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.

With step-by-step instructions and detailed photographs and illustrations, this book provides proven information for achieving the best of both those worlds. Everything is discussed from choosing a sporting breed (retriever or pointer), to basic family-friendly obedience commands, to introducing the 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. It even covers how the nation's top trainers troubleshoot some of the more common problems faced in the field.