In today’s world, there are many different ways to enjoy the outdoors. Whether you prefer fishing, hiking, or camping, one of the best ways to get involved is by having a dog as your companion. There are plenty of bird dog training books available to help novice bird dog trainers learn the basics of this challenging sport.
If you’re new to bird dog training, it can be difficult to know where to start. To help you out, we have pulled together this list of reviews. These titles can teach you how to train your bird dog to search, track, and retrieve birds in a variety of ways.
Whether you’re looking for a basic primer or want to delve deeper into specific techniques, these 10 titles will have everything you need.
George DeCosta Jr.’s Tips and Tales on Training Your Bird Dog is a comprehensive guide to training your bird dog. It is filled with helpful tips and advice, as well as humorous stories about the author’s own experiences training his bird dog. The book is written in a clear, easy-to-read style, and is suitable for both beginning and experienced dog trainers. The paperback version is of great value, which is why this is our best bird-dog training book overall.
Pros
Loving, affectionate training style
Lots of information on versatile dogs
From puppyhood to advanced-level training
Cons
Repeats a lot of content available in other books
2. Game Dog: The Hunter’s Retriever for Upland Birds and Waterfowl-A Concise New Training Method – Best Value
Game Dog: The Hunter’s Retriever for Upland Birds and Waterfowl – A Concise New Training Method is about how to train your dog to be a hunting retriever. The author, who is a professional dog trainer, outlines a concise training method that is easy to follow. He provides step-by-step instructions for teaching your dog the necessary skills, including how to find and retrieve upland birds and waterfowl. The book also includes helpful tips on how to keep your dog healthy and happy while hunting, which is a great addition.
Pros
Well-written and comprehensive
Covers basics up to more difficult tasks
Great insights into how your dog thinks
Cons
It has subpar illustrations
Some older methods included
3. Training Bird Dogs with Ronnie Smith Kennels: Proven Techniques and an Upland Tradition – Premium Choice
Ronnie Smith Kennels offers a comprehensive training program for bird dogs that utilizes proven techniques and an upland tradition. The program is designed to produce well-trained dogs that are capable of hunting in all types of terrain and weather conditions. The trainers at Ronnie Smith Kennels have many years of experience working with bird dogs, and they use a variety of techniques to train them. The program begins with basic obedience commands, and then progresses to include field training. This is our premium choice book for training bird dogs.
Pros
Wonderful photography
Comprehensive guide
Great coffee table book
Cons
Some reviewers report it is light on training techniques
4. How to Help Gun Dogs Train Themselves, Taking Advantage of Early Conditioned Learning – Best for Puppies
The book “How to Help Gun Dogs Train Themselves, Taking Advantage of Early Conditioned Learning” is a guide for dog owners on how to train their gun dogs using positive reinforcement. The book emphasizes the importance of early conditioned learning, and provides tips on how to take advantage of this process in order to train dogs more efficiently. The author also provides case studies of successful gun dog training programs.
One way to help gun dogs train themselves is to take advantage of early conditioned learning. This occurs when an animal learns to associate a particular cue with a particular result. For instance, if you give a dog a treat every time it sits, the dog will eventually learn to sit on command. You can use this principle to your advantage by teaching your dog basic commands such as sit, stay, come, and down before you start training it to retrieve.
Pros
Focuses on puppies to 12 months old
Easy to read and thought-provoking
Full of insights and practical exercises
Cons
A little out of date
Operant conditioning has come a long way since the book’s publication
5. Sporting Dog and Retriever Training: The Wildrose Way: Raising a Gentleman’s Gundog for Home and Field
Sporting Dog and Retriever Training: The Wildrose Way, Raising a Gentleman’s Gundog is a book that outlines a specific training method for teaching sporting dogs and retrievers how to behave. The book is written by Mike Stewart and Paul Fersen who are experienced dog trainers. The methods described in the book are based on the idea of positive reinforcement, meaning that dogs are rewarded for good behavior rather than punished for bad behavior. The book emphasizes training the dog in a way that is gentle and respectful and focuses on building a strong relationship between handler and dog.
Pros
Easy to understand
Step- by- step instructions
Cons
This system may be more labor-intensive than others
6. Training Your Pointing Dog for Hunting & Home Paperback
The book discusses how to train a dog to point game—, primarily birds—, for hunting purposes. It also provides advice on how to keep a pointing dog as a household pet. The author recommends that potential dog owners should do their research before choosing a pup, and stresses the importance of early socialization and obedience training. He outlines a step-by-step training program that begins with basic commands and progresses to more advanced concepts such as steadiness to wing and shot.
Pros
Low-pressure training system
Informative and understandable
Step-by-step program
Cons
Could benefit from more diagrams
7. Absolutely Positively Gundog Training: Positive Training for Your Retriever Gundog
This book is all about positive reinforcement training for your retriever gundog. Milner stresses the importance of building a trusting relationship with your dog through positive reinforcement and providing plenty of exercise, discipline, and affection. He provides detailed instructions on how to train your retriever in basic obedience commands as well as how to teach them to retrieve. The author’s position is that through positive reinforcement training methods, a retriever can be taught to be reliable in the field.
