Scott Linden Outdoors

Sitting or lying down will help keep your dog in one place for a little rest … better still if you do the same.

Early in the season, we’re “warming up” in so many ways. Dogs are applying skills honed over the summer, we are testing our shooting abilities once again. All those lessons learned during the off-season are being put into action … or are they? Sometimes, a friendly reminder of the more subtle aspects might help. Here’s one:

So, you made it to the top of that chukar hill. Or battled your way through that dog-hair thicket in search of ruffies … and now it’s time for a breather. You sip some water, swap stories with your buddy, maybe nibble a snack.

Your dog paces back and forth, circles you both, slaloms between our legs, and just won’t sit still. He looks, beseechingly, at his hero (you) for direction, a command, something that gives him purpose for the next few minutes. But you’re fully invested in a joke involving a duck, a rabbi and a waitress.

Eventually your dog wanders off unnoticed, and when you’re dropping shells into your shotgun he’s nowhere to be found. When you eventually do find him, he’s worn out because he didn’t rest when you did.

The solution is simple. “Sitting still” starts with sitting. And I’m thinking that maybe a dog isn’t convinced you’re resting unless you’re sitting (or lying down, but that may be going too far). That’s what he does, his littermates did, his pack does. It’s body language in its simplest form. Doggy see, doggy do. Or doesn’t, if you’re not sitting.

So find a tree to lean on, or at least a dry spot to plop yourself down. Your dog will too. It might take a leash to keep him there, but you brought one, right? Offer him water, maybe a snack too. Pick a shady spot if it’s warm, wind-sheltered nook if it’s cold. Once he’s stopped panting, he’s rested and cooled off, ready for the next covert. And you know exactly where he is.

This tip brought to you by the Dogtra T&B DUAL 2-dog training collar. Learn more here.