Gun Dog TV Season 7 Episode 1 Have Some Faith

In this season seven premiere episode of Gun Dog TV, titled "Have Some Faith," host Joe Flanagan takes viewers on a journey through the rugged terrain of Scotland as he trains a pair of English Springer Spaniels and a Labrador Retriever for the start of the shooting season.

The episode begins with Flanagan introducing viewers to the two Springer Spaniels, Faith and Hope, who are just six months old. This is their first season working as gun dogs, and they have a lot to learn before they'll be ready to head out into the field. Flanagan is excited to work with the young dogs and teach them the skills they'll need to become valuable members of a hunting team.

Flanagan starts by introducing the puppies to a simulated hunting scenario. He sets up a series of pheasant wings in a field and encourages the puppies to follow their natural instincts and start hunting. The puppies have a lot of energy and are eager to explore, but they don't quite grasp the concept of hunting yet. Flanagan guides them, showing them how to use their noses to track scents and how to flush birds out of hiding places. The training is slow-going, but Flanagan is patient and persistent, and eventually the puppies start to understand what they're supposed to be doing.

Next, Flanagan introduces viewers to the Labrador Retriever he'll be working with, a three-year-old named Talisker. Unlike the Springer Spaniels, Talisker is already an experienced gun dog, and Flanagan is hoping to teach him some new tricks and push him to his limits.

Flanagan and Talisker head out into the Scottish countryside for a day of intense training. They start by working on retrieving skills - a crucial component of any good gun dog's training. Flanagan throws a dummy into a nearby pond and commands Talisker to retrieve it. Talisker is a skilled swimmer and easily retrieves the dummy, but Flanagan challenges him by throwing the dummy farther and farther into the water. Talisker never gives up, even when the retrieve seems impossible, and his tenacity impresses Flanagan.

As the day goes on, Flanagan and Talisker work on more advanced skills like stopping on a whistle and hunting in difficult terrain. Flanagan is pleased with how Talisker is progressing, but he knows that there's always room for improvement.

Throughout the episode, viewers get a sense of the intense bond that develops between gun dogs and their handlers. Flanagan clearly loves working with his four-legged companions and is deeply invested in their success. He takes the time to get to know each dog's personality and tailor his training methods to their individual needs. The dogs, in turn, respond eagerly to Flanagan's commands and seem to trust him implicitly.

Overall, "Have Some Faith" is an engaging and informative episode of Gun Dog TV. Viewers get an up-close look at the rigorous training process that goes into turning a puppy into a skilled gun dog, as well as the rewards that come with a job well done. Flanagan's love for his dogs is infectious, and viewers will come away with a new appreciation for the hard work that goes into training a gun dog.