Hunting-dog owners can be a peculiar breed — I know that because I am one myself. I raise, hunt and field trial field-bred Irish Setters and am well aware of all the gear necessary to keep, train and hunt with man’s best friend.

The thing about people like me who are obsessed with dogs is that many hunting retailers might not realize we tend to spend more money on our hobby than we should — just ask my wife. This means shops that carry the right hunting-dog equipment can turn it into a profit center if they stock the things that hunting-dog owners truly want.

Keep in mind that several excellent online outlets for hunting-dog gear make it challenging for brick-and-mortar stores to compete. However, it is achievable if you follow one of the most crucial rules of retail: Understand your customers and their needs.

Before you dismiss this topic as unimportant, you may find it interesting that there are approximately 7 million hunting dogs in the United States. Additionally, dog hunters are among the most dedicated hunters out there. It’s unwise for retailers to simply overlook this category.

Let’s examine some hunting-dog gear you might think about selling to boost your profits. Although most items are aimed at bird dogs, hunters with flushers, retrievers and various types of hounds also make use of many of the same products. To keep things simple, we’ll categorize this into high-ticket items costing $100 or more and more everyday purchases at lower price points.

Big-Ticket Items

E-collars, also known as training collars, were once considered cruel, and indeed, when misused, they could be. However, they are now widely accepted for training hunting dogs. A good e-collar is durable, features user-friendly controls and offers a wide range of stimulation levels. Manufacturers like Garmin, SportDog, Dogtra, DT Systems and ECollar Technologies produce quality training collars across various price points. It’s beneficial to keep several brands and models available to provide customers with options. Additionally, some e-collars come with GPS tracking capabilities.

Many hunting-dog owners won’t turn any dog loose anywhere without a tracking collar securely in place, and I’m one of them. A couple of years ago, I was about to let two 6-month-old pups run in the field, and to save time, I decided to let them loose with a couple of older dogs that had tracking collars. At the last minute, I put one of the older dogs away and placed his collar on Zip, just to be safe. You guessed it: After five minutes, Zip was nowhere to be found, even though I had seen him just 70 yards away seconds earlier. When I pulled out the tracker, it showed he was still 70 yards away in the spot where I last saw him. I arrived to find that he had fallen into an old well and was dog-paddling to keep afloat. If I leaned over far enough to reach him, I risked falling in headfirst and losing my own life. I finally managed to fashion a loop from my horse’s rein and got it over his head and one leg, allowing me to pull him out. But I learned a valuable lesson. Tracking collars utilize GPS technology to track dogs in the field, showing their location on a handheld receiver. Garmin produces some of the best, and some even double as training collars, too.

Both bird-dog trainers and retriever trainers can greatly benefit from remote launchers, which are devices designed to securely hold a pigeon, quail or pheasant in place and then send the bird into the air with the push of a button. These devices are incredibly useful because they give the trainer nearly complete control over a training scenario, rather than relying on a pen-raised bird that might act unpredictably and create issues. Dogtra and DT Systems are the two primary manufacturers of remote launchers, and both produce high-quality products. They also offer one size for pigeons and quail, as well as a larger launcher for bigger birds like chukars and pheasants.

For trainers of retrieving dogs, dummy launchers play a valuable role in their training toolkit and represent another potential product to include in your inventory. These tools enable dog owners to launch retrieving dummies over long distances without excessive effort. They’re extremely useful for those looking to practice a large number of retrieves during a single training session.

Travel crates are essential gear since most hunting isn’t done from home. While cheaper crates may attract some customers, serious hunting-dog owners usually prefer higher-quality one-piece plastic crates for their durability against wear and tear on both the inside and outside. Two top-quality brands that I really like are Ruff Land Kennels and Gunner Kennels. Although both are quite pricey, they will last a lifetime. 

