Retriever Rehab
Expert tips on how to restore an older dog to top retrieving form. By Wade Bourne.
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Pure Goldens
Golden retrievers have a long history as splendid gun dogs. By Gary Koehler.
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Drake the DU Dog: A First in Conservation and Waterfowling
More than two-thirds of Ducks Unlimited members own dogs, but as the organization's official mascot for 13 years, Drake belonged to every DU member. Along with his owner and trainer, Mike Stewart, Drake regularly appeared on Ducks Unlimited Television (DU TV) and ducks.org. Stewart and Drake traveled widely, hunting waterfowl across the United States and Canada and attending numerous DU national conventions, outdoor festivals and other events.
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Ducks Unlimited K9 Club
Enroll your dog in the all new Ducks Unlimited K9 Club, and he will be part of an organization committed to ensuring that the future of waterfowl hunting is brighter for generations to come.
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Retriever Training: Pigeons on a String
Mike Stewart of Wildrose Kennels explains how he uses live pigeons on a string to teach his retrievers basic obedience, steadiness and crucial hunting skills.
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Retriever Training Tip: Maneuvering Decoys
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Preventing Hard Mouth
Advance preparation is the best way to keep your retriever from mangling birds
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Retriever Training: Shed hunting
Mike Stewart of Wildrose Kennels explains how to get your retriever to find shed antlers.
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March 2013 Gear Guide
Retriever training is a year-round process and to be sure your retriever is in top shape for next season, it's time to get to work. The DU Newsletter editorial team has chosen a handful of retriever training items that may help you prepare a puppy – or an experienced dog – for the 2013-2014 waterfowl season.
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Retriever Training: Using a lead in the blind
With Mike Stewart of Wildrose Kennels and Deke the DU Dog
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Retriever Training: Using Bird Feathers
Mike Stewart of Wildrose Kennels explains how to use real bird feathers to train your retriever.
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Retriever Training: The Block
We have all been caught by surprise when our hunting dog has an apparent mental block and hits a wall in training or on a hunt.
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Retriever Training: Finding birds deep in the woods
Mike Stewart of Wildrose Kennels demonstrates retriever training tips for your dog. Featuring Deke the DU Dog.
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Retrievers: Remote Control
The ability to direct your retriever with hand signals is invaluable in the field
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Retriever Training: Protect your dog's joints
Mike Stewart, Wildrose Kennels, explains a few ways to protect your retriever's joints. Putting too much stress on a young dog's joints will cause problems later in life.
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Retriever Training: Getting your dog to focus
Mike Stewart of Wildrose Kennels offers trainers a few lessons in getting your retriever to focus on you for commands.
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Retriever Training: Look to the sky
Mike Stewart, of Wildrose Kennels explains how he trained Deke the DU dog, to look towards the sky for birds.
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Canine Communicators
Understanding, then applying the principles of canine communication is fundamental to achieving performance, compatibility, and excellent behaviors in any dog, whether it is for sport, working, or family companionship.
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Retriever Training: Steadiness on a Stick
Mike Stewart from Wildrose Kennels explains how he trained Deke, the DU dog, on steadiness by using a pigeon on a stick.
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Retrievers: The All-American Chessie
In terms of loyalty, Chessies will never waiver if treated properly. They are intelligent, independent-minded dogs that will form an extremely strong bond with their owner or trainer. Make friends with a Chessie, and you've made a friend for life.
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Retriever Training: Far-Bank Retrieves
A serious challenge for many dogs is what's known as a far-bank retrieve, where the dog has to cross an expanse of water and then hunt on land for a bird that has crawled into vegetation on the opposite shore. This may not seem difficult, but it can be a confusing situation for a retriever.
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Retriever Training: Maneuver Your Retriever through Decoys
Mike Stewart of Wildrose Kennels provides tips for maneuvering decoys.
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Retriever Training: Deke versus the Heat
Mike Stewart of Wildrose Kennels provides tips for keeping your dog from overheating during summer training exercises. Keep your hunting partner cool while getting ready for opening day with the help of Wildrose and Deke the DU Dog.
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Retriever Training: Inside, off-season with Deke
Mike Stewart of Wildrose Kennels shows how and why you need to reinforce retrieving, even indoors this spring and summer. Deke the DU dog retrieves hats, gloves and a cooler in this segment.
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Retrievers: Hazards Afield
During the late season, protect your retriever by teaching him to be aware of likely hazards.
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Retriever Training: Working an Elevated Stand
Mike Stewart, Wildrose Kennels, uses Deke the DU Dog, to explain how to train your retriever on an elevated stand.
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Retriever Training: Facing Distractions
Mike Stewart, Wildrose Kennels, explains how to keep your retriever's focus when facing distractions in the field. This training techinque is something that can be done any time of year and in any situation.
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Retriever Training: Working a Lower Stand
Mike Stewart, Wildrose Kennels, explains how to get your retriever ready to hunt a dog stand, beginning with a lower-level stand.
