Articles written by Butch Goodwin and published in Retriever Journal.

If you are considering a retriever pup of any breed or if you are planning to train your retriever, you need to read the information in "Retrievers ... From The Inside, Out" before you begin.

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"Retrievers ... From The Inside, Out

Suggested Reading and more information!

Pivoting: One Step to Tight Lines
Teaching your dog to follow your movements is helpful whether you're running trials or hunting from a boat or alongside a pond.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the December 2007 /January 2008

Collar-Wise
....but amateur trainers who saw the success some pros had with the collar thought they needed one to keep up.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the October /November 2007

Remote Drop
I asked the guide why anyone would want to teach a dog to drop when we spend so much time teaching them to hold and deliver to hand
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the August /September 2007 issue.

Is Your Retriever "Green"?
Don’t get me wrong — dogs have emotions and feelings, somewhat more basic perhaps, but similar to humans — and dogs certainly can become jealous.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the August /September 2007 issue.

Is Your Dog Really Ready for Force-Fetch?
....I do, however, want to give you some insight into force-fetching and then leave the decision of whether it’s necessary in your particular case up to you.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the June /July 2007 issue.

A Wing and a Prayer
You try teasing him with the bird and tossing it a short distance across the yard, but no amount of encouragement, force, or expletives can get him to even attempt to pick up the live bird.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the Apr./May 2007 issue.

Tone Training
I am going to update you with a training plan for using the tone to control your dog silently, regardless of the distance or surrounding noise.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the Feb./Mar 2007 issue.

The Northwest's Best Kept Secret
When I moved to Idaho from Colorado, I was familiar with Idaho’s tremendous reputation as a big-game state.... But I wasn’t totally prepared for the outstanding waterfowl hunting that’s available within just a few hours’ driving time, from almost any place around the Northwest.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the Oct./Nov 2006 issue.

Water Carrier Solved.
But, my focus instantly switched from bird hunting to the curious fishing rod carrier... with the faucet on the end, where one of the hunters was filling dog bowls with water!
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the Aug./Sep 2006 issue.

Whoa It's not just for pointing dogs.
For a dog that is going to do any upland hunting at all, it seems like it would be one of the most important commands that he could be taught.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the Jun./July 2006 issue.

Kicking the Cigaring Habit
Cigaring is the tendency of some dogs to insist on carrying bumpers sticking straight out of their mouths - like a cigar - rather than carrying them crosswise, as is normally accepted. It can also be an extremely frustrating habit to break........
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the Apr./May 2006 issue.

Dealing with Decoys
Maybe............you never hunt over decoys and all you do is jumpshoot or pass-shoot, or maybe you only upland hunt - but that's no excuse to not acquaint your dog with both duck and goose decoys on land and in the water.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the Feb./March. 2006 issue.

Meat Dogs
Realistically, what does a true "meat dog" really need to know?
In a few paragraphs, I'll give you some of my thoughts about what meat dogs must know.......
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the Dec. 05 /Jan. 2006 issue.

A Different Slant on Quartering
This is the tried-and-true method for teaching quartering, and it has never failed to work p but I'm going to show you a somewhat different quartering drill and let you decide which works best for you.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the Oct/Nov 2005 issue.

Tough Cookies
Early training is critical. And, regardless of how well-bred a pup is, inadequate early training can override all of his outstanding genetic traits.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the Aug/Sept 2005 issue.

Avoiding Gunshyness
In large measure, gunshyness is a man-made problem ........ that almost always can be avoided.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the Jun/July 2005 issue.

Group Training
First, let me explain exactly what I mean by pack training or group training and why you can often use a dog's innate behavior to your advantage in your day-to-day training.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the April/May 2005 issue.

House Training Puddles and Beyond
I am going to touch on the important basics, and then we're going to talk about some of the house manners that will make life with your new dog a bit more tolerable.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the February/March 2005 issue.

Mutha Goose
"A goose dog, if he is going to be consistently dependable, must always be 'playing offense.' There is no 'playing defense' when dealing with geese - especially crippled Canada geese."
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the December/January 2005 issue.

Anticipating the Three D's
The Three D's result from either a lack of pre-planning and preparation, losing concentration on the task at hand, or simply not recognizing a potentially hazardous situation.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the October/November 2004 issue.

Blinds
This column is about hunting blinds - you know, camouflage, concealment, scootch down so the ducks don't see you sort of thing.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the August/September 2004 issue.

Trust Is a Two-Way Street
A large part of a hunting breed's training, starting from a very young age, is dependent upon trusting a human.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the June/July 2004 issue

Where Did the Fun Go?
dog training - like hunting, field trialing, and hunt testing - is supposed to be fun!
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the April/May 2004 issue

For the Birds
Okay, you better change your way of thinking - just because your dog's last name is "retriever," he is still a bird dog. And half the name "bird dog" is "bird."
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the March/April 2004 issue.

