( 8 reviews )
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Posted: May 2 2009
What a nice book! Read this in two sittings, with my huge six year old chocolate lab (with impeccable bird bloodlines) laying at my feet. He isn't a gun dog, but has great instincts. Gould's book isn't a "how-to" but a good primer on getting the feel of the dog and your relationship. My dog is a natural bred retriever---that's "his job" and he does it without training, but responds nicely to Mr. Gould's ideas about control. Haven't ventured into the field with my "house lab" but after reading, I may give it a try in the autumn. Nice diversion from the norm...recommended.
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Posted: Jan 2 2009
"Mike Gould id the most brilliant gun dog trainer in the world. He has raised dog training to a higher plane. Mike's dogs are happy dogs, enthused and birdy dogs, hunting fools, who love their human companions and bond with them so the two of them become a hunting machine miraculous to see. THIS IS THE BEST DOG TRAINING BOOK I've ever read - and I've read 'em all!" ---Bill Tarrant, former Gun Dog Editor of Field & Stream and Pulitzer Prize nominated author of "The Magic of Dogs" [from the back cover of book]
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Posted: Dec 1 2008
This is a great book. After reading it, I feel completely motivated to train the best possible gun dog. The author shares many training tips and examples from training his own dogs. However, specific training workouts are left out. If you don't know what baseball, around the clock, the mowed H, and the mowed path...you will be very confused (as I was) in the handling section. I would still recommend the book, but also another "Water Dog" by Richard Wolters (classic dog training book - originally published in 1964!). He provides sufficient detail to fill in the blanks. Plus, they have similar views on some things but opposing views on others. This way you get a nice balanced view and can make up your own mind on how to train your dog most appropriately.
