What's Your Bird Dog's Best School Subject?

by
posted on September 12, 2014
dogs_ah2015_fs.jpg (60)

undefinedPheasants Forever ran a humorous photo for its regular "Dog of the Day" profile and asked the following question: "With students heading back to the classroom this week, we’re wondering what’s your bird dog’s best subject?"

Given the odd fashion in which my brain works, I began pondering ways that dog training parallels grade-school subjects. Here are a few I came up with:

Math
The most highly skilled retrievers are all adept at math. No, they can't do calculus, but they can count. Whether there are two, three or four ducks falling from the sky, they count, mark, and remember each one. After the initial retrieve it's just a matter of giving them a "back" to the subsequent falls. Dogs that don't learn to do this math require a lot more handling and time to reach the additional ducks. And it seems a dog out of the blind is as likely to attract an additional flock of ducks as a hunter collecting his decoys.

Science
How do dogs smell a running pheasant's track and know what direction it ran? It's something we take for granted, but good dogs seem to have an instinctive understanding of the science of scent. They use the wind; they take body or foot scent; they find birds. Some bird dogs track running birds with great skill from the initial contact, while others require more experience in the outdoor classroom.

Physical Education
The best dogs are highly conditioned athletes. They have a fit, almost muscular look to them that their domestic counterparts lack—and this has numerous benefits afield. A dog that's in shape hunts harder, longer and is able to use its nose more efficiently than one sucking wind. They're also less prone to dehydration, because excessive panting—a key weakness of overweight, out-of-shape dogs—leads to rapid shedding of water reserves.

Civics
Bird dogs, especially, must learn to be well-behaved, polite members of society. They must be taught to get along well with other hunting dogs accompanying them or that they may encounter. Obedience training is required to ensure they're patient, quiet, respectful companions in the duck blind. And they need to be crate-trained for trips to the field. These lessons require careful instruction, often beginning in the "classroom" at home.

Reading
No, your dog doesn't need to write any book reports, but the best hunter/dog teams are able to read each other's subtle body language. The best dog I ever owned would take one look at my face and seemingly know what I was thinking. We just had that kind of bond, the result of spending countless hours together. This can pay great dividends, for instance, in the midst of a new training lesson; when directing the dog to a blind retrieve; or something as simple as altering your path during an upland hunt.

So, what's your dog's best subject? What "classroom" lessons do you strive to teach?

Latest

6.5 300 Weatherby 2
6.5 300 Weatherby 2

Behind the Bullet: 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum

Curious about the 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum? Learn about the history and performance of this storied cartridge in Phil Massaro's latest Behind the Bullet.

First Look: Rossi LWC Folding Stock

Rossi's Lightweight Carbine (LWC) has been a favorite truck gun and scouting rifle for hunters since its introduction. Now, Rossi USA is taking it a step further with the launch of the Rossi LWC Folding Stock—available both as a complete rifle and as an easy-to-install accessory for current LWC owners.

Safe Gun Storage After Hunting Season

With the close of deer seasons, many hunters have stored their firearms. While the basics of gun safety are covered in hunter education programs, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) recently issued a reminder that storage out of season should be reviewed by sportsmen.

Federal Ammunition Adds 10mm Auto to Power-Shok Line

Federal Ammunition has added a new 10mm Auto, 200-grain Jacketed Soft Point (JSP) load to its Handgun Hunting Power-Shok ammunition product line.

#SundayGunday: Colt Kodiak

On this week's #SundayGunday, we’re taking a look at the 4.25-inch barreled Colt Kodiak revolver. Chambered in hard-charging .44 Magnum, this surprisingly smooth shooter is the perfect companion for the backcountry hunter in bear country.

Remington Ammunition Announces Pull, Shoot, Save! Shotshell Rebate

Remington Ammunition recently announced its Pull, Shoot, Save! Rebatewhich offers consumers the chance to buy some of Remington’s best target loads and receive up to $50 back. This promotion runs through June 30, 2025.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.