When I embrace a new hobby or interest I tend to do a lot of reading and gathering of information. One of my favorite ways to get new information on a subject is by searching the internet. My next favorite source for information is magazines. I subscribe to two dog training magazines that I have found to be exceptional sources for information pertaining to me and my dogs. The cool thing about reading magazines is browsing through the advertising gives you a good idea of what’s available. Most good magazines have a careful mixture of enjoyable articles, reader interaction, and classy advertising. These two dog training magazines are great examples of this careful balance.

Gun Dog Magazine as it’s name suggest covers a broad range of subjects and dog breeds. The emphasis is very much on hunting for birds and everything you and your dog need to know to have success and enjoyment while afield. The most recent issue has a special 25 page section featuring the latest dog training products and hunting equipment. My two favorite sections are the “Shotgunner’s Notebook” and the “Bird Hunter’s Diary”. Gun Dog Magazine is a great read whether you own a pointing, flushing or retrieving dog. They do a great job of catering to all the popular gun dogs and breeds.

The Pointing Dog Journal is a bit more refined with an obvious focus on the pointing dog breeds. This is still quite a wide range of dogs, but most things related to training pointing dogs are applicable across all pointing dog breeds. Each issue of the journal sports an amazing piece of artwork for the cover which is a pleasure to look at. The contents of the magazine are equally carefully planned and even artistic. One of my favorite sections is the “Gun Dog Forum” which provides for great reader interaction in a Q & A format. Another hidden gem in this magazine is the “Subscriber Photos” section which are always fun to look at. If you own a pointing dog like I do this magazine is a must-have.

There are other dog training and bird hunting magazines out there, but these two quickly became my favorites and are currently the only two that I subscribe to. If you are interested in subscribing to either one you can get a discount by ordering your subscription online through Magazines.com. For Gun Dog Magazine click here and if you would prefer The Pointing Dog Journal click here.