Our mission is to create and enhance resources for the physical and mental well-being of bird dogs and facilitate a more rewarding experience for bird dog owners.
Why was the Bird Dog Society created?
The different sporting dog breeds that make up most “bird dogs” are all high energy and athletic dogs that come with unique ownership requirements. Many of these breeds like the Labrador retriever, golden retriever, and German shorthaired pointer are amongst the most popular breeds in the United States. Additionally, there are roughly 30 more breeds of bird dogs beyond these “Big 3” and many dogs that are unregistered or of breeds not recognized by the AKC. This large population of bird dogs creates a significant need for an organization like the Bird Dog Society that has a mission focused on providing outreach, creating new resources, and enhancing existing resources for their well-being.
There are many non-profit organizations that focus on rehoming abandoned or surrendered bird dogs as they can be a challenge to acclimate in situations that do not allow for proper exercise or where their genetic prey drive manifest as unacceptable behavior. There however are no non-profit organizations that focus on helping the dogs and owners coexist and create tight bonds that facilitate a functional home and a fulfilling experience for both.
The energy demands, prey drive, size, and intelligence of bird dogs can be a challenge to manage, particularly for first time owners. There is a significant need for an organization that focuses on education and outreach for the well-being of these dogs through the development and enhancement of public resources, facilities, lands, and programs. There are many dog owners that struggle to properly exercise, train, and utilize their dog’s natural abilities because there are not clear resources to seek out public lands to train and exercise large athletic dogs.
The BDS works to help both new and experienced bird dog owners provide safe, meaningful, and engaging opportunities for their dogs. The BDS cannot address the full need for charitable adoption groups dedicated to rehoming bird dogs. However, through our mission, if owners can be plugged into a supportive community of bird dog owners and provided resources to understand and better manage their dog’s care, one would expect that fewer bird dogs would be surrendered for adoption annually.
Our programs
Education
Knowledge is power, and the Bird Dog Society wants to empower bird dog owners to handle various challenges throughout their bird dog’s life. We will be offering educational webinars, presentations, articles, and special workshops provided by industry leaders to give you the resources needed to help guide you through bird dog ownership. Topics for this program will include, but is not limited to, canine health, obedience training, hunting training, hunting activities, non-hunting related activities, and bird dog ownership. Many of these resources will be free to the public, but members will get first opportunity on events in which space is limited.
Go to our Events page to RSVP for these educational opportunities.
Outreach
They say it takes a village to raise a kid and raising a bird dog is certainly easier with a supportive community. The Bird Dog Society wants to help you get plugged into a community of bird dog lovers and foster an unbreakable bound with your dog alongside other like-minded dog owners. We plan to establish a mentorship program, organize special dog-friendly events, social events, and a member directory to connect with people in your area for training, hunting, exercise, and adventures with your dogs.
Also, by joining a local chapter you can have an impact on local bird dog owners and help create a better world for bird dogs in your area. No chapter in your area? Consider creating a chapter. Go to the Events page to see what activities we have planned and get connected!
Public Resources
Public land and facilities can be a major part of keeping your bird dog trained, physically fit, and mentally stimulated. The Bird Dog Society is working to create new resources and working with state agencies to enhance and improve existing lands and facilities. Current projects being planned focus on repairing and building public use duck blinds, improving field trial grounds and facilities, and access to public hunting lands. Working with state agencies, we will be removing and repairing barbed wire fences, filling in abandoned wells, removing old farm implements or structures, and resolving other safety concerns that can injure or harm our furry friends.
The long-term goal for the Bird Dog Society is to also have lands and facilities owned and operated by the organization in key geographic areas for bird dog activities.