Pointing to October: Bird Dog Boot Camp

Each spring, thousands of first-time bird dog owners pick up new pups, with sights set on a lifetime of memories afield. Enter Pheasants Forever’s inaugural Bird Dog Boot Camp presented by Purina® Pro Plan® and SportDOG® Brand, a digital content series chronicling a new dog owner and her pup, from the early steps in the training process through opening day of pheasant hunting season.

Pheasants Forever’s Rachel Hoveland is the nonprofit organization’s data analyst and an avid sporting shot, upland hunter and waterfowler. She and her husband, Matt, are the proud owners of “Luke,” a Duetsch Drahthaar pup. Having just turned 5-months-old, “Luke” has all the makings of a great bird dog. The Bird Dog Boot Camp will start off with a thorough introduction of Rachel and Luke before delving into a summer and early fall of feature blog posts, photos and how-to videos including:
 
  • Identifying a breed that best suits you
  • Picking out the perfect puppy
  • 6-month training plan outline
  • E-collar introduction
  • Tools of the bird dog trade
  • Nutrition & hydration
  • Travel training
  • Tailgate checks
  • And more!
“I’m excited for Luke’s first season,” said Hoveland, “It’s a little nerve wracking training a bird dog for the first time, so this Bird Dog Boot Camp will help us and other owners through the process.” The pair will take to the pheasant field for the first time on Saturday, October 14th, the Minnesota pheasant hunting opener.

Both Purina Pro Plan and SportDOG, national sponsors of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s wildlife conservation mission, see bird dog ownership as an essential avenue to creating an active upland conservation constituency. Nearly seven out of 10 of the organization’s members own at least one dog.

As a corporate partner and the official dog food of Pheasants Forever, Purina Pro Plan fuels thousands of sporting dogs as they take to the field each fall. “Helping provide the critical nutrition Luke needs, especially as a growing puppy, fits in with our passion for helping sporting dogs achieve their full potential,” said Karl Gunzer, senior manager for Nestle Purina PetCare’s Professional Engagement Team.

About Pheasants Forever

Pheasants Forever, including its quail conservation division, Quail Forever, is the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 149,000 members and 700 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Chapters are empowered to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds are spent; the only national conservation organization that operates through this truly grassroots structure. Since creation in 1982, Pheasants Forever has spent $708 million on 517,000 habitat projects benefiting 15.8 million acres nationwide.

Media Contact
Jared Wiklund
(651) 209-4953
jwiklund@pheasantsforever.org