THE NATIONAL HUNTING DOG ASSOCIATION
2001 NATIONAL CHAMPION: A POINTING LABRADOR???

Out of 250 dogs at the 2001 National Hunting Dog Association championships, guess which dog was the overall national champion? Hmmm…let's see…the goal was to find pheasants in a field, lock up on point (for pointing dogs), flush the birds in the air (for flushing breeds, like Labrador and golden retrievers), and retrieve the shot birds to hand. So who won it? An English pointer? An English setter? A Brittany spaniel? A German shorthair?

Nope. None of the above. It was a pointing Labrador owned and handled by amateur handler Rex Eaves of Bailey, Colorado, and trained by Paul and Julie Knutson, authors of the groundbreaking new book, "The Pointing Labrador." "Harley", a two-year-old black Labrador, not only won the pointer retriever division, but also the overall national amateur championship for all hunting dogs in the amateur class. Dogs were judged on finding birds, pointing, retrieving, and overall handling abilities.

Well, that's just a fluke, right? Pointing Labs are just a passing fancy, right? If so, then explain why another pointing Labrador trained by the Knutsons, a two-year-old yellow Lab named Jacks the Duke, won the same title last year. "Jacks", as he is known, won the pointing retriever division and then beat out all pointing dogs to win the Amateur Pointing National Championship in 2000.

As hard-working professional dog trainers who regularly compete on the field trial and hunt test circuit, Paul and Julie Knutson have designed the foremost program for training pointing Labradors. Of the 24 dogs who have achieved the status of Grand Master Pointing Retriever, the Knutsons have guided 13 of those Grand Masters and 15 Masters to the winner's circle. "The Pointing Labrador" is the Knutsons' guide to making it happen.

In 272 pages, the Knutsons take the reader from the beginning to the end result, a finished Lab that will point game birds and retrieve downed birds to hand, whether upland game or waterfowl. The book covers selecting a good puppy from the right litter; how you tell if your pup will point naturally; developing the puppy's skills and attitude as a retriever and upland hunter; developing retrieving and marking; introducing the puppy to water; basic fieldwork and developing the pointing instinct; introducing basic obedience; developing the staunch point; and much more.

Photographed and edited by award-winning author and photographer Gary Hubbell, "The Pointing Labrador" is filled with 65 clear, sharp photographs of the Knutsons demonstrating their training techniques. In addition, the reader will be thrilled by 16 pages of gorgeous color photos of pointing Labradors at work.

"THE POINTING LABRADOR" IS SOLD OUT OF ITS SECOND PRESS RUN.

THE IDEAL GUN DOG: THE POINTING LABRADOR

THE PERFECT RETRIEVER is a highly trainable, biddable dog capable of marking falls at long distances and taking casts from a handler to retrieve waterfowl in icy rivers and lakes. THE PERFECT POINTER is a dog that locks up in a classic staunch point, showing the gunner where upland birds are holding unseen in heavy cover.

"THE POINTING LABRADOR" is the best of both worlds. The sporting public is becoming passionate about pointing Labradors as an all-around bird dog. The pointing Lab is just as capable of sitting patiently in a duck blind until called upon to retrieve ducks and geese as he is comfortable coursing through upland fields, locating and pointing pheasants, quail, and grouse for his beaming handler.

As hard-working professional dog trainers who regularly compete on the field trial and hunt test circuit, Paul and Julie Knutson have designed the foremost program for training pointing Labradors. Of the 24 dogs who have achieved the status of Grand Master Pointing Retriever, the Knutsons have guided 13 of those Grand Masters and 15 Masters to the winner's circle. "The Pointing Labrador" is the Knutsons' guide to making it happen.

In approximately 248 pages, the Knutsons take the reader from the beginning to the end result, a finished Lab that will point game birds and retrieve downed birds to hand, whether upland game or waterfowl. The book covers:

• Selecting a good puppy from the right litter
  How you tell if your pup will point naturally
  Developing the puppy's skills and attitude as a retriever and upland hunter
  Developing retrieving and marking
  Introducing the puppy to water
  Basic fieldwork and developing the pointing instinct
  Introducing basic obedience
  Developing the staunch point
  Whistle training
  Teaching the force fetch
  The pros and cons of using the electric collar
  Putting it all together in the field or the blind - the stylish, enthusiastic hunter
  Some thoughts and techniques for being the best trainer you can be
  

"The Pointing Labrador" is full of common-sense, worthwhile information, such as how dogs really perceive learning and honoring their natural instincts, how to keep a great attitude in dogs so they are open to continually learning more, which drills and routines are productive and which are not, and some basic philosophies about training dogs that will make sense to any hunting dog enthusiast.

Photographed and edited by award-winning author and photographer Gary Hubbell, "The Pointing Labrador" is filled with 65 clear, sharp photographs of the Knutsons demonstrating their training techniques. In addition, the reader will be thrilled by 16 pages of gorgeous color photos of pointing Labradors at work.