Old Dogs and New Tricks... a Gun Dog Tradition in Virginia

Twenty plus years is a long time for a tradition this day and age. A group of fathers and sons have been going to a rustic cabin in Keysville Virginia for long enough for boys to become men. My old man originally planned the trip for not much more than an excuse for fathers and sons to get away from the house, get outside, and spend time together. Turns out, the annual trip has withstood the test of time for the same reasons. From teaching us proper firearm etiquette to how to train your own bird dog, this crew is there for ya.

The rustic cabin I mentioned is a family owned and operated hunting preserve known as FFF Kennels Hunting Preserve. You'll immediately feel the love of the outdoors when you walk into the cabin's entryway. It thrives with the long lasting memories of its guests displayed through the collage of polaroid photos plastered to the walls and decor representing FFF's respect for the land and the history. The cabin, with its large dining hall and fireplace, has stood the test of time but the owners Bill and Brenda Hall, are the glue that keeps it all together. Bill has now left us but he was the lifeblood and star of the show. We all miss him and he will continue to live on through all the stories. Brenda keeps the doors open and the tradition alive and well. She brings the real bird dog prowess which I attempt to soak up when we are together. Luckily for us, she has recruited a star group of family members to keep the wheels turning. One example is that we can always count on a delicious meal from Brenda's son David Shores with Roundman's BBQ catering.

One of my first rolls of film back in 2020. Huck was just a boy still learning proper steady to flush technique.

After all these years away, Huck and I finally got the chance to solo guide these Old Timers for a change. For something so non-trivial after hunting wild birds across the west and guiding other unknown groups of hunters, this years preserve hunt that guarantees success, seemed monumental! For so many years they were the ones guiding me. Not to mention they cut their teeth in the upland world on real wild quail hunts; something I haven't got the experience to do in my home state. Regardless, it felt sensational to give a little back and have ol' Huckleberry show them what he's got. They were pleasantly surprised.

The 2025 Crew

I grew up around bird dogs, read several books while training Huck, and even spent some time within a dog training organizations but somehow there's always some tricks to learn from these Old Timers. For example...have any of you had a bird dog with a vice for jaws? Its a common concern for bird hunters and of course there are several ways to cure it. This may sound like voodoo magic, but if you blow in your bird dog's ear they'll drop the bird immediately. Honest. Try it for yourself.

My favorite book on upland dog training is Gun Dog by Richard A. Wolters. The pictures are black and white so you are sure to find some old school tricks like the example above. Some other high level tips I'd give to new bird dog owners are;

1.) Just like many things in life you'll always get back what you put into it. The moral to that story is the more time you spend with your four-legged companion the better the bird dog you can expect in return. More than the technical training, you'll build a stronger bond between you and your hunting partner. In a perfect world, this will correlate to them working harder for you in the field but most likely expecting love regardless. I put this tip above any high powered ($$$) genetics any day of the week.

2.) Personally I'm a fan of training collars. It can be a polarizing debate in the dog owner community but it works for Huck and I. Once trained, I rarely have to do more than the vibrate or tone and it just ensures me that I have control over him in the field. There's not a quicker way to ruin a hunt than when your dog is hunting the next county over and you have no way of getting him back to hunting on your terms.

3.) Train to your expectations. If you want a field dog that is capable of having a successful hunt or if you want a field trial work horse, you'll have to change training tactics. Huck is no field trail dog but he is driven when put into a hunting scenario, which is all I wanted. I have to admit, it would be nice if he was able to take blind casting commands but I fell short on the training. A simple throw of a stick to get his attention on where the downed bird is seems to do the trick for us. More training equals more time or in most cases professional help.

For the rest of your dog training needs, I've always found Gun Dog Supply a great source of gear with timely shipping and helpful customer support.

the gang and their companions

In our busy lives and with me now living across the country it's tough to make time to continue family traditions. Which makes times like these all the more important.

If you want to see more photos of trips like this, please check out the Good Dogs collection on my home page. Thanks for reading. Cheers.