Fly-n-Gun Kennels, LLC

09/19/2026

Whelping a litter of Llewellin Setter puppies for Hannah Marth. They are four weeks old today, supper cute and love their birds!

09/07/2026

How do you get ready for season when you can’t get to the bird field?

Habit is habit. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the house, the yard, the ballpark, or the field. Preparing for hunting season can start in your daily routine by implementing our 3 CORE BIRD DOG BEHAVIORS (Come to You, Go With You, and Stand Still) in your daily routine.

Here are 6 simple things you can do at home to help get better results in the field this season:

1. WHOA: The most important field command. This is a great thing to practice at home (instead of sit).

2. HERE: The foundation of the retrieve. Work to build an enthusiastic recall and make sure your dog comes all the way to you and stays there (fly-bys don’t count!).

3. RETRIEVE: If your dog chews up stuffed toys at home, he will likely chew on birds. Build good mouth habits at home and reinforce them every day.

4. HEEL: Putting a vest on your dog so he can pull without hurting his throat on daily walks is building the habit of pulling when walking with you. Instead, work on a loose-lead heel or begin teaching your dog to yield to a cue rather than pull against it. This is an ideal time to get your dog listening to subtle cues and build a better line of communication. Developing a solid heel is the onset of going with you in the field.

5. STEADINESS: Steadiness is steadiness. Practicing having your dog STAND still in moments of excitement develops their ability to stand still on point (A moment of really high excitement!).

6. LOAD or JUMP UP AND STAND STILL: Dogs need to be comfortable jumping up on a vet table, loading into crates or dog boxes, and standing still for handling and health checks.

The goal is to have your dog in the routine of doing all of the things you will be asking of him during your hunts. This builds proficiency and confidence.

Learn more about our training philosophies at smithkennels.com.

08/29/2026

08/18/2026

08/05/2026

What makes some bird dogs exceptional?

It’s not just prey drive and it’s not just training. It’s a balance of both.

A dog with strong prey drive has an intense desire to find birds. They’ll follow up weak scent when other dogs can’t, they’ll hunt through difficult conditions and not quit, and they’ll stay focused even when birds are hard to find. At times, they can be so focused on game they’re almost oblivious to everything else (including directions from their handler). This is a bit like a puppy in the field with nothing on his mind except the joy of finding game.

Training gives direction and shapes manners. It opens clear lines of communication that allow us to keep our dogs safer in any environment. Training helps us maintain steadiness and to effectively handle dogs in the field. It teaches manners and develops a mindset that’s receptive to cues. When training greatly outweighs focus on birds you have a well-mannered pet out for a run, not a proficient hunting dog.

The goal is to develop and maintain focus and training throughout the dog’s life. A dog that has been lounging around all summer is not going to be as focused on finding game as they could be, and likely not quickly complying with cues either.

So now that hunting season is drawing near, what’s your plan to prepare your dog for opening day?

For Ronnie and I, it starts with a refresher on the basic cues and obedience, then gradually building to applying those lessons during bird work as we sharpen our dogs’ focus on game. A little preparation can make a big difference during season. Pre-season preparation helps dogs get mentally and physically ready to perform their best throughout the season.

07/09/2026

07/01/2026

Daughter of Ramey’s Elhew Flashpoint
He’s available frozen pedigree in comments.