• Feed in meals, one or two times a day, not using self-feeders. By feeding in meals, there will be no overeating, the food will stay fresher, and you can control the food intake.

• Invest in an above-the-ground feeder or bowl to prevent spills, keep insects out, and make eating and digestion easier. Mini horse feeders and buckets work great for food and water.

• Buy the absolute best dog food you can afford. Bird dogs do best on a diet of at least 30% protein and 20% fat. Nutrition is key, so read the labels.

• Dog foods are not made equally. Read ingredient listings, and avoid dog foods with a filler in the first three ingrediants. Remember, just because there is a big brand name on the bag, it doesn't always mean the food is high-quality. Oftentimes, the highest quality holistic, human-grade dog foods will be from companies of which that the mass public has never heard.

• Do not feed your dog old foods that you would not eat! Dogs can get sick from spoiled foods. Other foods to avoid feeding are (but not limited to) onions, peanuts, grapes, chocolates, pork, spices, COOKED meat bones, COOKED poultry bones, apple cores, and cherries.
  
  
• Have you ever considered feeding a Raw diet, BARF diet, or SARF diet? With a bit of knowledge and background on the owner's parts, these natural diets can be far superior to any commercial food on the market. There is a little controversy about all-natural diets, so please do your research on canine anatomy/function, canine nutrition, specific diets, etc. before switching. There are many articles online and books published on the subject. (Also, with no intention of offending, slandering, or criticizing vets, RLS would like to note that most clinics are sponsored by Hill's Science Diet, so they may not be proponents of this specific subject.)
  
  
• Always have fresh, easily-accessible water, and keep it cool in summer and warm in winter. Hydration is the most important factor in your dog's life.

Supplies and Home:

• Buy an adjustable nylon horse tie-down. It can be used as a leash, tie down, short tie-out, collar/leash combo, etc. for home, traveling, bathing, grooming, hunting, emergencies, etc. They are extremely versatile and durable.

• Keep toys, bowls, buckets, yards, beds, doghouses, and kennels clean! Clean environments reduce the chances for parasitic infestations and other illnesses.

• Buy a waterproof dog blanket. RLS is very glad it invested in custom quality blankets, and the dogs now stay dry and warm on cold, wet days. They are easily worth every penny and more.... Custom-made by Horse Creations.

• Permanent identification could make all the difference if your dog gets lost at home or on hunting trips, vacations,…. RLS uses microchips, but there are also tattoos. Don’t neglect the tags, though, as they are easily read by everyone.

• Get a kiddy pool for your dog in the summer. Change water daily for prevention of mosquitoes, etc.

• Designate an area in your home for your dog, such as a bed or dog crate- he will appreciate a safe haven of his own.

Training, Behavior, and Exercise:

• For typical obedience training, always set your dog up for success and never for failure.

• Be a fair, consistant, calm, dominant leader- that’s what your dog needs and expects. Among many other things, to earn respect human pack leaders rule the doors, gates, and stairs, they provide their dogs' exercise and play time, they give their dog the foods and leave him and the bowl ALONE, they place themselves between any offending dog and their dog and protect their dog, and they correct all unacceptable behavior immediately and calmly.

• Give your dog as much love as you can- AFTER you give him the exercise, leadership, and instruction he deserves.

• Don’t rush your dog’s training. Progress only when the dog is ready to.

• No single training method works for all dogs, so learn about several and create a program that suites your dog.

• Electronic collars should only be used to reinforce or correct commands your dog HAS ALREADY LEARNED. Even if you prefer to do operant conditioning, please only use this for repititious vices that your dog knows he shouldn't be doing or something he can learn that it is more comfortable for him if he is not doing it.

• When you buy an e-collar, purchase one with many levels, and vibrate/shock options, so that you can tailor the level just to your dog's needs. E-collars should typically be at a high enough level to get the dog's attention, not high enough to cause pain.

• For training, use the tried-and-true CHECK CORDS. They are both inexpensive to buy or make and are extremely useful when training for basic commands through hunting commands. Check cords have been used for generations and are still used by top trainers regardless of the availability of electronic training aids. RLS cannot emphasize the usefulness of check cords enough. Please train on a leash and cord before you turn to e-collars, which are too commonly misused.

