Description
Price: $29.00 - $17.62
(as of Feb 18, 2025 17:17:23 UTC – Details)
This dog training book will produce the perfect hunting partner for the man who wants a gun dog fast and wants to train it himself—from the author of Game Dog.
This time-proven guide by legendary trainer Richard A. Wolters offers a step-by-step method for completely training your dog. It is the first book for the upland bird hunter that teaches the hunting commands with the use of training tools, making training easier for you and your dog.
Written with scientific information on the mental development of a dog, Gun Dog shows the complete training procedures step by step in picture sequences. It will show you how to achieve every hunter’s ideal: an animal that will double as a disciplined hunting dog and beloved family pet.
“Gun Dog is one of the most valuable, probably THE most valuable, training tools the average amateur could have.”—Sports Afield
Publisher : Dutton; Revised ed. edition (May 26, 1961)
Language : English
Hardcover : 150 pages
ISBN-10 : 0525245499
ISBN-13 : 978-0525245490
Item Weight : 1 pounds
Dimensions : 6.66 x 0.64 x 9.28 inches
Customers say
Customers find the book provides excellent information on training dogs. They find it easy to understand and simple to follow. The methods are suitable for a well-behaved dog, especially when its owner works full-time. Many customers consider the book a good value for money, with good reviews from customers. However, opinions differ on the book’s erasure – some find it timeless and classic, while others feel it’s a bit dated.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
CW Houghton –
Great book
I have self trained two outstanding llewellin setter hunting dogs using this book and have sent copies to three other friends who have done the same. Itâs an easy reading book that truly works of you give the fifteen to twenty minutes a day to training your pup. I started training my last pup at eight weeks and by the end of week twelve she knew the commands for come, stay, sit, whoa and heel. At sixteen weeks she understood everything I needed for commands as well as understanding hand signals on what direction I wanted her to go in. The only addition was to use a training collar (shock collar) at about 25 weeks as she needed to understand that she was getting commands to obey and that they were not options. I trained my current dog ten years ago and have enjoyed her as a truly remarkable bird hunting dog as well as a well behaved family pet. So, I give Walterâs book a five star rating. Just make sure you the trainer show the same self discipline you expect from your dog and do the training every day. Also, follow the recommendation to start your pup at eight weeks. That is the beginning of the eight weeks when they are geared to learn quickly. One last thing: these same principles apply to raising kids too. You probably better skip the training collar tho.
Robert Orth –
Tarik obviously didnât read the book..
Iâve used Water Dog to train Labs for 40 years and Gun Dog is just as awesome for training. There is NOTHING about dominance nor âforce trainingâ but about being a friend and companion to your pup. You train them to LOVE training and learning. Thatâs what these books teach 100%. Iâve NEVER had to use a shock collar or âdominateâ any of my pups EXCEPT for snake training which isnât covered in any of Wolters books. That training was taught to me by my grandfather who raised and trained German Shorthairs for quail hunting in Florida. And yes, that involves a spanking and putting the fear of God/snakes into your pup. Hard to do but as Grandad would say, âSpanking now or dead dog laterâ as rattlesnakes are a very serious and real threat. If you want an EXCELLENT method and EXCELLENT info on training your pup, these books are it. Also very, VERY easy to follow and execute the training. All of Wolters methods are based on the Seeing Eye Dog Foundationâs methods which still arenât âoutdatedâ. I keep giving my copies of all of my Wolters books to new puppy owners and canât keep a copy around here. They in turn pass it on to others. Make sure the entire family reads the book and follows the training as everyone has to be on the same page! Oh, and last two Labsâ¦? Double blind retrieves at 7 months old! This training works and has even worked with puppies that are a bit hardheaded.Tarik, take your cat to a professional trainer. Youâll be doing you and your cat a favor.
Roberta L. –
Great book for training
We have had this book since back in the early 80’s and had our first Springer Spaniel.It has given great information on training. The book was loaned out and not returned a while back.Now we have a new puppy. Couldn’t find the book so ordered it as a surprise for my husband.This book is invaluable!!!
