Training Books

[96trigger]

Hello, I have a ten week old Golden Retriever and was wondering if anybody knows of any good books on training dogs. I would like to see her be able to hunt pheasants and retrieve ducks/geese. I don't want to hire a trainer. I have summers off so I plan on spending most of my time with her this summer.

[Bexter]

I heard of a good new one. It's called: Top Dog - Training the Retriever for Waterfowl and Upland Hunting. The author is like Joseph Middleton or something like that. It's a newer book - I think it might have just been published this year.

[Shorelunch]

I'd recommend "Game Dog" from Richard Wolters. Excellent upland, waterfowl and general training book. There's other books in this series too and there is also a series of videos. Good luck!

[Gissert]

I also vote for any of the Wolters books. Great stuff! Cabelas also has DVD's and videos of Wolters based training.

[2 DA GILLS]

I have just about finished a book recommended by the breeder I am buying my pup from. It is called How to Help Gundogs Train Themselves (order on-line). It is a book about proper conditioning during the first year of a dog's life. How to teach a dog to learn and establish the proper bond between dog and handler. I have enjoyed the different methods described in this book. I also read Gun Dog by Wolters.

[Harmonica Bear]

2 Da Gills, the author of that book is Joan Bailey. It is a great book and highly recommend it. I used it to train my setter. Although a setter is not a true NAVHDA dog, her ideology and methods I am in total agreement with and found it was extremely helpful in my training.

HB

[Stiff]

I guess my vote would be for "Water Dog" by Wolters.

I know Shorelunch had suggested Game Dog from the same authur, which is also good, but my personal preference would be for Water Dog. Just my .02 .

[duckbuster]

The Working Retriever by Tom Quinn would be my 1st choice. Obviously you have many, many choice that are all very good. Most of them I don't believe would steer you wrong. The most important thing is that you are reading something. Wolters, Quinn, maybe something from Rex Carr or there is a new one by Bill Hillman that incorporates a lot of different views from numerous authors. Getting differing views from a variety of authors is wonderful. I think one thing you will find is that the methods of teaching are very, very similiar.

GOOD LUCK!!

[Old Guide]

96trigger, I'm surprised that noone has mentioned Training your retriever by James lamb Free. There have been alot of dogs trained from that reading. A buddy of mine calls it "the Bible of dog training." "Just remember you've got to be smarter than the dog your training!" Give us a progress report as you go along.

[96trigger]

Old Guide, one of the guys I teach with is retiring this year, wise old guy. Has a couple of hunting dogs that he trained. He gave me the J.L.F book, When I posted this I hadn't looked at it yet. Yesterday we had a snowday and I took a quick read through the first couple of chapters. The book is about forty years old but it is a good read. I'm learning a lot from it. Thanks for all the info. I'll be checking into the other books and videos also.

[superfish2]

A number of good books out there. I've read all of the Wolters books and they are good but a bit dated.

I would recommend the smart works books by Evan Graham.