What will the dogs teach you?

I hope you can come to one of my "Bird Hunting Boot Camp" seminars this summer. They are scheduled for Portland, Ore. on Saturday July 24 and Seattle, Wash. on Saturday August 21. They will be held in the Filson stores from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and there is no admission charge! 

I've taken the lessons learned from over 150 dogs that have appeared on my TV series Wingshooting USA, and doubt you'll find this information anywhere else. From shooting straighter to finding more birds, there is something for everyone from experienced uplanders to newcomers.

To make a reservation, go here (please note how many will attend and which city as well as a follow-up phone number). For more information on the seminar, go here.

Bird Hunting Boot Camp is made possible through funding from Happy Jack animal health products.

From Wingshooting USA: Be a good guest

In someone else's house, even Buddy's on his best behavior. But when you hunt with someone else's dog, everybody's a critic ... or worse. Be a good guest in the field, too. Let the dog's owner tell you what to do, whether it's feeding, doctoring or field etiquette. Ask about shooting wild flushes, or birds over a broken point.

Keep criticism to yourself. If your dog were better, you'd be hunting with him. Same for commands and discipline, which usually fall on deaf furry ears coming from a stranger.

Help a dog retrieve to his owner by turning away if he comes toward you. It eliminates confusion.

You can always offer praise. A scratch behind the ear or a stroke on the back are always welcome after the job is done. Until then, keep your mouth shut and your hands in your pocket.

And finally, don't forget the other obligation of a good guest. A bottle of something old and amber-colored from Scotland for your human host ensures a return invitation.