Another helpful item for training all types of hunting dogs is a quality blank pistol. These are offered by several manufacturers, ranging from very cheap (and I mean cheap, not inexpensive) to quite high in price and quality. I started with an inexpensive blank pistol, but it soon fell apart while working bird dogs in the field. My next upgrade broke in the same way, as did the one after that. Eventually, I adopted a buy-once, cry-once approach and invested in a top-quality blank pistol that cost me nearly as much as a real pistol would have. However, I’ve never regretted it. Be sure to carry a premium model like the Charter Arms 209 Primer Pistol for those customers who have had similar experiences and want to avoid ongoing pistol failures in the future.

Smaller Price Tag Items

Unlike the previously mentioned gear, these products are significantly less expensive. Many of them are also somewhat perishable, which means customers will need to return for more a few years later.

Good quality dog collars are essential for all types of hunting dogs, whether for training, everyday use or hunting. There’s no need to carry flimsy, sparkly puppy collars since real hunting dogs require a sturdy collar. While it doesn’t have to be leather, it should be durable enough to attach a leash or check cord and allow for easy control of the dog. Some dog owners prefer collars with O-rings, while others favor those with D-rings. A smart choice is to stock a few collars with both O-rings and D-rings to cater to discerning customers. The option to add a customized name tag is a bonus!

Leashes are essential for all types of hunting dogs. Some dog owners prefer more affordable woven leashes, while others like to indulge in fancier leather leashes. In either case, high-quality hardware is a key selling point.

A check cord is simply a long (20- to 30-foot) leash designed to be stiffer than a typical leash. It is often used in bird-dog training for yard work, teaching the “whoa” command and for steadiness training. High-quality hardware is a key factor that makes a check cord more effective. Some dog owners prefer an orange check cord because it’s easier to spot if it gets dropped or set down during training.

A good-quality whistle is a hunting dog owner’s second best friend, and since they are easy to misplace, many hunters keep two or three on hand. The “silent” whistles aren’t very popular with hunters; metal or hard plastic whistles with a hard ball inside are preferred. Acme Whistles offers a nice selection of whistles for gundog owners. Hunters will quickly lose their whistles if they don’t have a good lanyard to keep it around their neck or hang from their rear-view mirror. Ask me how I know.

Retrieving bumpers are not only for retriever trainers; many bird-dog owners also focus on retrieving skills with their dogs. Most are made of simple plastic and feature a rope or other attachments for easy throwing by hand.

Some hunting-dog trainers use pinch collars during training. Although they are sometimes viewed as inhumane, when used properly, these collars serve as valuable training tools. The best ones are made of leather, feature flat metal teeth and have an attachment at the end for connecting the check cord.

Hunters often use hunting-dog vests to keep their dogs safe in heavy cover or warm in extremely cold conditions. These protective vests shield a dog’s chest and underside from thorns, stickers and other sharp objects encountered in the field. They are typically thick, rugged and highly durable. Mud River offers some excellent protective vests. Vests designed to keep dogs warm in cold weather or while hunting in frigid water are generally made of neoprene, with most featuring a zipper and hook-and-loop fastener straps for an optimal fit. Many waterfowl hunters utilize these, especially in the northern regions of the country. Since these vests need to fit snugly, it’s essential to carry a variety of sizes to ensure you have what you need to outfit your hunting dog customers. Avery produces quality neoprene dog vests.

Lastly, hunting-dog owners often utilize instructional books and training videos. After you’ve trained a dog or two, you discover how much you don’t know, along with what you do know. Since there are various types of hunting dogs used for different purposes, to meet readers’ needs, you’ll need books on training pointing dogs, flushing dogs, retrievers, hounds and so on. The same applies to videos. Provide videos that hunters believe will help in training their dogs for hunting, and you’re likely to see good sales.

As I mentioned earlier, those 7 million hunting dogs in the country all have owners who have cash to spend on their favorite pastimes. Considering catering to those hunting-dog owners can be a good idea for those who haven’t yet tapped into that category.