Gun Dog Magazine is the best magazine for hunting enthusiasts who are owners of retrieving breeds. Each issue is guaranteed to be filled with useful information devoted to you, your dog and the sport of upland bird and waterfowl hunters.
THERE’S AN OLD saying that goes like this: To develop a fine bird dog, a man has to be out of work and not worried about it. The implication, of course, is that developing a fine bird dog requires a serious commitment in time, and the man thus committed can’t be concerned with more mundane matters like, say, employment. By the time you read this, that will describe me. Yes, after a total of 20 years as Editor of GUN DOG, it’s time for me to pass the torch. I can’t deny that doing so generates some sadness—this job has truly been a labor of love, the hoariness of that cliché notwithstanding—but I’ve been looking forward to retirement for some time now, and that time has come. I’m especially eager…
WE WERE SADDENED to learn of the recent passing of Joe Arnette, GUN DOG’s long-time “Parting Shots” columnist, who died peacefully on March 16th after a lengthy battle with COPD. His wife, Kathy, and daughter Lisa were at his side when he passed. Joe was 77. Joseph Lee Arnette was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on June 7, 1941, the only child of Hugh and Barbara Arnette. After high school, Joe joined the U.S. Army and became a paratrooper and medic with the 82nd Airborne Division. Upon leaving the military, Joe earned an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of North Carolina and a master’s degree, also in Wildlife Biology, from the University of Missouri. He then pursued a doctorate at Utah State University, and completed all but his…
1 FIRST LITE SAWBUCK BRUSH PANT Gone are the days of stiff upland pants that are not ideal for long days afield or climbing hot, arid environments for birds such as chukar or Huns. The Sawbuck Brush Pant is made with four-way stretch nylon for maneuverability. Double-panel nylon brush panels line the front and calves of the pants to provide protection from briars and thick brush. A DWR finish sheds moisture for those early morning treks behind a good working dog. $160; firstlite.com 2 JAGDHUND GAMSFELD MEN’S VEST The Gamsfeld is a lightweight vest made with 95-percent new wool and five-percent alpaca. This combination provides a thermo-regulating climate zone against the body, so it can be worn in hot or cold weather. Made with Robur-Band, this material makes the vest…
IT IS A common misconception that pointing dogs—especially the running breeds—need freedom, and that it’s inhumane to keep them confined. But back in the real world, unconfined dogs are an unholy pain in the butt at best, and a danger to themselves at worst. Unconfined dogs can, and do, run away, fight with the neighbor’s cats, and get hit by cars. I grew up with German shepherds and Golden retrievers. Like a lot of kids who grew up with dogs, I became accustomed to the presence of dogs like I became accustomed to the presence of everyone else I lived with—as individuals who came and went of their own volition and, for the most part, had the run of the place. Indeed, that worked fine—for German shepherds and Golden retrievers.…
This wireless fence unit from SportDog kills two birds with one stone: Your training collar can double as a wireless fence when at home. When set to Containment Mode, the radio signal on your pup’s collar only picks up signals through the Boundary Wire from the Fence Transmitter you’ve set around your yard. When changed to Training Mode, the collar receiver only transmits signals from your Remote Transmitter, allowing you to train your dog inside or outside of the Boundary Area. A wireless fence collar when you’re home, and a training collar when you hit the field. Perfect! $425; sportdog.com…
IT’S NATURAL TO ramp up training drills as the summer months peak and the hunting season looms ever closer. There’s nothing wrong with this, but it does pay to remember that August is the kind of month that can be dangerous to a hard-working dog. The best strategy is to train at first or last light if at all possible. This ensures the coolest temperatures of the day, and will give your dog a chance to work without overheating. The problem with this strategy is, of course, life can get in the way. Not everyone has the opportunity to get out at sunrise to toss a dummy for their dog, which means training happens when it can happen. That might mean the best window to get out for some drills…
