ROAD HUNTER
SUMMER GUN DOG TRAINING The time is now to get your new four-legged hunting partner ready for fall bird seasons. STORY AND PHOTOS BY SCOTT HAUGEN
t the time of this writing, the mandated confinement much of the world has faced is challenging for us, our children, even our dogs. Hunting dogs are active animals that desire to be outdoors as much as possible. A dog’s drive to run, explore and engage innate senses makes it tough for us to deal with at times. But being indoors is a great opportunity to instill some valuable training, and with fall hunting seasons approaching faster than you might think, now’s the time to teach your dog what you want it to do. INSIDE TRAINING TIPS One of the best things you can do right now is simply spend time with your dog. When spending an entire day indoors with your canine companion, you’ll likely be surprised with how much your dog pays attention to your every move. They’ll move when you move, look at your eyes to see what your next action will be, and twist and turn their head when you talk to them, in order to decipher what it is you’re saying. All this exaggerated action is a result of their desire to please you, and they do this by trying to read your mind, or at least anticipate what move you’ll make before you make it. Eye contact is one of the best
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Directional casting – teaching your dog to move in a specific direction through hand signals – can be taught indoors, as well as small spaces outside. americanshootingjournal.com 39
