As young pups go, Ninja, a black Labrador, was an anxious one with a passion for splashing and dashing across any waterway he could find. Fortunately, he learned quickly, and by just six months of age, he stood, stoic, on the tree-mounted platform between my buddy and me as we raised calls on the tails of a small flock of high-flying mallards — they turned back and were soon tolling. The scene was tense, and Ninja flinched often but remained perched on his platform as the flock finally cupped, committed and swooped down just above the tethered decoys floating aimlessly on the water. On my buddy’s command, we lit them up, and three birds hit the water.
Ninja was off in a flash and swam a beeline to the closest duck. After two more retrievals, Ninja leapt back onto his platform and waited for his next recovery. Truth be told, I enjoy watching hunting dogs work as much, perhaps more, than I like doing the shooting. Ninja was young, fit, eager and quite intelligent. In the several years I was fortunate to hunt with my buddy and Ninja, I never once saw that dog fatigue — maybe we didn’t shoot enough birds. He was always ready for action.
To be honest, in all my years of hunting, I have never met a hunter who doesn’t appreciate the hard, efficient, committed work of a well-trained dog. Of course, hunting dogs are used in a variety of ways — retrieving ducks, geese and upland birds; baying and catching feral hogs; treeing animals and recovering game. That said, good hunting dogs do not come easily and require investments in care, training and field equipment. As such, here are 15 hunting-dog products designed to help you retrieve more sales.
Lucky Duck Lucky Kennels
Over nearly 30 years, Lucky Duck has forged quite a reputation for producing decoys; however, the company also delivers the premium hunting-dog goods. A shining example is the Lucky Kennel. The patented, American-made Lucky Kennel boasts a 5-Star crash test rating from the Center for Pet Safety, rugged yet lightweight rotomolded construction, and injection-molded reversible door, robust vents for air circulation, non-slip rubber feet, stainless steel hardware, lift handles and powder-coated tie-downs. Lucky Duck also states Lucky Kennels are tested to handle up to 4,000 pounds of force, including a 630-pound drop test. Lucky Kennels are available in intermediate and large sizes to accommodate most of your customer’s pet sizes. www.luckyduck.com
Banded Kennel Coat
Most waterfowlders know cold and windy conditions are great for hunting; however, those elements can be tough on hunters and working dogs alike. Banded’s Kennel Coat was designed specifically for those epic days in the duck marsh and offer a dual role in pet management. Most importantly, Banded’s Kennel Coat acts as a kennel-cover barrier to shield your hunters’ best friends from the elements during transport. Secondly, the Kennel Coat is a perfect protective cover to keep on a kennel doubling as a blind or safe place for a hunting dog to retreat during long waits and between retrievals. The Kennel Coat features 900 DuraMax construction, a zippered front opening, side openings, mesh storage top and side storage pockets. Banded Kennel Coats are available in large and extra-large sizes and in insulated and non-insulated models. www.banded.com
Banded Boater’s Dog Parka
Like Banded’s Kennel Covers, their Boater’s Dog Parka also serves a dual purpose — both focused on pet safety. Most obvious, the Boater’s Dog Parka provides much-needed insulating warmth in cold, wet hunting environments where hypothermia is a concern. In and out of the water, the Boater’s Dog Parka helps keep body temperature at a safer level. The not-so obvious secondary benefit of the Boater’s Dog Parka is buoyancy. The parka enhances a dog’s flotation during retrieval. The results are mitigated cold-weather exposure and reduced fatigue. Who doesn’t want to enhance their four-legged friend’s outdoor experiences? Boater’s Dog Parkas are available in sizes Extra Small to 5XL and feature tapered 5mm neoprene, double-tacked seams, full-length zipper cover, cold-weather zipper pull and built-in carrying handles.
