THE POINTING LABRADOR is the best of both worlds. The pointing Lab is just as capable of sitting patiently in a duck blind until called upon to retrieve ducks and geese as he is comfortable coursing through upland fields, locating and pointing pheasants, quail, and grouse for his beaming handler.

There is nothing more pleasing to an avid bird hunter than to watch a well-trained sporting dog do what it was bred to do: hunt. Likewise, there is nothing more pleasing to a pet owner than to watch their well-trained family dog interact in a calm and controlled manner with family and friends. With step-by-step instructions and detailed photographs and illustrations, this book provides proven information for achieving the best of both those worlds. Everything is discussed from choosing a sporting breed (retriever or pointer), to basic family-friendly obedience commands, to introducing the dog to the sound of a gun, competing in field trials and hunt tests, using an electronic collar, and keeping your sporting dog happy and healthy. It even covers how the nation's top trainers troubleshoot some of the more common problems faced in the field.

A comprehensive guide to transforming your dog into a valuable wing-shooting companion in the field and at home. Created by Mike Stewart of Wildrose Kennels, the Wildrose Way is a unique, low-force, positive training method that is field-proven for upland and waterfowl gundogs. The training prepares dogs for versatility—any game, any terrain, any destination—and makes them desirable companions for any situation. Now, for the first time, Stewart’s methods are compiled in one indispensable reference book, fully illustrated with photographs and diagrams. Containing chapters on establishing essential behaviors, the core skills of the hunting retriever, and waterdog finishing work, as well as sidebars on such topics as breed selection and effective canine leadership, this step-by-step book is designed specifically for wing-shooters who want to transform their pup into a gentleman’s gundog.

This is a revised and expanded second edition.

Learn to communicate with your dog—using their language “Good reading for dog lovers and an immensely useful manual for dog owners.”—The Washington Post An Applied Animal Behaviorist and dog trainer with more than twenty years’ experience, Dr. Patricia McConnell reveals a revolutionary new perspective on our relationship with dogs—sharing insights on how “man’s best friend” might interpret our behavior, as well as essential advice on how to interact with our four-legged friends in ways that bring out the best in them. After all, humans and dogs are two entirely different species, each shaped by its individual evolutionary heritage. Quite simply, humans are primates and dogs are canids (as are wolves, coyotes, and foxes). Since we each speak a different native tongue, a lot gets lost in the translation. This marvelous guide demonstrates how even the slightest changes in our voices and in the ways we stand can help dogs understand what we want. Inside you will discover: • How you can get your dog to come when called by acting less like a primate and more like a dog • Why the advice to “get dominance” over your dog can cause problems • Why “rough and tumble primate play” can lead to trouble—and how to play with your dog in ways that are fun and keep him out of mischief • How dogs and humans share personality types—and why most dogs want to live with benevolent leaders rather than “alpha wanna-bes!” Fascinating, insightful, and compelling, The Other End of the Leash is a book that strives to help you connect with your dog in a completely new way—so as to enrich that most rewarding of relationships.