Gun Dog Obedience: The One Lesson That Transformed My Training Approach

Todd Agnew
Aug 2
2 min read

“This is the stuff I wish someone had told me earlier.”

Springer Spaniel walking in the woods with his owner

John & Buddy~ New Jersey

I was so lucky to find Todd Agnew when I did, because what I thought I knew about obedience training. It wasn’t wrong — but it was incomplete. The way Todd teaches it completely shifted my perspective and changed how I train my dogs.

Your Gun Dog Obedience Isn’t Just About Listening —

It’s About Understanding

At first, I thought obedience was just about commands: Sit. Heel. Stay. Come.

Dogs don’t just need direction — they need clarity, and they don’t just need correction — they need consistency.

When there’s no clear expectation, the dog gets confused. When expectations change day to day, the dog checks out, and when obedience is only enforced sometimes, it becomes optional. That was my problem.

I wasn’t showing up the same way every day. I was letting some things slide, then expecting perfection the next time. And the dog? He was just reacting to my inconsistency.

What Changed Everything!

Working with Todd, I learned that obedience is a mindset — not just a skillset.

It’s about:

Creating standards your dog can count on.
Reinforcing those standards every single time.
Rewarding when it's right, and calmly correcting when it’s not.
And understanding that your dog doesn’t just obey you out of fear —
they trust you because you're consistent.

Once I embraced that approach, everything got easier. My dog became more focused, more eager to work with me, and more understanding of what I was asking of him. I became a calmer, more confident handler.

The Takeaway I Wish I Had Known From Day One:

Set the standard. Stick to it. Stay consistent.

If obedience has been your biggest frustration, but before you label your dog “stubborn,” ask yourself: Have you been consistent? Have you shown them clearly what’s expected — and backed it up every time? That’s the secret.