A comprehensive guide to conditioning, agility and scent work to keep your dog ready for the fall woods by John Warren INTRODUCTION Ask any passionate upland hunter and they’ll tell you ruffed grouse hunting is often as much a game of reflexes and strategy as raw stamina. These elusive birds favor dense cover – think alder runs, young aspen stands and thorny tangles – where they can disappear in a heartbeat. Your dog must be agile enough to pivot around fallen logs, tough enough to push through brambles and sharp enough to detect faint bird scent swirling amid thick undergrowth. But how do you...
