Training the Pointing Labrador

Julie Bates discusses recent training updates and the start of formal work with Faith, a young pointing Labrador, including force fetch and pausing upland birds to prevent bad habits. The main topic is preparing for the Triple Crown upland field: conditioning and heat adaptation, fueling to prevent hypoglycemia, thoughtful field strategy (wind, cover, bird placement), and ensuring clean, steady bi...

In this episode Julie Bates walks through a step-by-step method for field collar conditioning to fix common problems like dogs not returning, rolling on birds, or chasing. She emphasizes strong basic obedience first, teaching enforcement pressure properly, and pairing the whistle with collar cues. Once the whistle-collar response is solid, Julie explains how that foundation lets you quickly and sa...

Julie Bates reports from a Northwest Pointing Lab Club seminar where trainers and owners worked through fundamentals: building the human-dog relationship, daily walks, basic obedience (heel, sit, recall), and making training challenging and fun. The episode covers collar conditioning, recalls, de-chase work, marking and water drills, and emphasizes avoiding boredom while developing confident, resp...

Julie Bates summarizes Faith’s training progress at four to five months, focusing on building strong desire for retrieving and pointing rather than relying on corrections. She explains using different bumper colors and terrain to emphasize scent work, problem-solving, and confidence through challenges like water, cover, and islands. The episode highlights developing independent thinking, teamwork,...

Julie Bates discusses her pointing lab's progress and focuses on the often-overlooked upland field: why handlers must prepare dogs for heat and build endurance, not rely on judges to save them. She stresses that the Triple Crown expects four positive bird contacts and encourages trainers to condition dogs and learn efficient field strategies. Practical advice covers heat conditioning, approaching...

Julie Bates returns from a windy Wyoming test and shares a personal training breakthrough with her pointing Labrador puppy, Faith: how a simple phone changed their dynamic and the power of dropping expectations to really watch and connect with the dog. She describes a joyful, attentive walk, improved retrieves, and what she learned about adjusting her approach. Julie also addresses sportsmanship a...

Julie Bates discusses the two essential elements for successful hunt-test and hunting retriever training: a strong, innate passion for retrieving and a clear, consistent connection between handler and dog. She explains how to develop desire, build teamwork from puppyhood, and prevent common problems like mouth-issues and ignoring the handler. Julie emphasizes fair but firm training (demanding, not...

Julie Bates discusses training her pointing Labrador puppy, Faith, focusing on building a strong connection, increasing mental focus, and introducing basic obedience (heel, sit, here) without overtraining. She explains why she avoids balls and sticks, how temporary use of a cord improved recalls, and her strategy for preventing future problems by teaching steadiness, calm retrieves, and progressiv...

Julie Bates emphasizes keeping retriever basics strong—marking, force fetch, the double T and the swim-by—so dogs give full effort and stop 'cheating' on marks or returns. Using recent training examples and her puppy Faith, she explains practical fixes for on-the-line behavior, why retrieved items are the handler's, and how consistent, simple fundamentals lead to better performance in both trainin...

Julie introduces new puppy Faith and shares stories from a three-day hunt test, then focuses on the "whack-a-mole" problem in dog training—where fixing one issue causes others to pop up. She explains that behavior problems are usually connected, urges trainers to look for underlying causes, and recommends consistent, habit-based training rather than quick fixes or pressure-based corrections.

Julie Bates discusses the destructive habit of nagging in dog training and competition, explaining how clear, consistent cues and building trust produce better focus and performance than repeated corrections or shouting. She also previews the upcoming tests and videos, and introduces Faith’s arrival and the start of her training journey, emphasizing simplicity and reliability in every interaction.

Julie Bates outlines practical steps for training a pointing Labrador, starting with early puppy stimulation and the importance of watching foundational videos on her YouTube channel. She covers progressing marks and memory birds, introducing doubles and blinds carefully, and maintaining a balance between upland and water work. Key tips include teaching swim-by fundamentals before water blinds, pr...

In this episode Julie Bates shifts focus from training dogs to training their handlers: how to clear your mind, build consistent muscle memory, and stay fully connected with your dog during training and tests. She covers practical advice—watch your dog, send when they indicate readiness, reward effort, avoid negativity and over-talking, and stick to the methods your dog knows—so you can perform ca...

Julie Bates reviews a group puppy ENS video and highlights practical early training: leash familiarization, live-bird exposure, vaccination considerations, and teaching focus without judgment. She emphasizes observation over quick conclusions, consistency in handler expectations, and building a thoughtful, disciplined dog through gentle, structured learning. YouTube Video https://youtube.com/playl...

Episode 393 with Julie Bates reviews a video of 6-week-old puppies learning scenting, retrieving, crate training and quiet waiting, and explains how early neural and behavioral foundations make later training easier. Julie emphasizes being mentally 'in the dog's head'—responding in real time, timing corrections and cues, and avoiding passive observatory handling. She gives handling examples (water...

Julie Bates reviews a powerful ENS puppy video and shares how early stimulation, clear cues, and consistent handling build the neural pathways that shape focus and teamwork in pointing Labradors. She explains practical steps—teaching recall, heel and sit, managing energy, using rewards wisely, and resting puppies after training—so owners can develop reliable, well‑behaved dogs from the start. http...

Julie Bates breaks down practical, easy-to-follow tips for training young pups. She covers making retrieving fun, fixing noise and recall issues, and teaching travel/crate toilet habits. The episode also previews adorable 4–6 week puppy videos and emphasizes early stimulation to build lasting behaviors.

In this episode Julie Bates breaks down blind retrieves, focusing on the idea that running blinds is a conversation between handler and dog. She explains why trust, clear communication, and mastering the "go" and "stop" are more effective than mechanical, frantic handling. Julie shares practical tips for training young and experienced dogs: avoid over-tweaking at the line, build momentum with long...

In today's late winter episode, I describe exactly what the plans are for the YouTube channel.  It should be open for viewing in the very near future.  It is the story of Faith, from birth to her life of competition and hunting.  How does the early neural stimulation work on performance pups work, what is it and why do it?  It will continue to all the critical early training steps; the walk, early...

An introduction to the latest podcast/YouTube combined project, showcasing from the very beginning the steps of raising a pup, including the early mental stimulation of a tiny pup.  From roughly 8 weeks on you'll get to watch the approach to creating a "good dog", how to adjust what you do to fit the animal, and the importance of the right kind of time and effort into your new family member.  Shou...

In this Groundhog's Day episode, I have a personal note to a few folks, and a list of Spring Tests in the APLA.  We also welcome Texas to the venues holding tests, as they have one planned for 28 February this spring in Inez Texas.  At that event there will be a seminar for any new or interested folks, to learn more about what this is and how to do it right.  More tests this spring than ever - goi...

In this final section of being as prepared as possible for the highest level of dog competition, we talk a lot about marks and blinds.  How do you prepare for the setups you will encounter, the ones you didn't set up?  How do you optimize the chances of passing? There is a little science to this.

How do you get your dog to do very hard things without knowing they were hard?  There is a way to do that.  Listen in.....

In this year's preparation for your Big Game, this episode breaks down ways to prepare for the unexpected in a weekend test or the big one.  How to prepare yourself and your dog for dragback, unexpected sights or sounds, weird setups and other mishaps.  It's all about your basics and your preparation (as always).  Here are some ideas to help you get ready for the unexpected.

Today's January episode is aimed at the serious folks who plan on running their National this year, whether that be the Grand, the Master National or the Triple Crown.  Success at this level is not so much based on how many triples you can run this year; it is more on how much you and your dog are prepared for whatever comes your way, expected or unexpected.  How do you get out of your own way, an...