Game Dog: The Hunter's Retriever for Upland Birds and Waterfowl - A Concise New Training Method [Hardcover]

Richard A. Wolters (Author), Dale Spartas (Photographer), Gene Hill (Epilogue), Dave Meisner (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1995

Now revised, this clear, step-by-step guide shows how to develop any of the popular retriever breeds from a seven-week-old pup into a finished hunting companion. This updated edition includes the use of new training equipment and new findings about a dog's mental development.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 207 pages
• Publisher: Dutton; 2nd edition (January 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525939423
• ISBN-13: 978-0525939429
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,203 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #9 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Hunting & Fishing > Hunting

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No lab owner should be without it!, September 25, 2000

By 

"mrswoogie" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Game Dog: The Hunter's Retriever for Upland Birds and Waterfowl - A Concise New Training Method (Hardcover)

My husband and I purchased this book 5 years ago when we bought our first Labrador pup. We were immediately taken by the methods used by Mr. Wolters - kindness and fun being of the utmost importance when training a retriever. Following the instructions to the letter, we had great success - first duck retrieved to hand at 12 weeks, no problems whatsoever with hardmouthing or breaking at the shot. What we now have is a bird hunting machine that sleeps on our bed; a dog that hunts quail and chukar as well as he does ducks and geese; a dog that responds equally well to voice, hand and whistle commands (all important in varying hunting conditions). While we never had any interest in hunt trials (we wanted a working dog and pet), we have received scores of complements over the years, with most people commenting that this is the best dog they've ever hunted over. We're hitting our prime in the 5th hunting season, and will use this book once again when we start a new pup this winter.

Really - buy this book (Water Dog is also a good additon to your library). You will have a great blueprint for both a great hunter and a good friend!

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For the novice, November 25, 2000

By 

Kimberly K. Fox "rfoxden" (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Game Dog: The Hunter's Retriever for Upland Birds and Waterfowl - A Concise New Training Method (Hardcover)

We recently bought a female black lab pup...and actually picked her up on the 49th day, just as it says to do in the book. We did this without knowing that was the best day, but later borrowed the book from the library and found out so. Our "Cricket" is now 9 weeks old, and will sit, stay from about 6 ft., and will come enthusiastically. We've also been playing fetch with a goose wing, and find her to be getting the hang of things real fast. Had we not picked up the book when we did, we would have waited half a year to start training her. The book is easy to follow, and his manner of training isn't abusive to the dog. We hope to have an expert hunter when her schooling is done.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for those just starting out, July 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Game Dog: The Hunter's Retriever for Upland Birds and Waterfowl - A Concise New Training Method (Hardcover)

This book along with " Water Dog" will provide the beginnig trainer everything needed to have a good hunting dog for a finished product. If a person has just gotten a dog or is thinking of getting one it would be well worth the time to read these books. How ever don't get to flustered if your dog is not doing everything at the times Wolters has set. Every dog is different.