Picture for a moment an NFL football player in March or April. Although he is not in the height of his season, regularly working with the team to improve plays and build stamina, he cannot afford to be stagnant. Athletes depend on their bodies to continually succeed, so they must train consistently, even when games and events aren’t regularly scheduled.

The same can be said of your hunting dog. Although you are not depending on his prowess during the lazy days of summer, it is still important to maintain your dog’s level of fitness and ability. You cannot expect the dog to jump back into the game without any maintenance of the dog’s skills. Your dog is an athlete who works strenuously to please you during the hunt. And the simple truth is this: it takes more than a week or two before bird season to maintain the level of skill necessary for a successful hunting experience. There is nothing worse on the first day of the hunt than having a dog full of a year’s worth of enthusiasm and only an hour or two of stamina.

Hunting can be tiring for us, but we are not literally running all day long, as are our hunting dogs. The dog enjoys this work, but it is still demanding on his heart and lungs. His muscles should be toned and ready for exertion. Another important thing is that your dog maintains tough pads on his feet. His feet should be able to physically withstand hours of running on rough and unpredictable ground. These are all things that can be maintained with mild, but consistent workouts consisting of runs, retrievals, and basic drills.

Another issue to consider is the dog’s exposure to climate control. If your dog resides in an air-conditioned home for the spring/summer/early fall, exposure to hard work in an uncontrolled climate can take its toll on the dog. The first day of the hunt has the potential to be quite warm or quite cold, depending on the area, and your dog should be prepared to work in that climate. It is not ideal to leave the dog outside all summer either, but consistent exposure to the outdoors will help to prepare him for hunting season.

Worse yet, the sudden exertion on the part of a dog that has been allowed to be lazy for 9 months can cause debilitating injuries. Muscles, tendons, and ligaments can be damaged if they are suddenly overused. Hunting dogs have such a desire and passion for the sport that they will actually hurt themselves in their enthusiasm. This can lead to a disappointing hunting season with your best hunting buddy out of commission.

An unfit, unprepared hunting dog reflects poorly on his owner. It is as if you have “put away” the dog during the off-season, much like you put away your orange vest. Spend a night or two each week during the off-season to exercise and condition your dog for the future hunt. Increase this time as the hunt approaches, adding drills, swimming, roading, and retrieving.

The better we as humans eat, the better our bodies function. We can avoid excessive sickness, weight gain, and fatigue, among other things, if we are eating well. As the saying goes, “Garbage in, garbage out.” The same can be said of our hunting dogs. If you are expecting optimum performance from your dog, you should be providing the best diet possible. This does not mean you should spend more on your dog’s food than your own, it simply means that you should be cognizant of the ingredients within your dog’s food and make changes where necessary.

Dog Food

The first ingredient in your dog’s bag of food should be chicken or lamb (or it could be a pricier meat like buffalo, duck, or salmon). Meat byproducts are often found in lesser quality foods, which signify the use of any number of extra pieces of the animal that were not able to be used in the grocery store for human consumption. There should be at least 20% protein in the dog’s food, supplied by the highest quality meat ingredients you can afford. Along with this, the food should have about 10% fat. Beware of fillers. Corn is a common ingredient in dog food, but is very difficult for dogs to digest and fills their stomach so there is less room for more nutritious foods. In some packaged dog foods, oatmeal is used as a filler; oatmeal is much friendlier to your dog’s digestive system and therefore a much better choice. Some manufacturers are responding to the needs of healthier ingredients and have begun adding fruits and vegetables, which will also help round your dog’s diet.

Quantity

Depending on your dog’s level of activity, the quantity of food you are serving him or her will change. During a high-activity time, the body’s demand for calories to burn will be higher, necessitating more food. On the other hand, if it is the off-season and the dog is spending a lot of time resting and napping the quantity of food you supply should be less. However, cold weather requires more food than summer temperatures (up to 50% more).

Water

The consumption of water is vastly important to your dog’s health. Water aids in the digestion and absorption of food, as well as regulating the dog’s internal body temperature. Toxins and waste are carried away from the body with water. Just for survival, the dog needs at least 2 ml of water for every pound the dog weighs each day.

