Making A Gun Dog
Work For You
A Photo Essay by Zach Mansfield
The bond between a retriever and its own-
er is one of the great joys of raising a hunt-
ing dog. And make no mistake, there are
no shortcuts to a premium gun dog. Early
influences in the pup’s life help shape the
type of hunting career it will have. A solid
foundation of basic obedience, consistent
training and constant reinforcement are
the pillars of making a reliable retriever in
the blind. A steady handler with consis-
tent and concise commands to the dog will
make training and hunting that much more
enjoyable.
In the beginning, it’s bumpers, wings and
dummies. As spring breaks to summer and
summer gives way to fall, that is where the
“rubber meets the road”. Live gunfire and
real-time hunting scenarios all show the
dog and trainer’s true colors. When it’s all
said and done, the quality of the hunt is not
defined by the number of birds shot, rather
by who you spend it with. And if you spend
it in the company of a great dog you will
have a great hunt.
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WESTERN HUNTING JOURNAL