Recommended Reading
by the Field Education Committee

Books
Magazines
Videos, DVD/CDs

Books

Retriever Puppy Training: The Right Start for Hunting
By Clarice Rutherford and Cherylon Loveland, 1988

This is a soft-cover, easy-to-read book that takes readers from puppy selection up through the first year of training your puppy for the field.

Retriever Training Drills for Marking
By James B. Spencer, 2001

“Repetition Builds Perfection”

This is a comprehensive collection of marking drills that primarily were spread by word of mouth. Spencer keeps in mind the limitations under which most amateurs train. Each drill is diagramed, with a careful explanation of the purpose, prerequisites, necessary equipment, and the pitfalls to avoid. Each exercise is limited to field work and oriented to amateurs training their dogs for hunting or hunt tests.

Retriever Training Drills for Blind Retrieves
By James B. Spencer, 2001

“Repetition Builds Perfection”

This is a broad collection of blind retrieving drills that originally were spread by word of mouth. Spencer is aware of the limitations under which most amateurs train. Each drill is diagramed, with a careful explanation of the purpose, prerequisites, necessary equipment, and the pitfalls to avoid.

Retriever Training Tests
By James B. Spencer 1997

This book will help you to make your dog better in field trials, Working Certificate tests, and in actual hunting. It features diagrams of training tests with explanations of significant environment factors – wind, terrain and cover.

Training Retriever for the Marshes and Meadows
By James Spencer

This is a non-collar approach to dog training. Written in Spencer’s usual easily read manner, this is a very good book for entry level trainers. It is written with the amateur trainer in mind.

Smart Fetch
By Evan Graham

This book examines the history of force fetching dogs, its goal and purpose while laying a solid foundation for a fully trained dog. All obedience issues associated with it are fully explained, plus all phases of the program, from the teaching of “hold” all the way to “water forcing”. This book is very complete in its discussion and instruction for doing it yourself.

Smartwork for Retrievers Series

Volume I and II – Basic & Transition
By Evan Graham

This contains detailed easy to follow instructions for retriever training, from puppies through basics and into early-to-mid transition. Illustrated by the author, this unique training text is designed for your use. A comprehensive Glossary of Terms helps you to get acquainted with the language of dog training.

Finished Dog
by Charlie Jurney

Answers many questions in this easily read book. He lays the groundwork for training a retriever from basics through the finished product. He has solutions for both e-collar and none-collar users. See below for ordering information

Training with Mike Lardy, Vols: I, II, III
By Mike Lardy

These are a series of articles written by Mike Lardy, one of the premier dog trainers in the US, compiled from articles done for the Retriever Journal. These articles take you through a training program in a logical and sequential fashion. In addition, there is a series which emphasize the prevention and treatment of problems that can occur during training and while involved in competition. It is in soft cover. These are an excellent guide to good field training. “Whether you train for hunting, field trials, or hunt tests, you will find it an invaluable aid for understanding and applying the most up-to-date methods of retriever training.”

Drills for the Retriever Hunt Test Enthusiast
By Carol Cassity

This soft cover book contains various drills that can be used by entry level dogs as well as advanced dogs for improvement in the field.

Building A Retriever: Drills & More
By Carol Cassity builds on her first book, "Drills for the Retriever Hunt Test Enthusiast".

This soft-cover book is good for both entry level dogs as well as for those who are more advanced in field work. It offers drills which can be varied due to the level of the dog from beginner through master hunter level. A great deal of thought and effort has gone into the production of this book.

The Big Jump
By Julie Cairns

These are based on articles originally published in the GRNews. In these articles, Julie covers what is needed to make the Big Jump from the junior level in hunt tests to the senior level. They are very well done.

Retriever Working Certificate Training
By Rutherford, Branstad and Whicker

For those of you interested in giving yourself the best chance to do well in the Working Certificate program, here is your answer.

The Working Retrievers
By Tom Quinn

This is a classic; a very well done book covering the training and care of your retriever. The paintings/drawings alone are worth the price of the book.

Motivational Training For The Field
by Lorie C. Jolly, 2007

This book is a positive training approach for a well trained field dog.
It gives you the tools to obtain field titles using positive
reinforcement.

Books of Historical Value or Supplementary Advice

Training Retrievers: The Cotton Pershall Method
By Bobby George, Jr.

An interesting look into a by-gone era of retriever training. One of the early masters of the venue.

Charles Morgan on Retrievers
By Charles Morgan; edited by D. L. Walters

This is a very enjoyable look into the past with regard to retriever training. It contains many fascinating vignettes.

Training Retrievers to Handle
By D. L. Walters

The training procedures here have been the foundation for many of the more modern methods used in training for blind retrieves. The program stresses the creation of good habits and the prevention of bad habits. This is very useful for the training of a first class hunting dog. There are many basic training components in this book which benefit more advanced dogs.

Don’t Shoot the Dog
By Karen Pryor

This paperback book clearly explains the underlying principles of behavioral training. The methods used here can be used in many situations, but they apply extremely well to dog training.

Many of these books can be obtained through: www.amazon.com.

Evan Graham can be obtained through: www.gundogsupply.com/training books.html or through rushcreekpress@aol.com

Mike Lardy can be obtained through: www.totalretriever.com or to www.ybsmedia.com.

Carol Cassity's books can be obtained through email: retrieverdrills@cox.net, phone: 1-850-682-3247 or writing to 6141 Bud Moulton Rd., Crestview, FL. 32536

Julie Cairns can be obtained through: www.hunttestknowhow.com.

Charlie Jurney's book can be obtained through: retrieverjournal.com. Its product code is RJ172.

Magazines

Retrievers Online

This includes articles and information for all levels of field training, including hunting your dog. It has excellent articles on raising retrievers, training philosophies, chaining, hunt tests, as well as containing a wide variety of articles on training itself.
www.retrieversonline.com. 1-705-793-3556

The Retriever Journal

Good for those interested in hunting, hunt test dogs, and more basic training levels. It has a variety of articles including some on the health of the working dog.
www.retrieverjournal.com 1-800-447-7367

Gun Dog Magazine  

The Retriever Journal is aimed towards the retriever breeds mainly, whereas Gun Dog focuses on all gun dogs, retrievers, flushing breeds, and pointing breeds. The magazine contains excellent training articles and hunting advice for both the beginner and experienced trainers and hunters.
www.gundogmag.com

Gray’s Sporting Journal

Gray’s Sporting Journal Magazine while primarily a hunting magazine does touch on the art of dog training. This magazine is more of a source of hunting tips, fine shotguns, and great hunting stories.
www.grayssportingjournal.com.

Hunt Test Know How Newsletter

This newsletter contains very good articles about hunt tests. It is of particular interest for all levels of hunt test participants and is very helpful to those just beginning as well as those who are more advanced.
www.hunttestknowhow.com

Videos, DVDs, & CDs

Sound Beginnings Retriever Training by Jackie Mertens.

The Art & Science of Handling Retrievers by Dave Rorem

Total Retriever E-Collar Conditioning with Mike Lardy

Total Retriever Training with Mike Lardy

Total Retriever Marking with Mike Lardy

Andy Attar on Transition Work

All of the above can be obtained through www.ybsmedia.com or 1-800-848-5963 with the exception of Andy Attar on Transition Work.

Andy Attar on Transition Work can be obtained through www.AutumnRunRetrievers.com or Redfish 1-866-246-5682.

Mike Lardy collections also can be obtained through www.totalretriever.com.

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