The structure in the life of a gun dog is key, especially in training. Having a structured regiment in the daily life of a gun dog during training is key to allow them to know what is coming next. This allows the trainer to work in short, and often, training sessions to work in the dog’s natural focus timespan.

How important it is for the handler to establish the relationship with the puppy. A dog that will understand it will be a working relationship, and it’s a team effort - the dog needs to be focused on us as a team and themselves individually to complete team goal.

Both companion and hunting dogs alike will reap the rewards of the foundations of basic obedience training. This is similar to teaching a child the way of the world and how to interact in it. A dog that knows boundaries and expectations, if trained correctly, will portray the desired behaviors in a variety of situations and environments.

Whether in the duck blind or in the upland field, hunting, I always get the comment, “you sure don’t say much to the dog.. Why? Shouldn’t you encourage?” Well, if we have done our homework and are truly ready to be out hunting, not much needs to be said.