Lone Duck’s Gun Dog Chronicles

12/21/2023

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Working on training your Retriever? Building a strong retrieving desire and drive and encouraging those attributes in your pup will ensure that they become a proficient retriever and a great hunting dog. Follow along on our YouTube Channel with Bob and Beau as we learn how to do just that and Train on with DT!

10/29/2023

Had an awesome interview with Pat Burns about our Master National Retriever Club first series! We broke down my strategy and the challenges of the test! Take a few minutes, give it a watch, give it a 👍 and if you want to subscribe, I’m sure Pat will appreciate it! 🍻

I talk with Bob Owens ( Lone Duck Kennels) about his strategy for the first series interrupted land series.

07/18/2023

Well said! Enjoy the ride and hit your goals! The age of the dog doesn’t matter as long as you’re both having fun, improving, and moving the needle forward! What’s the rush?

• enjoy the dog you have •

If you want a Master National, Grand Champion dog.. chances are, your dog is going to run the minor stakes. Why? Because why the hell not. I have seen so many pros get in the rat race to get these dogs to a finished/master level. How quick can I get this dog running master. How fast can I get that master title.

Since when did we stop enjoying the process of building a dog through the stages of getting there, and running them along the way? Since when did we stop enjoying throwing water on our clients head more than once for new titles? I met my wife as a pro, running started. I have a huge amount of respect for the clients that want to enjoy their dog all the way through. And in fact- I want to teach them to run their own dogs if they feel comfortable. So let’s get back to enjoying the whole journey again, not just the finished product.

The good and the bad. Let’s get back to running our dogs because it’s fun, and because we can. I don’t care if that ribbon says junior or master on it. It’s an accomplishment that deserves credit. The world is already in such a demand for instant satisfaction, let’s not make this sport - something that should be enjoyed, part of it.

05/22/2023

What an honor! Mr. Pat Nolan joined us for our recent podcast called Training in Drive with Pat Nolan. (Episode 167) Pat is a Legend in the world of dog training! His background in protection sports turned to a love for retriever field trials and after a successful career, he moved into high level military dogs! His puppy program is a GAME CHANGER! Tune in, and let me know what you thought and please give Pat a Thank You for taking time out of his day to share his knowledge with us!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lone-ducks-gun-dog-chronicles/id1432939362?i=1000613386011

01/20/2023

OG GUNNER Testing… bird bath isn’t crash test rated

10/09/2022

Save The Dates for the 2023 Master National Event. Master National Retriever Club President Keith Maready announced the event will be held October 26-Novemeber 5 in the Thomasville, Georgia area. The Tallahassee Hunting Retriever Club

09/17/2022

Lone Duck Pup, Charlie! Making waves in the scholastic world!

The Highlands Middle School in Harrison could have a new administrative staffer by next week — one with four legs and a wet nose. The school board is considering a proposal for a district therapy dog named Charlie, a 5-month-old Labrador retriever. Charlie belongs to Principal Becky Bragan. &l...

07/24/2022

To collar condition your gun dog or not is a tough decision for many new trainers. If you choose to collar condition your dog, this article will give you some helpful advice during the process.

Matt Tuttle, of Copperwood Kennels, effectively trains all his dogs with an e-collar. Matt explains, “The e-collar is by far one of the most useful tools any trainer can have in their bag. Although an e-collar is very effective, it is also widely misused.”

“As with every step in your gundog training, you must keep one thing in mind, take it slow! Whether you’re introducing your dog to gunfire, teaching casting, or introducing them to the e-collar, the important thing to remember is to take your time. You want to truly instill each concept into your retriever’s head before “TESTING” these concepts.”

Keep reading "Collar Conditioning" from the Lone Duck blog on our website!

07/22/2022

Introducing your dog to water... let's talk about it.

Going into it, you want to pump that dog up. Get them excited. Get that retrieve drive going. Grab a few bumpers and start teasing your dog, getting them to chase it around.

Next, wade into the water yourself and coax/tease the pup to follow! If that's not possible, you can start throwing the bumpers into the water right on the edge. Not too far! Slowly but surely, your dog will start feeling comfortable in the water.

Before you know it, you've got a water dog!

What you DON'T want to do is grab hold of their collar and drag them in. This can create a water-shy dog. Don't want that.

Head over to our YouTube channel to watch Prairie Dog's introduction to water when she was just a pup!

07/20/2022

FIRST AID KIT ESSENTIALS! 👇🏼

No accident is ever planned so you should always be ready for a little chaos during a hunt with your dog. Some guys like to have all sorts of medicines and fancy bandages in their pack but I prefer to keep it smart and keep it simple. That said, be sure to adjust your kit based on where you are.

Here’s a few things I always have on hand:

🦆 Hydrogen Peroxide: If you dog ingests something they shouldn’t, use this to make them vomit. Use 1 tsp per 10 lbs of weight. Warning: this gets messy.
🦆Tweezers or forceps: Feel free to raid the medicine cabinet and snag a pair of these in case your dog comes in contact with a nasty thorn, something stuck in their nose, or (God forbid) a porcupine.
🦆 Ace Bandage: These can be real handy for you and for your dog. If you happen to run into some barbed wire while hunting a field, you’ll want to close up the wound, wrap it and visit your vet immediately.
🦆 Duct Tape: This solves most problems in life, so keep it on hand.
🦆 Saline Solution: Definitely keep this on hand. Often times when we’re field hunting, our dogs are running through dense brush and can get all sorts of things in their face and potentially, their eyes. Flush their eyes with saline for quick cleaning to keep their sight right.

