A welcome departure from the prevailing methods of hunting-dog training, this guide explores more humane, spiritual, and effective Labrador retriever training techniques. Hunters are led from the beginning—selecting a puppy for athleticism, “birdyness,” conformation, intelligence, and personality—to understanding factors such as habitat, terrain, scenting conditions, and bird behavior. The end result is a happy, powerful, poised, and enthusiastic gun dog that can handle any challenge, including quail, grouse, doves, geese, ducks, and even wild turkeys.
Mike Gould is known worldwide for his thoughtful and innovative dog training methods. He has been featured in Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, Retriever Journal, and Pointing Dog Journal. He lives in Kamiah, Idaho. Bill Tarrant is the author of 12 books about dog training and was the gun dog columnist for Field & Stream. His book The Magic of Dogs was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.