What is “lining?” Many define it as simply training your dog to go from point A to B in a straight line, but to us at GameKeeper Kennels, when training, this is only part of the story. We don’t teach lining as a simple one-step process, we teach it as a concept that links other phases of training together, such as basic obedience, steadiness, body alignment and the release command.

The prerequisites for starting your dog on lining are; 1) completion of basic obedience training; and 2) that the pup understands that his reward is the retrieve and delivery of the training dummy to hand. With an abundance of positive reinforcement in the form of verbal praise and a good back rub from the trainer, this task should be accomplished in short order.

In developing lining skills, the pup’s initial retrieving training is based on sight retrieves and then pup is slowly transitioned from lining on sight retrieves to lining on blind retrieves which ultimately includes the use of their nose to successfully complete the retrieve.

Many articles that I’ve read only give part of the story with regards to teaching a young pup to line. Here at Mossy Oak GameKeeper Kennels, we teach lining skills at an early age and continue developing these skills as the dog progresses.

-QUICK DERM VET CARE PRODUCTS-

Mossy Oak Kennels #1 Choice for Treating Wounds

While working our Labradors and German Shorthaired Pointers in actual hunting situations in Mississippi, Florida, and Kansas, we occasionally encountered situations where the dogs cut a pad or suffer skin cuts and tears, primarily from old barbwire fences. Here at the Kennel, we experienced an occasional hotspot or licking soar and minor scrapes from the dogs going through their doggy doors. To keep our dogs in top physical condition, we promptly treated these wounds.

Several months ago we were introduced to a line of products produced by VetCare Inc. The Vet Care products provided to us included the Quick Derm Spray, Quick Derm Ointment and Quick Derm Impregnated Wound Dressings. We have used these products now for several months on our Labradors to treat minor scrapes and puncture wounds, occasional hotspots, and lick soars at the Kennel. We have also used these products for an extended period of time on our Labradors to treat more serious wounds inflicted in the field such as minor barbwire punctures, and on our German Shorthaired Pointers to treat more serious cuts and other skin tares that required a thorough cleansing and staples to close the wound. After using these products for several months and monitoring the healing process, our experience has been nothing short of “over the top.” We noticed that the wounds healed quickly with no onset of infection or any other related health issues and no significant scarring or hair loss from scarring.