He cites several studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of this type of training and offers step-by-step instructions on how to implement it. The author recommends using food rewards as the primary motivator, along with plenty of praise and encouragement.
Pros
Positive reinforcement methods
Scientific approach
Step-by-step instructions
Cons
Only covers retriever gundogs
8. Bird Dog Training & Problem Solving: Gun Dog Training with Proven Results & Expert Advice
This book is about how to train your bird dog, as well as how to solve any problems that may arise. It provides expert advice and proven results, making it a valuable resource for anyone who owns or is considering owning a bird dog. The book covers topics such as basic obedience commands, hunting strategies, and dealing with common issues such as aggression and disobedience. It also includes detailed instructions on how to properly train your bird dog, making the process easier and more successful.
Pros
Great on problem-solving
Covers puppyhood to adulthood
Detailed instructions
Cons
Not available as a physical book
9. Pointing Dogs: How to Train, Nurture, and Appreciate Your Bird Dog
Pointing Dogs: How to Train, Nurture, and Appreciate Your Bird Dog is about how to train and care for pointing dogs. It covers topics such as choosing a puppy, house training, basic obedience commands, and how to develop your dog’s natural pointing instinct. The book also includes detailed information on the most popular breeds of pointing dogs, as well as advice on choosing a puppy, feeding and exercising your dog, and preventing and treating common health problems.
Pros
Great thoughts on the philosophy behind dog training
The Complete Guide to Bird Dog Training is a book written by professional trainers that cover the basics of bird dog training. The book is designed for both novice and experienced dog owners and provides step-by-step instructions for teaching your bird dog how to retrieve game birds. It also includes detailed information on how to train your bird dog in other essential hunting skills, such as pointing and marking.
Pros
Great for beginners
Thorough and informative
Written by professional trainers
Cons
Fairly outdated
Image By: James Ryan, Unsplash
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Bird Dog Training Book For You
The Author’s Reputation
When choosing a book on bird-dog training, you should consider the author’s experience with animals to ensure they have a credible foundation for their advice. A background in a field like animal behavior or dog training can lend greater legitimacy to their advice. Take some time to look into the author’s work and background and check online forums to see others’ opinions on their work.
Many authors have blogs or online articles where you can sample their writing and ideas before committing to an entire book. Remember, if any advice seems uncomfortable or not quite right for you, it’s okay to look for a different perspective.
Book Popularity
Another thing worth considering is the popularity of the book. This of course goes hand in hand with the author’s reputation, but if you can see online that the book consistently has large numbers of references, reviews, or mentions on various sites, then this can be a great indication that the advice is trustworthy and has worked for many others. However, keep in mind that popularity in itself is not always an indication of quality. Be sure to look closer at what the reviews and references are saying to make sure that the book’s success is a result of its sound insights and not simply being an entertaining or exciting read.
Readability
Sometimes experts can use technical language or specific jargon that might feel a bit daunting for newcomers. Depending on your current level of knowledge when it comes to dog training, you should keep this in mind, as you don’t want to be looking up definitions for multiple words on every page. If you’re a complete newbie to bird dog training, look for books written for beginners that guide you through the basics from the start and include explanations of any obscure or complicated vocabulary that you may not have come across before.
The best resources consider the reader’s starting point and don’t assume extensive prior knowledge. Books with visual aids, such as diagrams or photos, can make training techniques clearer and may be especially helpful for beginners who want hands-on guidance.
Image Credit: kathrineva20, Shutterstock
How We Selected These Books for Bird Dog Training
This buyer’s guide was carefully crafted by our writers and editors in collaboration with our team of in-house veterinarians. The books reviewed here are rated on a combination of factors: brand reputation, customer reviews across multiple retail outlets, personal experience, and in some cases, feedback from our own dogs! Together, we choose and review only the best books available, to help you make the most informed decisions that foster the well-being of your furry friends.
Why Trust Dogster?
Dogster has been a trusted brand for dog owners online since 2004, which means we have a lot of experience with books. We are a team of passionate dog owners who care about our pups as much as you do yours. We want the best for every canine on the planet. Dogster’s writers, editors, and veterinarians are deeply invested in the well-being of our pets, and we believe that all pet owners share this dedication to providing only the highest quality products and services for our dogs.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, the best bird dog training books provide a wealth of information to help dog owners train their bird dogs. These books can help with basic commands and behaviors, as well as more specific tasks such as retrieving and pointing.
Nicole has loved animals of all sizes her whole life so it's no wonder she has dedicated her career to helping them through what she loves best: learning, writing, and sharing knowledge with others. She’s the proud mom of two dogs, a cat, and a human. With a degree in Education and 15+ years of writing experience, Nicole wants to help pet parents and pets around the planet to live happy, safe, and healthy lives.
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