Chukars & Chesapeakes Strange Bedfellows?
Chesapeakes show the same intensity for upland hunting that has long made them legendary in the toughest of water and weather conditions.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the January/February 2004 issue.

Don't Just Treat the "Symptoms" - Cure the "Disease"
.. most trainers only see the obvious "symptoms" of training problems that dogs show. Few trainers ever learn to recognize and cure the underlying "diseases" that actually create training problems.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the November/December 2003 issue.

Muzzling The Problem Barker
Let's think for just a moment about what is at the basis of most barking problems, and then we will move ahead..........
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the Special Traveling Wingshooter Issue 2003 issue.

Coming When Called
Actually, it isn't so much about teaching the pup to deliver to hand as it is about teaching him to not deliver to hand.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the September/October 2003

Sssilent Sssignals
I experimented with teaching one of my dogs a series of hand signals. As it turned out, they worked so well that over the years I have continued to teach them.....
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the July/August. 2003 issue issue.

New Pup?
YOU can help training go more smoothly if you establish yourself as the "leader of the pack."
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in a Special Spring 2003 Puppies issue.

From the Inside, Out
Most are only concerned with what the dog shows them on the outside and never even think about what he is really trying to tell them - from the inside, out.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the May/June. 2003 issue

First Dog? Develop a Game Plan
Those that are "play training" their retrievers usually have no real permanent plan....
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the Mar/Apr. 2003 issue

Steadiness to Flush and Shot
Not just for hunting season - a way of life.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the Jan./Feb. 2003 issue

A Couple of Important Things
Charting your retriever's day-to-day training can provide a broad overview of the progress that you and your dog are making....
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the Nov./Dec.. 2002 issue

Training the Trainer
Any professional trainer will tell you that training the owner is typically more difficult than training the dog.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the Sept./Oct.. 2002 issue

They are Not the Same Dog (it's okay to say it)
trainers with experience working with substantial numbers from both understand that Labs and Chesapeakes are not the same dog. (Did I hear someone say, "Amen".
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the July/Aug.. 2002 issue

Walking Singles
"...many novice trainers become so enamored with teaching running lines and handling that they occasionally overlook teaching necessary marking skills!
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the May/June 2002 issue

"Hunt Dead" Whistle"
The goal in conditioning your dog to respond to a "hunt dead" whistle: helping your retriever get his nose on the ground and find the bird!
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the March/April 2002 issue

A Shot of Steadiness:
Teaching a dog that when a shot is fired he is to sit and remain steady....
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the Jan./Feb. 2002 issue

Boat Work:
River Dogs need be proficient at riding and working from a boat....
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the Nov./Dec. 2001 issue

River Hunting: Sometimes You Gotta Bend Some Rules!
Training a river dog starts with the same basic or fundamental yard work....
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the Sep./Oct. 2001 issue

Teaching Puppies to Swim: With some Tricks for the older dogs too!
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the July/August 2001 issue.

Selecting Your Pup: Use Birds - Use Birds - Take a couple of pigeons when you go to pick your next pup..........
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the Special Spring Issue 2001

Understanding Retriever Pedigrees - Part 1- The ancestry of the animal!
Learn to go beyond the names and titles to understand what the pedigree really shows!
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the January/February 2001 issue.

Hide the Duck
Teach a program where the dog's natural hunting abilities are developed!
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the November/December 2000 issue.

Sight Blinds and Walkouts
Having a dog that will run lines and handle the ups an downs and sidehills.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the September/October 2000 issue.

Developing Handling as an Extension of Force-Fetch - Part II
Training your Retriever lining and casting in order to "handle" well.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the July/August 2000 issue.

I Really Don't Want To Do This
Recognizing and Correcting Escape and Avoidance Responses
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the July/August 1999 issue.

Obedience Training Part - II
Continued Obedience training for your Chesapeake. Un-edited version here.
Edited and Published in The Retriever Journal in the May/Jun. 1999 issue.

Obedience Training - Part I
The Title says it all. Obedience Training for your Chesapeake.
The way the story was written, before being edited
for publishing in The Retriever Journal in the Mar./Apr. 1999 issue.

Books that we suggest for help in training your Chesapeake Retriever:

Many of the above listed books are available from RETRIEVER JOURNAL'S "Book Room" section or by calling 1-800-272-3246 or from their website.

We also suggest that every Chesapeake owner find a copy of;
THE COMPLETE CHESAPEAKE BAY RETRIEVER
by Eloise Cherry.
This book may be hard to find as it has now been replaced by an updated version. Search the used bookstores or try Bibliofind to find a copy. It is our feeling that the updated version falls far short of the original!