Boost

For a dog that is in need of an additional boost of energy or if they are recovering from injury or sickness, you can add a boost to their diet with just a few ingredients. Boil chicken or liver until done, then put in the food processor or mash it well. Add about ½ cup to the dog’s regular food. Other additions can be: a raw egg, ½ cup yogurt or cottage cheese, and salmon oil (or other fish oil).

Benefits

A quality, well-balanced diet leads to energy, well-developed muscles, a thick coat, and insulation against cold weather. Less illness will plague your dog and injuries can even heal more quickly if your dog is well fed.

I had the opportunity to hit the pheasant fields with Andy Walton from Hillside Springs Hunt Club and his deaf dog Snowball.  Here is a short video story from the event.  Enjoy!

We’ve all been around them. We’ve all been annoyed by them. We all hope we won’t have one ourselves. A dog who barks incessantly can be problematic in the home and in the hunting terrain. The causes can be varied, but an overactive barker can infuriate and exasperate you and anyone around you.

Reacting in anger often results in yelling at the dog. But yelling reinforces the behavior and can make the dog feel that you are joining in the action. By reacting to the barking, you are often rewarding the behavior and therefore encouraging it. Even a negative reaction is giving attention to the barking.

Here are a few tips for working through barking issues:

1. First of all, it is much easier to solve a barking problem in a puppy than a full-grown dog. If a dog has been living and working while maintaining a high level of barking all of his life, it will be a much harder habit to break. Be realistic in your expectations and realize that it could take weeks to re-train your dog in this area. During this time, confine the dog to a place where he will not bother others so much, if necessary. If you need to leave the dog in the house alone, you may want to turn on a TV or radio to help block out outside noises that will incite more barking. You may also wish to turn off the telephone ringer and doorbell if these create barking problems.

2. Second, investigate the cause of the barking. There are countless reasons a dog may bark too much. Whether it is boredom or the threat of danger or excitement over seeing a friend, it is important that you recognize the triggers that set off a barking spree. If you suspect the barking is a result of boredom, loneliness, frustration, or fear, you may be able to remove the cause of the problem. Stopping to sit with the dog quietly or providing a chew toy can often break the cycle of incessant barking. It is also possible that your dog is in need of a change in scenery. Take the dog for a long walk or play a game with him to break a barking cycle. Although you will never be able to remove every annoyance, there are certain things that you can overcome.

3. Help the dog relax. When the dog is particularly loud, pull him aside and sit next to him, scratching his favorite spot or petting his head while saying calm and soothing words. This can be particularly effective if your dog is barking too much in the vehicle or home and you are close. If the dog is outdoors and there are continual distractions or triggers for barking, you will probably have to remove him from the situation before the barking can cease.

4. Develop an easy command that you consistently use. Because dogs do not inherently know whether barking is good or bad, it is your job to train them. When the dog barks to notify you of a stranger or an unfamiliar sound, go to the dog and praise him for notifying you. After the praise, say a simple, “Stop barking.” A firm, even-toned voice will communicate your calm and help to calm the dog. At the same moment as the command, hold a special food treat in front of the dog’s nose. Most dogs will stop barking immediately at the sight (and smell) of the treat. Before delivering the treat, praise the dog for ceasing to bark thereby encouraging her to remain quiet. The next time you repeat these actions, wait a few more quiet seconds before delivering the treat. If there is any barking after you deliver the command, scold the dog immediately.

5. Use a spray bottle filled with water. If the dog cannot relax and the command is not working alone, use the command in conjunction with the spray bottle. A squirt to the face followed by a quick and firm, “Stop barking” will associate the bad behavior (barking) with an unpleasant consequence (water).

Additional Resources:

Gun Dog Training Articles
Training A Dog Not To Bark

Retriever Puppy Training Tips

If your hunting dog has developed a barking habit, getting it to stop is not going to be easy. However, you can speed up the process if you know some fundamental strategies to controlling dog barking. When a dog has been allowed to learn some of the negative habits that contribute to dog barking, getting it to stop is going to require reconditioning it. It should be noted that it is nearly impossible to get a hunting dog to stop barking completely, and this is not even necessary. With the proper training, a hunting dog will be able to stop barking on your command.

