There is nothing more pleasing to an avid bird hunter than to watch a well-trained sporting dog do what it was bred to do: hunt. Likewise, there is nothing more pleasing to a pet owner than to watch their well-trained family dog interact in a calm and controlled manner with family and friends.Author Jason Smith shows you how to have the best of both worlds. You'll learn how to choose the sporting breed (retriever or pointer) best suited for your needs, how to choose a breeder, and how to evaluate a litter and pick a puppy. Next, you'll see how to introduce the puppy to your home and family, and tips for housebreaking and teaching your dog the word "no." From there, you'll learn how to teach the young dog basic obedience commands such as sit, stay, come, heel, down, and kennel. Once the basics are mastered, you and your dog will progress to more advanced drills for learning the primary hunting skills, such as retrieving and pointing. You'll even learn how the nation's top trainers troubleshoot some of the more common problems you'll face in the field.The final chapters discuss the following topics: introducing your dog to the sound of a gun, competing in field trials and hunt tests, using an electronic collar, and keeping your sporting dog happy and healthy.'