Garmin Alpha 200i Handheld with Collar
Recognized as a global leader in tracking and navigation, Garmin commits this technology to the aid of our best friends in the field, too — case in point, the Garmin Alpha 200i. The Garmin Alpha 200i includes a handheld controller and tracker and trainer (TT) collar. At just 2.7 inches x 6.4 inches, the IPX7 waterproof-rated Alpha 200i handheld fits comfortably in most palms yet boasts a comfortable viewing experience on a 1.8 x 3-inch touchscreen display. The Garmin Alpha 200i comes equipped with a 16gb internal memory, rechargeable lithium-ion battery for up to 20 hours of operation, pre-loaded TopoActive maps, satellite imagery, LiveTrack, barometric altimeter, compass, tracking log and pack management for up to 20 dogs via TT and T collars. www.garmin.com
SportDog SportTrainer 1275
As one partnered with a German Shorthaired Pointer and plugged into hunt-test and field-trial competitions, we relied upon SportDog training collars more than any other electronic dog training system on the market. Of course, technology and training solutions have improved dramatically since then, and SportDog puts those advances to work in the SportDog SportTrainer 1275. The IP67 waterproof-rated SportTrainer 1275 features three-quarters of a mile of range and a pack management capacity up to six dogs. The handheld device includes a large OLED display with clear representations of 10 stimulation levels, selected dog, mode and remaining battery life. Large, tactile controls make adjusting stimulation levels and selecting dogs simple, while side-mounted controls control continuous and momentary stimulation. The collar fits dogs over 8 pounds and features stimulation modes as well as a power button. www.sportdog.com
SportDog Natural Canvas Dummy
When it comes to retrieval training, dummies are a must-have, and models like SportDog’s Natural Canvas Dummy reign supreme. Why? Canvas dummies retain game scent for much longer than their plastic counterparts. Like plastic dummies, they float, too, offering the best of both worlds. While SportDog is a trusted training brand, there’s more to canvas dummies than material. The SportDog Natural Canvas Dummy mimics game size and weight and is even weighted for improved throwing. The Natural Canvas Dummy includes a throwing rope and is offered in puppy and adult sizes.
Dokken Dead Fowl Mallard Trainer
Training pups to retrieve and release without destroying game can be challenging — nobody likes a decimated bird. Dokken offers a great solution in the Dead Fowl Trainer Mallard, a decoy designed specifically to improve a hunting dog’s game handling. The Dead Fowl Trainer Mallard features a free-floating head and legs, as well as natural-feel foam to better mimic real game. For added realism, the Dead Fowl Trainer allows for internal scenting and is similar in weight to a real mallard.
Mud River Dog Products Handler Bag
Caring for, managing and training dogs can mean carrying a lot of gear. The Mud River Dog Handler Bag allows your hunting-dog owners to stow and carry everything they need in a well-organized manner. The Dog Handler Bag is constructed of a heavy-duty, water-resistant polyester shell and includes an adjustable, padded shoulder strap. The bag also includes an array of storage pockets, roomy front zippered pocket, large doctor’s-bag center storage and a double-reinforced, water-resistant bottom shell. The Mud River Dog Handler Bag measures 16 x 11 x 14 inches. www.boytharness.com
Southern Cross Spec-Ops Catch Pro Vest with High Collar
Hunting dogs aren’t just for waterfowl and upland birds! Many hunters use dogs to chase small game and, in the context of this gear roundup, feral hogs; in fact, a number of states allow hog hunting with dogs. That said, hogs can be vicious and downright dangerous. A hog’s cutters can easily rip through flesh, and infections from such injuries can be life-threatening. Hog-hunting dogs must be protected, and Southern Cross’ American-made Spec-Ops Catch Pro Vest with High Collar is a great peace-of-mind choice, especially for catch-dogs. The Spec-Ops Catch Pro Vest boasts an attached high-collar, gel-enhanced tracking-collar protection, seatbelt-enhanced chest, double-phase leg guards with armpit protection, chin guard, chest and side-lead D-rings and 2X Dupont Kevlar armor. Sizing options are XS to XL, and fabric finishes are available in hunter orange or TrueTimber Kanati camouflage. www.hogdoggear.com
Pete Rickard’s Hunting Dog Training Scents