Want to find more? Check out the awesome video we did with on our Youtube channel. What a Throwback! Circa 2016/2017

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07/17/2022

Have fun training with your duck dogs. The season is right around the corner, so start preparing for your success now.

If you're anything like us, you've already been dreaming of cupped wings, the sound of a thumping tail in the blind, and many memorable retrieves!

07/16/2022

When it comes to e-collars, what's Bob's #1 choice for his clients?
There's no doubt about it...

🔥 1900S Dogtra E-Collar 🔥

The Dogtra 1900S dog system has a 100% waterproof collar features a 3/4 mile range along with Nick and Constant stimulations.

It also offers non-stimulating high-performance pager. This dog system has water excelling enhanced contact points with 2-hour quick charge. The LCD on the handheld transmitter displays the battery life and stimulation level.

Head to our website to grab one for yourself!

07/13/2022

Want to increase your puppy's retrieve drive? Of course you do.

Head to the Lone Duck YouTube channel to watch our latest video, answering your questions about retrieve drive.

07/12/2022

Working on treading water with Rip, a Black Labrador Retriever from our friends at Southern Oak Kennels. 😎

Here's the key: Keep talking while your dog is in the water. The more relaxed they are, the more likely they'll focus on you and learn to tread.

Full training session is up on YouTube. Show some support and check it out!

07/09/2022

At this point, you should have introduced your young dog to gunfire, starting with light loads and poppers moving slowly to the 12 gauge.

Remember, this season will be the real thing and your gun dog needs to be prepared for a volley of heavy loads. Just as you did when they were pups, start off far away and work your way towards them slowly with the heavier loads.

After several sessions, they should be underwhelmed when the shotguns sound off at day-break. 👏🏽

07/07/2022

Hunt tests are a family atmosphere and a great hobby. I have met some of the nicest people at hunt tests, and have been fortunate enough that some of those people have become my best friends.

If your dog doesn't do well, just shrug it off. Evaluate what you need to work on, go back to the drawing board, get it fixed, and go kick butt at the next test. Remember to always be a good sport and always be humble.

You and your gun dog are a team. This is a sport you can enjoy while you're waiting for duck season! Get outside, train, and test your teamwork for a weekend! You'll be glad you did!

07/06/2022

Somewhere in this pile is my next puppy, my next dog, my next competitor, my next hunting buddy. Possibilities are ENDLESS!

07/03/2022

Want a Lone Duck dog? Contact us to learn more and reserve a spot for your next hunting partner.

Message us here or shoot us an email at [email protected].

07/01/2022

Training a solid gun dog takes time, consistency, patience, and love. The teamwork developed is what makes the hunt test game so fun.

Unfortunately, being in the game, I see a lot! From what I've seen, it seems as if some people try and "cram" with training, just like before a big exam or work meeting. When people cram it usually doesn't go as well as if they had spent weeks in preparation.

By "cramming" training with a dog, it usually means putting pressure on the dog. A lot of pressure before a test can create attitude problems. Pressure in't just from a stick or e-collar. Mental pressure can be just as tough for them.

A bad attitude is one of the last things you want as a handler! No one wants a dog that walks to the line and looks down or has a poor attitude.

This is a team sport, and by adding pressure, you're being an unfair team captain. Steady and consistent training is always advised, but the week leading up to the test is extremely important.

The week, and especially the day before a test, I try not to put too much pressure on the dog. For instance, I wouldn't try and make a dog hit a 10-foot keyhole on 150 yard blind the Friday before a test or throw cheating singles with a junior to a senior-level dog.

Try and stay in that dog's comfort zone for several days prior to the test. Build Confidence, maintain control, and you will be all set!

06/30/2022

Head over to and grab yourself a couple EasyLeads and Flat Collars.

These flat collars are made from top-quality Biothane, double-stitched, and riveted design, all stainless hardware, and a custom nameplate. They're the only collars we recommend!

06/28/2022

Check out the muscles on this dog babayyy!

06/23/2022

A gun dog isn’t much of a hunting partner if they’re afraid of gunshots; that’d be like having a canoe without a paddle… it’s just not going to end well.

Therefore, you need to be very cautious and calculated about introducing your dog to gunfire, so you don’t frighten the dog and create hurdles that aren’t necessary.

Head over to blog and read up on 'How to Introduce Your Dog to Gunfire'.

06/21/2022

Just a good ol' dog doing what he loves most.

Get out in the field today and have some fun while doing it!

06/20/2022

The Big Announcement! Memphis is having Puppies!!!! You know she’s my go-to girl! She’s been with me forever and hasn’t been fortunate enough to have a litter…. Until now! To be honest, it’s hard to put into words how excited I am! I’ll be keeping at least one 😎 Her stud dog is Beau! A recent AFC, a killer marking dog, and genuine good/happy/hardworking fella! These pups will be the real deal and for people who are the real deal! I’d love to get them all back in training but I know that’s a long shot! If you’re looking for your next hardcore competition dog/hunting dog, here you go! Pups are due this week! The pedigree link is in my Bio! Stay tuned! Litter located in Central NY, Go home Mid August. DM for details, serious inquiries only please

06/19/2022

If you're playing pool and you've got to hit the cue ball into the eight ball and you need it to spin a certain way, it's called "creating English". You hit the ball at an angle to get it to go where you want.

I do the same thing with the dogs when I'm casting.