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.

Abandoning traditional training methods, which tend to use punishment and physical dominance, progressive dog-trainer Cristine Dahl incorporates studies of animal behavior and humane treatment into an approach called Learning Theory. Though Learning Theory is the top method suggested by the SPCA, a practical guide has not yet been published for dog-owners. Here it is — penned by a recognized dog-training authority and filled with in-depth, step-by-step instructions, and organized by behavior problems.