• Walk or jog with your dog daily, placing the dog at your side or behind you. This activity reduces boredom, creates a leader-follower relationship, and increases exercise and conditioning. Playing and running in the yard is generally not sufficient, especially for working dogs. During walks, do not allow the dog to be in front. Keep the dog’s head even with your legs or behind you by sensible tugs on a leash that is attached at the top/arch of the neck.

• If there is still a problem with the dog walking ahead, he does not see you as a leader. It is often helpful then to use a noose type of lead that will tighten up with slight pressure and release easily when no pressure is being exerted (ie the dog is walking appropriately beside you).

• When training, if you feel yourself getting angry or stressed, ask your dog to do one last command that he will definitely be successful with and end the session. Dogs learn better with frequent short sessions.

• Don’t punish bad behavior such as digging, barking, misplaced chewing… Stop the problem at its source BOREDOM and FRUSTRATION via exercise, Kongs, chew toys, long-lasting treats, activity….

• Don’t use extendable or flex-lead leashes. If the dog is in front, the dog is the leader.

• Don't use choke chains; they can cause irrepairable damage to the throats and muscles of the dog. Instead, read up on the use and sizing of prong type of collars. Used correctly (gentle pressure and NO TUGS) they are a valuable tool for solving leash issues.

• Never tie a dog up with any sort of tightening collar, be it a martingle, choke chain, prong collar, etc. That sounds like common sense, but people do it.

• Keep your dog occupied year round- swim, walk, train, play.

Education and Health:

• Keep your dog up to date with yearly health checks by your vet, wormings, and grooming. Previously, RLS also was dedicated to their vaccination schedule; however, due to some recent readings of articles, studies, and personal accounts of vaccinosis, RLS is re-examining what their protocol for vaccs will be. Please note, that this is a personal choice of RLS, and much more research will be done before it is decided what will and will not be vaccinated for. Please read a extensive articles on the subjects, talk with your vet, and others active in a pet community, before you form a view on vaccinations/vaccinosis and make a huge, important decision that concerns the well-being of your pet.

• Consult your veterinarian or breeder whenever you have a concern about your pet’s health. They are here to help.

• RLS highly recommends the spaying and neutering of all non-breeding quality dogs, regardless of breed, sex, or pedigree. If there is no intention for responsible, planned breeding, there is no need for more pet overpopulation, which is tragically high.

• Always make sure your pet has several options for getting out of the weather, whether it is the heat, cold, or rain.

• Learn what kind of foods, plants, household, and lawn care products are harmful to your pets.

• Education never ends! Keep doing all you can to learn about your dog- (s)he is your RESPONSIBILITY.

• Not sure about something? If you need assistance researching, please ask RLS for help. It is always beneficial for the Rocks to continue their studying of the different aspects of dogs, so they’d be glad to give you a hand.
  

Recommended Links:

Supplies:

Jeffers Pet Supply
Lion Country Supply
Drs. Foster & Smith
Valley Vet Supply
Kong Company
Care-A-Lot Pet Supply
Petsmart
Gun Dog Supply
SmartPak
Horse Creations
Weatherbeeta
Dover Saddlery
Nutro Products, Inc.
DT Systems
Cabela's

Training and Hunting:

Lion Country Supply
American Field
Our Llewellins
Field Setters
Gun Dog Doc
Gun Dog Magazine
Gun Dog Forum
The Llewellin Setter Page
HwH Productions
Versatile Dogs
BirdDogsForever.com: The most complete listing of kennels that raise bird hunting dogs and the most complete listing of places to go hunting with them.
Leerburg Kennels and Training

Breed and Pet Health Information:

The Llewellin Setter Page
North American Llewellin Breeders Association, Inc.
Llewellin Setters Online
National Llewellin Gun Dog Club
Petplace
Drs. Foster & Smith
Petsmart
Gun Dog Doc
Gun Dog Magazine
Merck Veterinary Manual
MyVetOnline
PuppySites
SportsmansRxOnline.com: Your online source for low-priced, US prescription medications.
Leerburg Kennels and Training
Gun Dog Breeders