Before the Hunt
Ok, I'll be the first to admit that a little training will help things run smoother once you drop the tailgate or open the kennel door and unleash the dog(s). Your training should be in the field and in the backyard, and on a regular basis. Training should be as realistic as possible and that's where dummies shine. No matter what you want your dog to fetch or find, Cabela's has near-life-like goose, mallard, pheasant, wood duck and other durable dummies to help with the training. To increase the realism during practice sessions, consider adding pheasant and quail wings along with scents.

If you want the more standard training dummies, you'll find more than a dozen styles and colors at www.cabelas.com or in a Cabela's catalog. If your dog seems to be tireless and your arm tired from tossing dummies well before your dog is ready to call it quits, then consider obtaining a Retrieve-R-Trainer. A .22 blank launches the dummy for you.

To reinforce the sound of a gunshot followed by action, I bought a box of .22 short blanks at Cabela's and use these often when I'm tossing the Dokken Deadfowl trainer. You can purchase a lightweight blank pistol to aid with this practice. Another noise producer, a whistle, can also help with getting any dog's attention.

Training and working with a new pup or field-proven dog is one of the best parts of hunting-and a part that some hunters shy away from. Instead of letting someone else train your dog and then train you to follow their method and use their commands, try it yourself. You'll find many excellent videos and DVDs, like the ones based on the Richard A. Wolters' method. I have found these very useful and informative.

To help you stay better organized while hunting and training, consider wearing a Cabela's upland hunting vest. There's a pocket for everything, including a bottle of scent and a leash. You'll also have room for a dog first aid kit and shotshells in holders, and a place to put the pheasant when you are successful.

On the Hunt
Pheasant hunting in the Midwest can sometimes best be described as a trip through an obstacle course while you hold a shotgun. Many farms here are strewn with old fences and rusty strands of barbed wire with sharp prongs still intact. I'm not complaining because most of the old fencerows are overgrown and have become prime pheasant habitat.

On several occasions I've seen a hard-charging dog that was muscling its way through deep grass suddenly be stopped and captured by a fence. Luckily, the dog's Cabela's Ripstop Chest and Body Protector vest protected her. This vest has many straps to ensure a more custom fit while preventing slipping and chaffing. This stylish vest is available in blaze orange so keeping track of any hard working dog-and making it visible to other hunters-is a breeze.

For water dogs, there are also three styles of Cabela's neoprene camouflage vests. In addition to standard neoprene, another vest has chest protection, and the other vest model has flotation assist inserts inside the neoprene. These vests are offered in many camouflage colors and blaze orange. Near freezing water and cold rain will quickly take their toll on any dog, so a vest is one the best investments you can make when outfitting your dog.

One last item of dog clothing that is often overlooked-footwear. Don't laugh, these things work. As cockle burs and other thorns spread to more fields, these boots help protect a dog's feet from crippling punctures. They also work to keep snow and ice from cutting and grating a dog's tender feet pads. Cabela's offers four styles of dog boots. With a little work your dog can step out in style.

Life on the Road
Hunting requires travel, and whether you are going across town, across the state or across North America, you need to provide a place for your hunting dog to safely rest. Kennels that fold and that are easy to clean are starting points for on the go dog housing. If you'll place this in the back of truck, consider purchasing a kennel cover. The less energy your dog expends trying to keep warm, the more it has to offer in the field. To ensure a well-rested dog, a soft bed is a must. You should also consider cover your hunting dog with a blanket when it rests.

If your dog lives the more pampered life and likes to ride inside a vehicle's enclosed cargo area or up in the cab, you might need a system to keep your dog safely confined in the rear section. I have had good results with the Dog Barrier that's available from Cabela's. The system is quiet and works to keep 70-pound wanna-be lap dogs in the rear so you can concentrate on safely driving. Additionally, hunting dogs require food storage systems, leashes, check cords and watering systems for life on the road. To make travel easier, try using a medium duffel bag to hold dog food and the many supplies when you're rolling down the road to the next hunting destination. Of course you'll want to save some room in your dog duffel to toss in a few treats for the trip. Hey, everyone wants to be rewarded for a job well done when hunting and training.

Home Is Where The Start Is
Let's face it; even the best hunting dogs spend the majority of their lives at home. Some live in the home and others live in kennels. Some dogs get a taste of both. Keeping your dog safe and secure at home prevents accidents with autos and prevents someone from stealing your most prized hunting possession. All outdoor kennels should be outfitted with a sunscreen overhead, locked door and automatic watering system. You should also consider adding kennel decking that's easy to wash and disinfect, and to keep your dog's feet out of the mud. Any large metal frame kennel should also staked down to keep anyone from lifting it and removing your hunting dog.

Electric Systems: Yay Or Nay
Mention electronic dog training collars in many circles and you'll see that favorable nods outnumber the naysayers. There are dozens of electronic training aids available and you'll want to do your research before purchasing one. You'll have to decide on the effective range you need and what bells and whistles you want with your system. For example, among the dozen models offered by Tritonics, the Upland model has a beeper to tell you where your dog is in case it is standing silently on point. The bonus of these training aids are that they help you control your dog, know its location and stop it from possibly chasing deer or other game into the next state. You also will need to read the manual and follow the directions to achieve the best results. I've seen other hunters use these to break problem dogs from barking, straying into other yards and jumping up on visitors when the dog is at home.

And for added peace of mind, consider a pet containment system or electronic outdoors pet fence. You can bury a cable underground and it'll not interfere with your landscaping, but it will keep your pet in the area that you designate once the collar is in place. Do-it-yourself kits offer the advantage of you knowing about the installation and fine details should you need service, plus you can avoid any monthly or yearly maintenance fees.

Remember that if your dog is properly outfitted, the dog and you should be ready to hunt any species.