Rebecca –
Classic!
Classic bird dog training text. Was glad to find it used. Very nice hardcover with dust jacket. Condition is excellent, price was very good. Thank you!
HD Outdoors –
Fool Proof Guide to Training a Bird Hunting Machine
Can’t say enough good about this book. My pointer pup was whelped in May 2014, we got her right before July 4th. The breeder recommended Gun Dog as the definitive guide to training our puppy. I had never trained a pointer before, so I didn’t even know what to expect myself. I simply knew I owed it to this puppy to not screw it up.I faithfully followed the steps outlined in Gun Dog. Within the first few weeks my pup was holding point on wings and naturally retrieving. She will never, ever forget the “whoa” command because of the way Gun Dog has you teach it. By September she was holding point like a statue on live birds. By October I was shooting (and she was naturally retrieving) planted chukars. In November we were hunting wild pheasants and chukars, we haven’t looked back since. She was retrieving running wounded birds like a champ.My dog isn’t perfect by gentry gun snob standards. But for a weekend warrior, she is an awesome bird dog that understands the relationship between bird, dog, and the guy holding the shotgun. She can’t sleep the nights she sees my shotgun set by the kitchen door. I HIGHLY recommend this book for the common guy that can’t hunt half the year, but still wants a dang good dog that enjoys hunting for you.You’ll know who the 1 star review guys are out in the field. Their dog will be a half mile away busting birds while they scream and curse, eventually peppering their dog with bird shot out of frustration–the guy who brags up his dog, you hunt with him once, and then avoid his phone calls on Friday nights after.
karla J Kauffman Robertson –
Effective training
This is definitely an old school book on training your dog.My husband says it is excellent-
TGByrd –
Almost like my dog read it first
This is a no nonsense guide for training your dog. Great for any dog owner. Amazing how quickly our 9 month old picked up on the instructions.
James S Gavitt –
This Is My Third Copy of Gun Dog
I bought my first copy of Wolter’s book in 1971 when I got my first bird dog. Over the years, I gave my initial copy to one son, and my second copy to the other to help them train their dogs. It is the only reference I have used for training six generations of pointing dogs – Brittany Spaniels, English Setters, and English Pointers. I am 74 and picked up what will probably be my final dog yesterday, a seven week old Setter, and will use this copy to train her.
Quinton ball –
I love Wolters style of training. Love your dog, train him with fun and love and discipline firmly when required. I have trained 2 dogs with this book (this book was a replacement when a friend borrowed it and did not return it. It is well worth the money. Buy this book!
David Peers –
In the traditional sense, anyway…What Wolters teaches is that you don’t really train a dog – you form a relationship with the dog. If the two of you are going to get on then you have to communicate. Wolters breaks down the traditional ways and replaces them with more dog orientated techinques. Lets face it, it’s easier for us to talk ‘dog’ than it is for them to speak ‘human’. Shouting “SIT, you B*$”t^%$” is not going to get results. Wolters way certainly does.The proof? My 18 month Labrador is the best dog that I have ever had. So good, in fact, that she is now beyond my ability and it’s me that needs the education. She is going to be far better than she is now. She is fearless, bold, intelligent and seems to know what I want her to do. Nothing is impossible for this dog – i’ve already sold 3 of the puppies and she’s not even pregnant!Wolters is a genius and I would recommend this book – in fact all of his books – to every dog owner. 10/10!
Sean M –
Awesome book, great info, I recommend as well as his other books
Helen –
good read. bit old fashioned but fun
Chloe Weatherhead –
I purchased this book after reading multiple reviews as a first step in understanding gun dog training techniques. The recommendations within the book are extremely outdated and it saddens me to think that people may be following the advice given. I would suggest reading this book if you are interested in the history of approaches to dog training but not if you are looking for information and advice.