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Spaniel Bird Dogs
When most hunters think of bird dogs, their minds jump straight to pointers, setters, or retrievers. Yet for generations, spaniels have quietly earned a reputation as some of the most versatile and enjoyable hunting companions in the field. Compact, energetic, and eager to please, spaniels bring a unique style of hunting that combines close-working efficiency with an enthusiasm that's hard to match.
Teaching the Heel Command to Your Cocker Spaniel
If you've ever tried walking a young Cocker Spaniel through a field, down a gravel road, or even across a parking lot, you've probably discovered one thing quickly: Cockers are naturally curious. Every scent, every bird, every rustle in the grass seems worth investigating.
Teaching the Hup Command with a Whistle
If there is one command that separates a pleasant hunting cocker from a chaotic one, it is the hup.
Hup or Sit?
If you've spent any time around working English Cockers, you've probably heard handlers use the word "hup" almost as often as they use a whistle.
Changing Cover. Hunting Pheasants in Different Habitats.
Imagine observing roosters run ahead down rows of corn or milo until the birds reach the end of the field and then sneak into an adjoining wetland area, surrounded on one side by a golden field of short-grass prairie with brushy draws. This scenario has pheasant hunters in a variety of habitats. When hunting pheasants, cover can change over the course in a matter of minutes. Therefore, the hunting style pheasant hunters employ should reflect that. Pheasants will utilize every inch of habitat to their advantage if it helps them live another day. The court jesters of the Midwest are akin to adapting when fields get harvested or sloughs dry up. Hunting pressure pushes them out from one area to another. Hunters need to adapt to various habitats that pheasants use.
Best hunting dog breeds for wetland hunting
Waterfowl hunting demands a special kind of dog — one that thrives in cold, muddy conditions, works calmly from a blind, and has the grit to plunge into icy water after a downed bird. Not every hunting breed is built for that challenge, but a select few have been bred for generations to master the wetlands. These dogs combine powerful swimming ability, a weatherproof coat, a soft mouth for careful retrieves, and an unshakable desire to work beside their handler through rain, sleet, and wind.
Best hunting dog breeds for upland hunting
There are several dog breeds that excel in upland hunting, and the best breed for you depends on your specific preferences and hunting style. Whether you’re flushing bobwhite quail in the piney woods of the Southeast, chasing sharp-tailed grouse across the grasslands of the Northern Great Plains, stalking ring-necked pheasants in the grain fields of the Midwest, pursuing chukar in the rocky terrain out West, or hunting ruffed grouse and woodcock in the dense young forests of the Great Lakes region, each breed is tailored to a different type of hunt. Finding the right one for your hunting situation can be key to success in the field.
How much to puppies sell for?
I’ll occasionally get a phone call, text or email from someone asking how much money they should be asking for their puppies when listing them on Gundog Central. I have a ton of data that I’ve collected on dog prices over the years and decided to put together this quick list showing the average list price for puppies, by breed. I’ve also looked at the trending data for the past five years to see if puppy prices were rising or falling, but didn’t see a lot of movement for the most popular breeds. Below you’ll find the median list price for puppies, broken down by breed, over the past year. These are puppy prices only, it does not include started or finished dogs.
Six “Military” Style Methods to Outsmart Late Season Roosters
By now late season roosters have been hunted hard, so they’re more wary. Hardened and experienced, these birds flush at greater distances at the mere sound or sight of danger. Add paranoia and the uncanny ability to become elusive and scarce when things get dicey. Veteran roosters know that slow birds of mind and wing are shot. Taking to the air is the last option as mature birds stay grounded and use their feet instead of wings to escape.
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 you ever wonder why some tails are bobbed while others are not?
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 pup from Delmar Smith, and Ben won in the best of competition. Winterhawk Bird Dog Club had some stout competition in those days, accounting for many championships at all levels of the field trial sport. On hunting trips Harry and Ben held their own too, and then some. This may all sound ho-hum until you know Ben was a Brittany Spaniel. Big, stout, and leggy, he’d run and hunt with the best of the pointers and setters back then.
The Versatile Beagle
There is a lot of emphasis on versatile hunting dogs in recent years, and guys like me have been running them for decades. What am I talking about? Why, the ever-popular beagle is what I am thinking has been the versatile hunting dog par excellence for centuries. Growing up in the Northern Appalachian Mountains, specifically in the Alleghenies, there were lots of hunters who kept a beagle or two for rabbit hunting. Beagles are hounds, with a powerful nose, and a strong urge to pursue game. Typically, the biggest problem faced by owners of beagles is ensuring that they do not chase off game—deer being the most tempting and problematic off game species. A cottontail rabbit might run in a circle a few hundred yards in diameter. A deer chase might take a pack of beagles so far away that you no longer hear them baying, and it ruins a day afield. Experienced houndsmen do not venture afield for a hunt with a beagle that will run off game.
Upland Glossary
Upland hunting is a great way to enjoy the outdoors; for people new to hunting and especially upland hunting, learning some standard terms and slang words can be helpful when talking with other hunters. This list is not a definitive list of upland bird hunting terms. This list is intended to get the novice hunter quickly up to speed so you can spend more time hunting and less time wondering what your fellow hunters are discussing.
Finding a reputable hunting dog breeder
Start by researching a breeder specializing in the hunting dog breed you're interested in, such as the English Pointer, Labrador Retriever, or Cocker Spaniel. Seek recommendations from experienced hunters, trainers, or local hunting clubs who might have firsthand knowledge about the breeder.
Dog Names - Irish
Irish people regard dogs highly. This element is demonstrated through the names given to their dogs which form part of their culture. Irish myths and stories mention the unique names given to dogs in this category. The Irish wolfhound is the world's tallest dog and is an original breed to wolfs and hunt stags. Some of the common Ireland dog breeds include the Kerry Blue, Irish Red, and the Irish Water Spaniel. Irish people even breed dogs for working, and this special category comprises very good-looking, intelligent, and courageous dogs. Below is a list of Irish dog names that would suit your pet if you are looking for unique names. The names are related to dog breeds and meanings.
