dogs with jobs | The Filson Journal

black and white portrait of a black lab sitting

DOGS WITH JOBS: Labrador Retrievers

Blessed with a perpetual grin and soft floppy ears, Labrador Retrievers have been the most popular breed of dogs in America since 1991. A virtual Swiss Army knife of a dog, this sporting breed can do almost anything.

3 Min

Field Notes

Beginner’s Guide to Upland Hunting in Washington

Upland bird hunting is wonderful way to get some great exercise and interact with the outdoors at a high level. A common picture that comes to our minds about bird hunting is sitting in a duck blind with a thermos of coffee and a propane heater while waiting for birds to come to you. While duck hunting from a blind is a popular activity and can be very fun, it is much different than upland bird hunting.

10 Min

Profiles

Avalanche Dog Noses: Your Best Chance of Survival

Up in the mountains, avalanches are part of the territory. If you’re lucky, you might only see or hear one. But on the off chance you get caught, there’s little even the most experienced can do to escape. Bright gear, and a beacon, shovel and probe are key to survival.

5 Min

a snowy dark landscape of the Utah mountains with patches of trees and a storm rolls in

Field Notes

Remarkable Skills of an Avalanche Rescue Dog

When it comes to mountain life, avalanches are part of the territory. If you’re lucky, you might only see or hear one. But on the off chance you get caught, there’s little even the most experienced mountaineer can do to escape. Bright gear, a beacon, shovel and probe are key to survival, but when disaster strikes, nothing beats four furry legs and a wet nose. Trained since puppies, avalanche rescue dogs have unique talents that are unmatched by humans or human science – covering as much ground in thirty minutes as twenty humans could in four hours.

3 Min

a brown, tan and white border collie sitting next to a black and white on the back of a 4-wheeler parked along a blurry tree line

Profiles

Dogs with Jobs: Sheepdogs in Rural Scotland

Sheep dogs are commonplace in rural Scotland, with many shepherds owning more than one. The use of such dogs in Scotland dates back to the 19th century, but even today they still play a crucial role in gathering and herding sheep across the hills and are very much engrained in everyday rural life.

5 Min

Profiles

Mossy Oak Gamekeeper Kennels

Words are wasted on trying to describe the relationship between bird dog and owner. From the euphoria of lifting a mallard out of your retriever’s trained mouth for the first time, to the grief that comes with their inevitable passing years later, the journey must be experienced to be known. The first few years of

5 Min

blue heeler dog sits on snowy tree stump in pine forest

Profiles

Dogs with Jobs: UW’s ‘Conservation Canines’ Wildlife Program

In the freshly snow-blanketed Pack Forest of Eatonville, Washington, we spent the day with the team at Conservation Canines exploring the facility they call “home base.” The dogs at Conservation Canines are not your typical pets, with their intense drive to play often misunderstood as stubbornness. The biologists at Conservation Canines harness this energy by

karelian bear dog and master stand in front of yellow seaplane in lake

Profiles

Trade Stories: Soledad, Wildlife Service Dog

Soledad is a 6-year-old Karelian Bear Dog working as a Wildlife Service Dog for the Wind River Bear Institute. Born in Florence, MT, she was the only puppy born of her litter earning her the name “Soledad”, meaning “Solitude” in Spanish. Soledad began shepherding grizzly bears at 11 months of age and she has since worked successfully with all three species of North American bear; polar, brown, and black.

How-To's

Feeding Your Working Dogs with George Hickox

For over two decades, George Hickox has shown all levels of owners how to train great bird dogs. More often than not, the secret to successful days in the field start with top tier nutrition and a consistent feeding program. Find out how to feed your working dogs the right way to ensure many happy

DOGS WITH JOBS: Labrador Retrievers

Beginner’s Guide to Upland Hunting in Washington

Avalanche Dog Noses: Your Best Chance of Survival

Remarkable Skills of an Avalanche Rescue Dog

Dogs with Jobs: Sheepdogs in Rural Scotland

Mossy Oak Gamekeeper Kennels

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Dogs with Jobs: UW’s ‘Conservation Canines’ Wildlife Program

Trade Stories: Soledad, Wildlife Service Dog

Feeding Your Working Dogs with George Hickox