I love getting your questions. They make me think, and often start quite a discussion at Facebook. Here are a few for you to ponder …
Q: Where do you start in finding a good bird dog for purchase?
A: Join a club, and attend meetings and training sessions where you can get to know local owners and breeders. Ask them where they get their dogs. Attend hunt tests and meet breeder-trainers. Most national groups have a data base of hunt test results – another great source – showing you which dogs (potential parents of your new dog) and breeders are excelling in the field.
Q: Scott, my dogs have only hunted and trained with quail. Will they point other upland birds such as grouse and Huns? I want to take a trip out west, but don’t know if they will perform as well as they do here in Alabama.
A: I’d say they’ll probably do just fine. I’ve never seen any science on this, but believe a gun dog reacts to the volume of scent (bigger bird, more scent?) and so will recognize the similar scent of Huns or grouse. I’d pay money to see his face when a gigantic “quail” flushes!
Q: We have a German shorthair that gets sore paws but will not hunt correctly with boots on. Any tips?
A: Try duct tape instead of boots – instructions at my website. Tape or boots, most dogs get used to them pretty fast but I’d still practice at home a couple times before a hunt.
Q: Is a 30 foot or 60 foot check cord more appropriate for a Vizsla pup?
A: Both seem a bit long for me. That’s a lot of weight for a little guy to be pulling around. 20-30 feet should be plenty.
Q: Hello Scott, we have five GSP’s. Our two boys (14 and 9 ages) love helping to train them. Any suggestions or techniques that will encourage them to keep doing this? We do not use any force break training, just positive reinforcement techniques.
A: Take them hunting. While training can be a lot of fun, at some point, you’ve got to get out of the weight room and play some football. Same for our sport. Hunt tests or field trials are another “final exam” for your training assistants.
Q: Is it better to let kids use lighter adult guns or to try tracking down a youth gun?
A: It’s not so much weight as gun fit. A shorter-stocked gun for smaller hunters will come up to the shoulder better, create the right sight picture, and lead to more successful shooting.
Q: I hunted as a kid with my father, back when it was free. Our dog Buster was from my Grandfather’s old matriarch Queenie, and the quail were wild and small but tasty. Can it still be enjoyed as much as it was back then?
A: Yes. You might have to drive farther or pay a bit, but it sounds like you already know why those are minor inconveniences.
Q: I have a GWP puppy that loves water. She runs down to the lake every chance she gets. Splashes around, drinks her fill, wades into her chest, but will not swim. I have tossed bumpers, balls and toys etc., but she just jumps around and barks.
A: Try real birds and get ready for one motivated swimmer.
Scott Linden Outdoors 
Mr. Linden – I am 56 years old and have only hunted birds a few times long ago. I am right handed but my dominant eye is my left eye. I plan to get more involved with shooting in the near future, God willing. Should I be shooting left handed? In the past, I shot right handed. It has been so long ago that I was thinking it might be a good time to train to shoot left handed so I could use my dominant eye when looking down the barrel of a shotgun or rifle.
Follow up question – I have heard that you should always have both eyes open when shooting a shotgun right?
Next follow up question – when shooting a rifle with a scope, should I shoot left handed so I look through the scope with my dominant left eye?
As you vacancy probably tell, I ask a lot of questions. Thank you for your valuable time. I love your show. It is my favorite one. Keep up the great work. JOHN J.
Glad to put in my two cents’ worth, as a cross-dominant shooter myself. Yes, if you can, learn to shoot left-handed. Take a couple lessons with a pro certified by the NSCA. And yes, both eyes open gives you the best depth perception. Shoot your rifle with either shoulder as you are looking through a scope so as long as the crosshairs are in the right place, you’re good. Good luck!