hunting will not disappoint those dog enthusiasts who want to have a lot of fun and gain some knowledge...

The 2016 North Carolina Youth Waterfowl days are February 6 and February 13. The youth must be 15 years of age or younger and accompanied by a properly licensed adult. The youth waterfowl days can be used...

There is no magic formula for picking the perfect puppy. Although, there are plenty of satisfied hunting dog owners that have put no thought or planning into choosing the right dog, being fully prepared for a commitment like this one can only be in your favor. There are just so many factors to co...

The days are getting cooler and many avid sportsmen's thoughts are turning to all different kinds of hunting as the main hunting seasons start to heat up. The one thing you should be more than ready for is to prepare your hunting dog for the season to come. With that being said, read on below for...

Retrieving consists of lots of practice, dedication, and consistency. Even the best of retrievers need to have ongoing training. Many people believe there are certain techniques and procedures that should be used in the art of retrieving. Here are some myths and misconceptions about retrievers....

When traveling with your dog, there are a handful of things you can do to keep him comfortable and happy as well as make life easy for you along the way. Traveling by yourself can be stressful enough without the added worry of your dog’s needs. To help you keep your dog happy and reduce you...

The idea that a hunting dog cannot be a house dog is a common misconception and apparently those that have opposing opinions are rather dogmatic with their views. However, I think those on both sides of the argument would agree that there is no friend like a dog. Your dog can’t talk back an...

Excitement is in the air, and it’s not just the pollen, the North Carolina Spring wild turkey season begins April 11th, as I am reminded every day. Whether it’s by my sixteen year old practicing his turkey vocalizations, with his purrs and cackles that I’m hearing or the early m...

The 2015 Iditarod, “The Last Great Race,” started on Saturday and the restart from Fairbanks, Alaska is today. The Iditarod dog sled race is the ultimate testament to the abilities and strengths of around one thousand canine p...

Even though most professional breeders have their own rules, what about us dog owners who aren't running a full-scale kennel? When deciding whether to breed your dog or not, it's important to consider the level of commitme...

What’s in a hunting dog name? What’s in a name, you might ask? Well, apparently a lot more than you might expect. We name our children after notable relatives and our favorite movie stars and sometimes it appea...

We can learn a great deal from our 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt, who was an avid hunter and conservationist and who once stated, “Defenders of the short-sighted men who in their greed and selfishness will, if permitted, rob our country of half its charm by their reckless extermination...

The American Kennel Association groups dogs into categories based on certain common criteria. One such group is the Sporting group. The Sporting group includes pointers, retrievers, setters and spaniels. Sporting dogs are t...

During the holiday season traditions come alive. Beyond the mainstay traditions of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s, there are other, more particular family or personal traditions. For example, some families have a tradition of gathering together for annual holiday events, or attendi...

A critical step in choosing a hunting dog is knowing what kind of dog you want. No, not the type of breed you are looking for, you probably already know that, but what “kind” of dog you want. Obviously this is referring to temperament and behavior. Temperament refers to the dog’...