With the warm weather here to stay, it's time to get out in the field and hit the training hard . Quality training is the foundation of any successful gun dog. Sure, it may be taxing, but we know the reward is worth it.
Whether they're pups training for their first hunt, or seasoned veterans brushing up on their retrieving skills, gun dogs need to stay sharp year round .
To give you some extra motivation to get out there, we've rounded up 15 awesome training photos submitted throughout the year by readers .
Hailey, Labrador Retriever Hailey, our 6 1/2-month-old labrador. We'd been working on water retrieves and practicing "hold." Grew up with labs, but Hailey is my first attempt at training a duck dog. We're both complete novices.
— Alicia Curtin Max, Labrador Retriever This is Max a 11-month-old English chocolate labrador, retrieving his training dummy from the mucky waters.
— Angela Freedline Doc, German Shorthair Pointer A hard days' work deserves some time to relax. Charles Hughes' 6-month-old German shorthair pointer, Doc, knows this all too well.
Gery, Chesapeake Bay Retriever Is there a better feeling than when all the hard work comes together and they make the first retrieve? Dariusz Skowronek's 4-month-old, Chesapeake Bay retriever, Gery, is a budding star.
Gunner, Labrador Retriever Gunner, my 5-month-old yellow lab, training for the waterfowl season.
— Devin Kral Moxie, German Shorthair Pointer The versatile German shorthair pointer is a great breed for the field and the marsh. Eric Boughner's 1-year-old Moxie practiced getting her feet wet for the first time.
Bruce, Labrador Retriever Erik Moore's 15-month-old Labrador retriever was born ready for the field.
Moose & Roxie, Labrador Retrievers These two great dogs are owned by a friend. Moose is a 2-year-old black lab and Roxy is a 2-year-old chocolate lab. Here they are racing to whatever you throw into the water. They would not quit! I have yet to see a dog that can leap as far as Moose.
— Faron Young Louie, Brittany Louie, a 2-year-old Brittany, taking a break from working with his dead fowl pheasant.
— Garrett Baker Foxy Roxy and Leni Sue, Hungarian Vizsla Foxy Roxy and Leni Sue are enjoying a little time training at the lake. They are both Hungarian Vizsla's, Roxy is 4 and Leni is 2. They are "true" sisters and enjoy everything from hunting to cuddle time.
— Heidi Werda Sir Frederick, American Cocker Spaniel Sir Frederick, an American Cocker Spaniel, training for duck season.
— John Looney Baron, German Shorthair Pointer My 12-week-old Baron GSP playing in the sun with his new favorite toy.
— John McCue Having a little fun at the pond. This is our favorite time on hot days.
— Kristy Roggie Charlie and Maggie, English Springer Spaniels Two puppies are always better than one. Charlie and Maggie, our English Springers, at 4-months-old practicing their retrieve together.
— Mark Trosino Bailey, American Cocker Spaniel and Chase, Irish Red Setter This is my 5-year-old American cocker spaniel Bailey, teaching my 4-year-old Irish red and white setter, Chase, that size doesn't matter when it comes to retrieving birds. This was a daily training session in retrieving where she was showing him up.
— Michael Tripp
