Gun Dog Forum

What bird dog training book is best? I know this is a hard question to answer, so maybe just list one that you think is really good- and why.
Hope you all are having a marvolous monday
~Mary

For retrievers Evan Graham is top notch and I have no clue for pointers

Mary,

Some thoughts:

"Best Way To Train Your Pointing Dog - The Delmar Smith Method" by Tarrant and Smith.

"Bird Dog Training Manual" by Dave Walker.

The Huntsmith products by the Smiths.

The videos showing Bill West.

Perfect Start / Perfect Finish

I'm part way through the Hickcox videos and so far I like them.

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But, I learned more in a day training with Rick and Brenda than I did off videos and books. Some things are just "hands on" by nature.

If you have an opportunity, perhaps you can intern with one of the pro trainers. It would be a great way to learn the ropes.

Best regards, Greg J.

I am a fan of the Delmar method.

"Best Way To Train Your Pointing Dog - The Delmar Smith Method" by Tarrant and Smith.

Snips alluded to this in another thread, get a video instead. For pointers, one like the Perfect Start and Perfect Finish are hard to beat.

Mark

I stopped reading training books after Bill Tarrants book on Delmar Smith. I don't know if Delmar is all that much better than many others but, Bill showed the side of a trainer I needed to see. He got quotes with a great deal of meaning out of Delmar. And I really like the simplicity of Delmas method in Bill's book, it works for me every time. Not that I haven't added my own touches but what is needed to do anything effectively is a good foundation and that is what Bill's book is about, a solid foundation. Much as I admire Delmar, I doubt he could have written that book. Like he know how to get the best out of a dog, Bill knew how to get the best out of Delmar.

My favorite Delmar quotes compliments of Bill Tarrent:

"pay attention to what your training"

"never set your dog up to fail"

"never let your dog tell you no"

Actually that last one was, "your dog or your wife"!

I like the Delmar Smith Method training book. I also like Bird Dog Training Manuel by Dave Smith. I have both of these in stock if you need one. Good luck

I like Retriever Training: A Back to Basics Approach, by Robert Milner, for waterfowl dogs. He also teaches basic upland quartering.

I've never trained a Spaniel (yet), but Hup! Training Flushing Spaniels the American Way, by James B. Spencer, has been recommended to me.

I have to agree with "the best way to train your birddog" Smith/Tarrant.

It should be in my opinion the FIRST resource any aspiring pointing breed owner/trainer goes to when they are first learning.

I don't suggest you follow it as a bible because a lot has changed since it was written, (and I believe there was a follow up/revised edition done at some point). But if you are "animal savy" and have a basic understanding of getting a dog to do what you want that book will (if you are a good reader) teach you more about the whole process and even how to read and understand dogs than any other training book/video/DVD that's come along before or since.

It's a very good fundamental/foundation resource and and after reading it the others suggested will make more sense to you and you'll get more out of them. CR

Why not follow it as a bible??? Did dogs stop responding to those methods? The reason that things changed is not that those don't work any more but that they found better ways to do it. The old ways still work... but the new ways work better... depending on which new way you go with the Smiths... Rick and Ronnie, Tom, or Delmar... their all similar but have different variations.

John Bellah

How does Delmar Smiths book compare to How to Help Gun Dogs Train Themselves by Joan Bailey? as I have that one on the way.

What are your opinions of Joan Bailey's books vs the others mentioned?

It got a high rating for first time trainers from Bill Tarrant, a Field and Stream magazine's gundog editor,so it has to be darn good. Not something I've ever used.

Don't forget the wisdom of Paul Long...great read

Dave walker and/or Mo Lindley

bean1031 wrote:For retrievers Evan Graham is top notch

I heartily 2nd that opinion! Evan's Smartworks program will stand the test of time!

As for flushing spaniels training there are a few books that have been written over the years though none are outing out standout. Possible Chuck Goodall's work in the complete English Springer Spaniel still stands the test of time. It is an excellent book for the new spaniel owner to study.

Pointing dog; "Training with Mo", produces honest , reliable, and self made bird dogs.