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.

The official training system of the American Hunting Dog Club. Pointers, flushers, and setters are all covered in this hunting dog program.

This heavily illustrated, full-color volume includes thorough discussions on seventh-six spaniel, retriever, pointer, hound, and versatile breeds. It also features tips on selecting a puppy, anatomy, pedigrees, and breeding.

A ball flies into the lake. A golden retriever jumps in! This popular pup was bred to bring back game from water. But it happily fetches toys! The American Kennel Club’s sporting dog group is full of dogs that love to hunt in water and on land. In this high-interest title, young readers will explore the many breeds that make up the group and discover what traits tie them together. Special features show off the group’s popular breeds and sizes, and four two-page profiles highlight popular breeds.

Learn how to train your dog for hunting. Chuck's new approach will show you how to train your do to be an outstanding water retriever. Each instructive chapter has a detailed explanation of the training techniques, along with numerous illustrative photos.

This is a vintage guide to training and managing a dog for hunting purposes, with chapters on breeding and selection, different methods of breaking, the various breeds of hunting dogs, the requirements of a trainer, and much more. Although old, it contains a wealth of timeless information that will be of considerable utility to modern sportsmen and trainers alike. Contents include: "Some Qualifications of the Dog Breaker", "Patience and Perseverance", "The Possession of a Good Temper", "Sobriety and Kindness", "To Break Sporting Dogs the Breaker must be a Sportsman", "The Dog-breaker must be a Keen Observer and a Speculative Thinking", "Energetic", "The Irish Water Spaniel", "The Working or Field Spaniel", etc. Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction.

He can retrieve—but can he sit, lie down and stay?
Sporting dog breeds can be relatively easy to train to do what they have been bred to do be it retrieve, point, flush—even act as a decoy to attract game! In addition, most sporting breeds have a gregarious personality and love people and other dogs. These attributes make these dogs very popular pets, but at the same time present all sorts of problems when they are not working in the field. Have you ever tried to ask your Lab to sit and stay near a pond with the ducks? Why is it that Goldens are notorious for jumping up on people (not to mention other dogs) when greeting them? Does your sporting dog eat every smelly item he encounters before you can stop him? In this new book, author Dawn Antoniak-Mitchell offers answers to solving and preventing the often surprising set of problems that owners of sporting dogs encounter at home and in their local communities.

You will learn
• Many of the overly friendly traits associated with sporting dogs can cause problems with other people and other dogs if you cannot control your dog’s enthusiastic (and sometimes obnoxious) greeting behaviors.
• How to make yourself more interesting than birds, as impossible as that might seem, to make walks and outings more pleasant for all involved.
• How to train a strong “leave it” behavior to keep your dog from eating things that might be dangerous.

Praise for From Birdbrained to Brilliant
Having bred and trained sporting dogs for almost forty years, Dawn’s ideas are spot on for understanding that the mindset and work ethics of sporting dogs is based around them being “people dogs.” As a tracking judge, trainer and exhibitor I can attest that Dawn is correct when she says training sporting dogs is “an investment worth making.” Just like making an investment in this book!
Ed Presnall, noted trainer and judge, author of Component Training for TDX and four other books on the subject of tracking

From Birdbrained to Brilliant gave me more insight into my beloved retrievers than anything I’ve read in my 25+ years of working with assistance dogs. Ms. Antoniak-Mitchell provides a treasure trove of information for those of us who love sporting dogs. As entertaining as it is illuminating, this book has earned a center spot in my library!
Jennifer Arnold, author Through a Dog’s Eyes and In a Dog’s Heart

Hunt, point and/or retrieve yourself a copy of this book. Working with your sporting breed dog’s natural traits instead of against them is what From Birdbrained to Brilliant is all about. I’m so excited to see a down to earth and practical book that gives clear training and management exercises for field bred dogs.
Inga From, CPDT-KSA, owner Positive Gun Dogs of Minnesota

FIRST OF ALL who could resist this title? I work with all breeds and each group brings something a little different to the table. Dawn’s knowledge of sporting dogs is going to be invaluable to you because her insights into their instincts will improve your training and your dogs will live better lives because you will have learned how to understand and communicate better with them.
Brenda Aloff, author of Puppy Problems? No Problem and several other best selling books and dvds

In 1914 crew members of the lighthouse tender Hyacinth rescued a stray puppy from the Milwaukee River and named him Sport. For the next twelve years, this charming Newfoundland-retriever mix lived the life of a ship dog, helping the Hyacinth crew as they carried supplies to lighthouses and maintained the buoys and other safety features around Lake Michigan. Sport quickly became a valued companion to his crew and a recognizable mascot of the lake—making friends in every port. In this beautifully illustrated children’s book based on historical documents and photographs, readers share in Sport’s adventures while discovering the various ways lighthouse tender ships helped keep the lake safe for others. Helpful diagrams, a map, and a historical note supplement this engaging story for young readers. 2020 Wisconsin Library Association Outstanding Children’s Book of the Year 2020 Midwest Book Award Gold Medal 2020 Library of Michigan Notable Book Award 2019 Historical Society of Michigan State History Award 2019 Moonbeam Children’s Book Award

"Engaging images accompany information about the non-sporting group. The combination of high-interest subject matter and narrative text is intended for students in grades 3 through 8"--