FIELD
No matter what workout he’s giving or where, professional dog trainer Jess Spradley is always teaching and reinforcing commands to his dogs. Here, Spradley works with one of his prized German shorthaired pointers. (SCOTT HAUGEN)
THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER
’TIS THE SEASON TO TRAIN FOR UPCOMING HUNTS
BY SCOTT HAUGEN
S
ummer is here, and for your hunting dog there is no offseason. During the spring and summer I work my dogs in a wide range of habitats for seven days a week. My goal is to condition and train them in a variety of landscapes and situations, so they’re physically and mentally prepared come hunting season. A lot of discipline training is achieved in the process.
ROAD RUNNERS Jess Spradley of Cabin Creek Gun Dogs in Lakeview, Oregon, is a renowned dog trainer, dedicated upland hunter and trains competition and breeding dogs year-round. Some of Spradley’s prized pudelpointer pups live in Alaska. “Now is when I start roading dogs,” he says. “There are a couple ways to do this, but for hunters the most efficient
is to get on a secluded logging road or remote country road and drive an ATV, electric bike or ride a mountain bike, and (then) let your dogs run in front.” Spradley notes the goal of roading is to let your dog run loose at its own pace. “You want to reach 6 to 10 miles per hour, and if your dog wants to go faster, great. I like running dogs up a gentle incline, as that builds strength in their back end.”
aksportingjournal.com | JUNE 2022
ALASKA SPORTING JOURNAL
57