• Warning – the dog perceives some type of danger or threat. This is often accompanied by growling.
• Excitement – dogs will often bark with enthusiasm when they are excited by some one or something.
• Anxiety – dogs that have separation anxiety have a high pitched bark that is like a whine.
• Boredom – the dog has pent up energy from not being exercised or is bored from a lack of contact with people or other dogs.
• Attention Seeking – dogs will bark to get attention, this can be a more high pitched bark or a whining as well.
• Communication – dogs in the neighborhood bark to each other to communicate and this is a common reason why dogs bark while outside.

If you are ready to make your hunts more successful, you might consider purchasing your own gun dog puppy. There are various breeds and price points, but here you will find some simple suggestions for selecting a puppy that will serve as a hunting partner and lifelong friend.

First, you will need to ask yourself many questions. Will this be a pet that hunts with you 5 days a year or will it be a serious hunting dog that goes hunting 60 days a year? What kind of hunting do you do and where? What kind of personality do you have? What size dog do you want? All of these questions (and more) will guide your conversation with the breeder.

Next, determine the breed you want. For basic information on breeds, visit the link to Gun Dog Breeds on the Gamebirdhunts.com  or look at the sporting dog descriptions on the AKC web site:  From there, search for breeders in your area that specialize in the breeds that sound most interesting to you. They can answer any questions you have and may lead you in the right direction. A great way to view dogs of different breeds is to attend a dog competition. This can allow you to see what a breed is meant to do and what their titles mean.

Pheasant Hunting in SD – Preserves or Native Wild?

Public Hunting in South Dakota

With around 4.5 million of acres of public land in South Dakota, public hunting is a popular option for hunters. South Dakota is a unique hunting state with its large variety of game, some of which include: pheasant, partridge, quail, coyote, mountain lion, fox, dove, deer, geese, and wild turkey. Both big game and small game hunting are popular in South Dakota.

Public hunting in South Dakota has several benefits including easy access to hunting areas, and fewer costs. Private hunting has the benefit of access to some of the best hunting grounds in South Dakota. Although public hunting is less expensive, there may be a preference to hunt in some private areas that have larger game populations. Many private preserves also offer food and lodging.

South Dakota is well known for its public pheasant hunting. South Dakota has some of the best pheasant hunting grounds in the nation, and it draws in thousands of hunters from around the world each year. There are a wide variety of private hunting lodges that offer unique hunting packages. There is also the popular option of public pheasant hunting as well.

Public Pheasant Hunting in South Dakota 

South Dakota has a rich pheasant hunting history. Hundreds of thousands hunters have tracked the diverse terrain of South Dakota in search for the elusive but plentiful wild pheasant. Wild pheasants make their home in the large wooded areas, crop fields, food plots, and weed patches of South Dakota. Although pheasants are found almost all throughout the state, the eastern side of South Dakota has a larger pheasant population than the rest of the state.

Although there are some excellent public pheasant hunting areas, there are several more private preserves. Since most of South Dakota is privately owned, it turns out that many of the best hunting areas are private. But public pheasant hunting has the benefit of lower costs which is appealing to many hunters.

Roadside hunting is popular form of public hunting in South Dakota because it is one of the few states that have legalized it. Pheasant hunters roadside hunt by staying in hotels and hunting along public roads. Hunters stop routinely along public roads and get out of their cars or trucks to search for pheasants along the roadside. Roadside hunting is better for smaller groups or for individual hunters because it generally requires a lot of transportation and moving around.

Along with public and private pheasant hunting, there is the also option of game farm hunting. Game farms are private hunting grounds in which pheasants have been released into the habitat for the purpose of hunting. The South Dakota pheasant hunting season starts in the fall from the middle of October to the beginning of January. The preserve season runs from September until the end of March.

A Top Destination for Pheasant Hunters 

South Dakota is consistently a top destination for pheasant hunters around the world. Pheasants occupy the terrain of South Dakota in large numbers, and the legality of roadside hunting is favorable to many hunters. With access to large pheasant populations and the availability of many public and private hunting options, South Dakota will likely remain the top pheasant hunting state in the nation for a long time.