Gundog by Richard Wolters or Training the Verstalie Dog by Chuck Johnson | Field & Stream

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Gundog by Richard Wolters or Training the Verstalie Dog by Chuck Johnson

Uploaded on January 31, 2013

Hey guys, I got both of these books for X-Mas and studied bo th. I like both books and I believe each have there pros and cons. My quick summary is Wolter's book seems more practical for a working man. However, Johnson's seems like it would produce a more well rounded hunting dog. I was wondering which book, if any, people here used and if they produced any good results?

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from barnhllo wrote 19 weeks 2 days ago

I used Wolters's FAMILY DOG to train my all-purpose lab. No one knows labs better than he!

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from PAShooter wrote 19 weeks 2 days ago

I have Johnson's book and have met him-good guy knows his stuff about versitle dogs. But, my go to book is: Training the Sporting Dog by Donald Smith and Ervin Jones. It can be purchased from American Hunting Dog Club $35.

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from redfishunter wrote 12 weeks 21 hours ago

I used wolters book 'water dog'. I've been very pleased.

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from clinchknot wrote 12 weeks 9 hours ago

I would say that any neophyte that can apply with results what the book writers write has a good dog, if the dog is a decent dog, and can be trained. Most gunners in the field use the seat of their pants to train their dogs. I have two good working dogs by my standards, and mine have been trained by me, and I have used NO professional methods...only that which I have picked up on over the years.

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from Williamk8987 wrote 12 weeks 4 hours ago

Thank you for the replies. I been using a hybrid as both, just as guides. This is the first dog I trained all on my own so there has been some issues. Like "come on command" in the woods and fetching is no longer one of her pleasures in life. But, I will correct this all before the seasons starts.

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from clinchknot wrote 11 weeks 3 days ago

If you invest in an e-collar that come on command is quickly learned as the stimulus is applied immediately when it needs to be. And it doesn't have to be a strong stimulus at all. A light setting often works, or even just the beeping feature on the collar works without using the stimulus. It sure works on my female chocollate lab.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from redfishunter wrote 11 weeks 3 days ago

If she doesn't enjoy fetching any more, at the end of each training session be sure to give her a few relaxed, high excitement retrieves where you tease her a bit and get her really excited about the next throw, letting her break and run around not at heal. End after a few of those and it should help keep everything fun for her.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Pmacc60 wrote 11 weeks 2 days ago

Read The best way to train your bird dog by Delmar Smith it was given to me by a top dog guy and it is well worth the time.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Williamk8987 wrote 11 weeks 2 days ago

I went back to following both books to formulate my own plan. I figure if I hammer basic commands, fetch, and get her out in the woods all the time, she'll be all set. And if not no biggie it's my first season with her and she'll come along. I found duck unlimited to be very helpful ad on just looking forward to working with her.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

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from barnhllo wrote 19 weeks 2 days ago

I used Wolters's FAMILY DOG to train my all-purpose lab. No one knows labs better than he!

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from PAShooter wrote 19 weeks 2 days ago

I have Johnson's book and have met him-good guy knows his stuff about versitle dogs. But, my go to book is: Training the Sporting Dog by Donald Smith and Ervin Jones. It can be purchased from American Hunting Dog Club $35.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from redfishunter wrote 12 weeks 21 hours ago

I used wolters book 'water dog'. I've been very pleased.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from clinchknot wrote 12 weeks 9 hours ago

I would say that any neophyte that can apply with results what the book writers write has a good dog, if the dog is a decent dog, and can be trained. Most gunners in the field use the seat of their pants to train their dogs. I have two good working dogs by my standards, and mine have been trained by me, and I have used NO professional methods...only that which I have picked up on over the years.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Williamk8987 wrote 12 weeks 4 hours ago

Thank you for the replies. I been using a hybrid as both, just as guides. This is the first dog I trained all on my own so there has been some issues. Like "come on command" in the woods and fetching is no longer one of her pleasures in life. But, I will correct this all before the seasons starts.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from clinchknot wrote 11 weeks 3 days ago

If you invest in an e-collar that come on command is quickly learned as the stimulus is applied immediately when it needs to be. And it doesn't have to be a strong stimulus at all. A light setting often works, or even just the beeping feature on the collar works without using the stimulus. It sure works on my female chocollate lab.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from redfishunter wrote 11 weeks 3 days ago

If she doesn't enjoy fetching any more, at the end of each training session be sure to give her a few relaxed, high excitement retrieves where you tease her a bit and get her really excited about the next throw, letting her break and run around not at heal. End after a few of those and it should help keep everything fun for her.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Pmacc60 wrote 11 weeks 2 days ago

Read The best way to train your bird dog by Delmar Smith it was given to me by a top dog guy and it is well worth the time.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Williamk8987 wrote 11 weeks 2 days ago

I went back to following both books to formulate my own plan. I figure if I hammer basic commands, fetch, and get her out in the woods all the time, she'll be all set. And if not no biggie it's my first season with her and she'll come along. I found duck unlimited to be very helpful ad on just looking forward to working with her.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

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