There are many benefits of training a gun dog. In the Southeast, gun dogs are an important part of waterfowl hunting, as well as upland retrieving. By training a gun dog, you gain a valuable asset and teammate in the field. Because of their nature, gun dogs can be extensively trained to perform a number of various field tasks. They can also be trained specifically for the terrain and type of hunt they will be assisting on. To learn more, let’s take a look at some of the key benefits of training a gun dog.
Performance in the Field
Of course, when looking to train a new gun dog, performance in the field is the main priority. By sending your dog to a gun dog training school in Alabama, you are preparing them to be high quality teammates in the hunt. When you are in the field hunting with your gun dog, you need to be able to trust in their training, knowing that they are capable retrievers, whether for waterfowl hunting retrieval or upland retrieving.
For a gun dog to become an effective waterfowl retrieval dog, extensive gun dog training is necessary. However, when conducted by high quality trainers, the investment in your dog’s retrieval skills is worth the time put in. After graduating from a gun dog training school, your gun dog will become an asset in the field. When expertly trained, your gun dog will be able to track and retrieve downed birds, no matter the terrain. Whether for personal hunting assistance, or for your guided hunting business, a good hunting dog makes all the difference in the field.
Obedience Training
Even when you aren’t in the field, there are massive benefits to training a gun dog. General obedience training pays dividends both in the field and back home. When sending your dog to a gun dog training school, they will also be receiving basic obedience training. Some of the commands learned in basic obedience training include Come (whistle & voice), Sit (whistle & voice), Down, Heel, Kennel, and NO.
Obedience training commands like these are incredibly helpful. Gun dogs can tend to be restless at home, so instilling commands like these aid in building your relationship with your dog, making them better companions both in the field and back at the house. Some high quality gun dog training schools will take around 6 weeks to complete, and include both on-lead and off-lead training. Off-lead training will typically involve electronic collars, which allow for command training even without a leash or lead.
Gun Dog Training with Blackbelt Retrievers
Blackbelt Retrievers is the Southeast’s premier gun dog training school. We train our dogs with waterfowl retrieving and upland retrieving skills. Our immersive training program involves putting our dogs in the real environments that they will see in the field. This includes duck blinds, boats, lakes, and fields. They are also exposed to 4-wheelers, gunshots, decoys, real dead ducks, and other gun dogs.
If you are looking to train a gun dog, contact us today to learn more about our different training programs for dogs of all ages, right here in Alabama. We also have a Wisconsin branch offering the same expert gun dog training. The benefits of training a gun dog are many, and we would be happy to get started with training your dog to perform to the absolute best of its ability.