With more than 50 years of hunting scent experience and, more importantly, as many years of reputation building among serious trainers and hardcore hunters, Pete Rickard’s Hunting Dog Training Scents is respected worldwide as a training-scent industry leader. Perhaps equally impressive is the company’s robust line of scents — they certainly offer the widest array of training scent products I am aware of and cover virtually all North American hunting scenarios where dogs are known to work, including bear, wild boar, wildcat, fox, raccoon, rabbit, squirrel, goose, duck, pheasant, quail, grouse and dove. Most important for scent training, Pete Rickard’s offerings are formulated with natural musks and extracts for true-to-life scents, perfect for effective tracking and game recovery. The company also offers effective scent training kits. www.peterickard.com
Alps Outdoorz Alpha Dog Blind
Founded in 2007, Alps Outdoorz has built a reputation for premium quality and product innovation across the American hunting landscape, from whitetail deer to duck hunting. Making a case for hunting dogs, their desire to enhance outdoor experiences for man’s best friend is no less a pursuit, and the Alpha Dog Blind is a great representation. Sure, you can carry a kennel out to the edge of your favorite duck marsh, but they can be heavy and bulky, and, if you’re like me, you’re already carrying too much. The Alpha Dog Blind is completely collapsible and light weight, coming in at a hair over 4.5 pounds, and it offers great protection from the elements while also concealing your dog in between retrieves. The Alpha Dog Blind is constructed of a 600D polyester fabric canopy and durable, padded 900D polyester floor. This blind also features magnetic-closure doors on both ends with an added buckle closure on the back, Realtree camo exterior, blacked-out interior, and with footprint dimensions of 19 inches H x 21 inches W x 37 inches deep, it’s quite roomy for most dogs. The Alpha Dog Blind also includes ground stakes, a paracord carrying handle and a convenient, zippered, should-carry bag. It’s well worth your shelf space! www.alpsoutdoorz.com
Alps Outdoorz Dog Stand
Duck hunting in flooded timber can be hard on a hunter and brutal on a working dog. When hunting in water, it’s important to get man’s best friend out of the water and up on a platform, and I’ve seen quite an eclectic array of solutions, from lock-on treestand floors to suspended pallets and homemade plywood supports; of course, not all dog stands are mobile or lightweight. If your hunters are in the market for a collapsible, lightweight, easy-to-tote platform, the Alps Outdoorz Dog Stand is worth your inventory space.
Gun Dog Outdoors Field Trauma Aid Kit
Try as we might to protect our four-legged friends, all manner of foliage cuts and punctures, and tensions sometimes rise to heart-pounding heights. Injuries happen. When they do, we must be ready to apply first aid. One of the most comprehensive first-aid kits designed for canines is the GunDog Outdoors Field Trauma Aid Kit. Where trust matters most, the GunDog Outdoors Brand is a favorite among hunting-dog handlers, and this Trauma Kit is certainly worthy of its branding. The Field Trauma Kit keeps every critical first-aid component organized and easy to access. Gun Dog Outdoors touts the kit as an assortment of supplies ready to handle any kind of traumatic dog injury. The kit includes everything one might need to effectively treat punctures, cuts, abrasions, hyperthermia, hypothermia, sprains and more. The kit even includes a veterinarian-approved Field Trauma Guide on handling seizures, snakebites and other common dog injuries. www.gundogoutdoors.com
DogBone Game Recovery System Training Kit
Not all hunting dogs are built for chasing down feral hogs, treeing raccoons or retrieving gamebirds. Some are trained to track blood and recover big game. For trainers, finding entry-level resources can be tough. Fortunately, DogBone offers great kits like the Tracking Dog Training System. This robust kit includes a RealHide drag, EZ clip, 10-foot drag line, 2-ounce bottle of BloodTrail scent, and an instruction manual — everything your customers need to get their hunting dogs on the scent trail. www.dogbonehunter.com
DogBone Puppy Starter Bundle
Outfitting for hunting dog training doesn’t have to be a hard hunt. Several hunting-dog training brands offer startup kits. A favorite among many handlers is the DogBone Puppy Starter Bundle. The kit provides a solid assortment of basic training tools without breaking your customer’s budget. The DogBone Puppy Starter Kit includes a roomy training bag, whistle, adjustable leader and a collapsible water bowl. The kit also comes with two downloadable videos: Puppy Training and DogBone Basics: Building a Solid Foundation.
