Hunting Articles

Article

The Master

One of my earliest memories is the smell of the Hoppes gun oil my dad would use on his Sweet 16 Browning after a bird hunt. He and my uncles would tell stories of 30 coveys a day, of the “ditch bank birds”, those bobs that would provid.. more ..

By: gundogcentral
Posted: April 18, 2024

Article

All my heroes are gone

As we climbed out of the old Chevy truck, my nostrils were bitten by the cold Kentucky morning. I always loved the way that the cold air pierced your lungs. Such an infusion of life. The cold wrapped around me, but the warmth of excitement .. more ..

By: gundogcentral
Posted: April 17, 2024

Article

The Long Journey Home

Belle’s favorite pastime time lately, was to become perfectly still, and at the most opportune time snap and catch one of the deer flies that tormented her. That’s what her life had become. She hadn’t known freedom for a year now and.. more ..

By: gundogcentral
Posted: April 14, 2024

Article

How to Help Your Dog Learn

When I started training retrievers professionally in 1972, I believed that dogs needed to be worked six days a week, for at least a half hour each day. If you have a big kennel, you know that’s a lot of work. After a few years and trainin.. more ..

By: gundogcentral
Posted: April 6, 2024

Article

What expenses can kennel owners write off?

Maybe you accidentally started a dog-related business pursuing a hobby, or maybe owning a kennel has been your lifelong dream, either way, you can be sure Uncle Sam wants his fair share of your hard work. My blood always starts to boil this.. more ..

By: gundogcentral
Posted: April 2, 2024

Article

Harmony in the Field: A Symphony of Bird Dogs and Wild Birds

In the timeless pursuit of the perfectly honed bird dog, the age-old adage rings true: "It takes birds to make a bird dog." Yet, how often have we pondered the profound layers concealed within this saying? The interplay between a bird dog a.. more ..

By: gundogcentral
Posted: March 3, 2024

Article

Positive Training Methods for Puppies – 4 Tips for Success

Positive training methods are becoming increasingly popular and work well when your puppy is young. This training method rewards puppies for successfully completing a task. Once a puppy understands the kind of behavior that gets him a rewar.. more ..

By: gundogcentral
Posted: February 18, 2024

Article

The Basics of Clicker Training for Puppies

To become successful hunting companions, sporting breed puppies have a lot of skills to master. Clicker training is a great training method for any of the sporting breeds. The method is simple and it marks and then rewards good behavior. Ev.. more ..

By: gundogcentral
Posted: January 29, 2024

Article

More Than Just Retrievers

As an avid duck hunter growing up in central Arkansas, it is a given that most of the outings in the duck waters would be accompanied by a retriever, most often a lab. Labs and ducks go hand in hand. In Arkansas, practically all duck hunter.. more ..

By: gundogcentral
Posted: December 11, 2023

Article

Tails We Could Wag

“It's not much of a tail but I’m attached to it,” said Eeyore, the donkey made famous by Winnie the Pooh. When it comes to tails, some hunters require them on their dogs while others do not. But regardless of your breed of choice, did.. more ..

By: gundogcentral
Posted: November 19, 2023

Article

Overcoming In-Season Obstacles with Your Duck Dog

You’ve waited to hit your honey-hole spot for the perfect day. You know that you’re hitting the migration just right, and if you’ve played your cards correctly, you’ll be limited out by early morning.
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By: gundogcentral
Posted: October 30, 2023

Article

NOT ALL SINNERS GO TO HELL

Harry was a close and cherished member of the Winterhawk Bird Dog Club. He ran dogs throughout the walking circuit in the 80’s, and was particularly known for running his favorite, Harry’s Gentle Ben. I’m pretty sure he got Ben as a.. more ..

By: gundogcentral
Posted: October 22, 2023

Article

Zen and Sharing Space With Bears and Snakes

While planning a trip to Montana a friend asked me if the possibility of running into a bear or snake was “over hyped or a real concern?” After some thought, my answer “both” wasn’t very helpful in easing his mind. But it is true .. more ..

By: gundogcentral
Posted: October 15, 2023

Article

An End and a Beginning

The economics of the business had always been fragile. For-the-public trainer-handlers
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By: gundogcentral
Posted: October 9, 2023

Article

Overcoming In-Season Obstacles with Your Bird Dog

Between dangers in the field and training-related issues while hunting, how do you handle and prepare for obstacles that may arise this season?
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By: gundogcentral
Posted: September 24, 2023