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Retriever Gear: Canine First Aid Kit
A canine first aid kit could be the difference in saving your retriever's life.
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Retriever Training: Steadiness
Mike Stewart with Deke, the DU Dog explains an enjoyable way to teach steadiness.
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Preseason Retriever Conditioning Tips
Even with opening day fast approaching, it's not too late to get your dog in top shape
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Introduction to Dog Blinds
Mike Stewart explains how introducing your retriever to a dog blind, like the GHG Ground Force dog blind, early in the season will help avoid confusion during a hunt.
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Video Tip: Training in the Heat
Mike Stewart of Wildrose Kennels explains a few precautions to take when working with your retriever on hot summer days.
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Retrievers: Healthy Choices
Developing a sensible routine will help keep your retriever in top condition
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Retrievers: All in Good Time
Chris Akin of Webb Footed Kennels explains that patience is key a virtue when training a young dog.
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Photo Essay: Retrievers
A photographic tribute to our favorite hunting companions
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Picking the Right Retriever
Retrievers come in all shapes and sizes. Temperament and trainability also vary from breed to breed. Think about your lifestyle, and exactly what you are looking for in a retriever, before taking the plunge and purchasing a waterfowl-hunting dog. This simple exercise could save you considerable anxiety later on.
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Dangers of Dogs and Ice
Having your retriever prepared for icy hunting conditions will help you and your dog avoid the dangers of ice.
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Fetching Divers on Big Water
Diving ducks are incredibly tough birds. This is when a retriever is an invaluable asset.
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Kennel Training a Retriever
Conditioning a retriever to use a crate is essential for its comfort and safety
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Patch Up Your Pooch
For immediate first aid in the field, it's a good idea to have a Dog First Aid Kit. Here's a list of items to keep in your kit.
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Retriever Training Tips & Tactics
Tips, tactics, video and more from expert dog trainers. Your ultimate resource for retriever training tips.
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A Lesson in Limber Tail
Most of the time, hunters can tell when their dog needs to stop, but this troublesome condition seems to show no signs in the field. Learn more about limber tail.
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Air Travel With Your Retriever
For any hunter traveling to hunt this season, it's important to be prepared for airline travel with waterfowl dogs. Mike Stewart of Wildrose Kennels shares essentials tips for making sure you and your dog make it to your favorite hunting destination this season.
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Dual-Purpose Dogs
Training your dog to be versatile in any hunting situation can be a valuable asset.
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Building a Dog Kennel
The devil is in the details when planning this canine construction project.
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7 Retriever Training Secrets
Follow these tips from five expert trainers to help your dog reach its full potential in the field.
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Retriever Training Video Tips
Mike Stewart, owner of Wildrose Kennels in Oxford, Mississippi, demonstrates retriever training tips in this video series starring Deke the DU Dog.
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River Dogs
Mike Stewart of Wildrose Kennels outlines advice for developing and training your river-hunting retriever.
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Summer Drills for Retrievers
The months leading up to opening day provide time to hone your retriever's skills. Gary Koehler provides diagrams and tips for summertime training drills for your retriever.
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Overcoming a Fear of Gunfire
Experienced retriever trainers recognize gun-shyness as one of the most difficult behavioral problems to correct. They will also tell you that in most cases it can be avoided by using common sense.
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Duck Dogs and Doves
Warm weather requires handlers to use common sense when dove hunting with their retrievers.
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Retriever Olympics
Field trials and hunt tests have much to offer waterfowlers and their dogs.
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Breaking Bad Behavior
Here’s what to do if your retriever won’t stop whining or can’t sit still in the duck blind.
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Deke the DU Dog's First Retrieve
Deke the DU Dog's first retrieve at Wildrose Kennels is documented as a part of DU history.
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Goose Dogs
Prepare your retriever for the special challenges of goose hunting.
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New DU Dog Has a Name!
Offiicial announcement of the new DU dog's name: Deke, chosen from 3,500 submissions.
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Top Dogs
Gundog authorities explore the qualities that define greatness in a retriever.
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Toughest Retrieves
Prepare your dog for waterfowl hunting’s most challenging retrieves.
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All in a Day's Work
Dogs that hunt for professional guides may retrieve more birds in a single season than most dogs do in a lifetime.
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Retriever Obedience & Steadiness Drills
Simple obedience and steadiness drills will help keep your dog safe and inconspicuous during a hunt.
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Four Common Problems and Solutions in Dog Training
These four tips will help your dog overcome common problems during training.
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Canine Encounters of the Wrong Kind
What to do if your dog gets sprayed, quilled or bitten
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Adding Polish and Style
Instilling confidence in your dog during training will result in top performance in the field.
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The Essential Golden Retriever
Whether in the duck blind, field-trialing, or competing in hunt tests, this breed is more than capable of holding its own
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Better Blind Retrieves
One trainer insists that straight lines are essential
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