Breeding & Training Versatile Hunting Dogs

Really enjoyed this book.I’ve never had a dog bred and trained to a specific task. I’m in fact a dog lover. Always had a dog. Always felt it was necessary for that dog to be a good citizen. I’ve never had a dog that was misbehaved.Of course my dogs have never been perfect and if a person is a dog lover, they can’t really expect that degree of machine-like precision in a living being.I find myself now in a place and time when I can invest the money and the time and energy needed to get a dog devoted to hunting. Done a great deal of research on the topic. Talked to everyone that would listen or offer an opinion.Then somebody said, hey, you need to get Bob’s book, it lays it all out.The book, in fact does just that. Well written, addresses all the aspects of what to look for in a gundog and how they are bred by people that love their dogs and want healthy happy hunting companions. Covers training in a compasionate loving manner.If you have an interest in this topic or think you might want a gundog and have little experience with these breeds, you need to start with this book.

This is a very well-written, easy to understand book that's full of valuable information. I've read other bird dog training books and this is the first one that has instilled any confidence in me to try training my own dogs. I've also been convinced of the importance of training my dog to be a versatile hunting partner and not settling for just a "hunting dog."Other books may have been written by excellent trainers, but they weren't writers, so a lot of their knowledge is lost in translation. That's not the case here - it's clear, concise, and applicable. I sent my first brace of dogs to a trainer because I wasn't up for it with what I had gleaned from other books, but after reading this book, the pup that I'm bringing home next month will definitely be trained by me!

Purchased this book on the recommendation from a breeder for our upcoming pudelpointer puppy. First owned a lab and read a different book for the lab training. Bob's book seems to be missing some of the basic foundation training for puppies (potty training, crate training, feeding, being a pack leader), although there is a good training schedule in the book. Some of the training techniques get muddled up in the "preparing for hunt tests", which I originally ignored as I have no interest in doing the tests, but there are key training exercises in there.With the combo of my previous Lab training book for the puppy/home training and this for the advanced training, this is still a solid book

Bob Farris has been around the curve - and then some - when it comes to training the versatile hunting dog. His new book is extremely well done, clearly written and comprehensive, with photos that illustrate every technique discussed. Bob even includes a timeline, a logical progression to follow in training your dog. I’m finding it full of good information as I get my PP ready for his UPT. Except for the somewhat dated NAVHDA "green book," it's the first book I’ve read that is geared specifically to NAVHDA tests, in great detail (and I've read a lot of them). It’s packed with techniques I’ve never seen anywhere else - tremendously useful to this novice versatile trainer. Whether you are preparing your dog for tests or just want the best hunting dog possible, this book belongs on your shelf and deserves to be read again and again.

Very well written. I own a pudelpointer from cedarwood kennel, and am about to get my second. After 50 or so questions, Bob recommended I buy his book. He was right. Tons of good information in here, and it’s written for all versatile breeds, not just pudelpointers. Bob possesses a wealth of information on training and breeding the best dogs, and has a writing style that’s easy to read. You’d be hard pressed to find a guy more passionate about his dogs than Bob.

This is my only book that discusses pudelpointers and it is fascinating! A lot of great information on how to test your dogs and breeding for performance. Exactly what I was hoping to find!

Bob Farris is the North Star to those of us who choose to follow pudelpointers in both the field and marshes, however this book is much more than a breed book. In this book Bob has provided the training techniques, in easy to understand terms, which has made his kennel one of, if not the highest, scoring kennel in all of North America. Read this training book by not only one of the best dog trainers on the planet, but also a man who has "been there and done that" when it comes to hunting upland birds, waterfowl, and big game.

We are preparing to buy a pudelpointer pup from Bob & decided to buy his book to get ready. We have owned several hunting dogs in the past (and along with them several books about training gun dogs). This book is the best guide that we have read. We are excited to use Bob's detailed schedule to train our new puppy to help it develop into a wonderful family dog & hunting partner. The book is well written & organized and has lots of valuable information to help raise & train versatile hunting dogs!

Great to read about the Pudelpointer. We have one in our family and this book was a nice read.