AZ Pointing Dog

AZ Pointing Dog runs a hands-on bird dog training program focused on building control, confidence, and hunting readiness in pointing dogs. Located in Chino Valley, AZ, they work directly with owners and their dogs through a structured two-phase training system that prioritizes foundation work before field application.

The Core Philosophy: Control First

Mark and the team at AZ Pointing Dog emphasize one core principle: if you don't have control of your dog, everything becomes harder. They've built their entire program around this reality. Whether it's a young pup or an older dog picking up bad habits, the goal is the same—establish reliable command response before moving to bird work.

Phase 1 covers the basics that separate a responsive dog from a liability in the field. This phase teaches:

• •Verbal and nonverbal command response including WHOA, LEAVE IT, and proper release timing
• •E-collar introduction for consistent control at distance
• •Stationary work correcting unnecessary movement when your dog should be standing still
• •Early bird recognition in controlled settings before field work
• •Honoring and backing (respecting other dogs on point)

"Building trust, confidence and independent control—that's what separates a foundation that holds up during hunting."

The outcome: a dog that understands commands, won't break position without permission, and has the mental foundation to advance to real bird work.

Phase 2 takes control to the field. Training happens in realistic conditions—tall grasses, upland terrain, variable cover—so your dog builds confidence finding and holding birds in actual hunting scenarios. By the end of Phase 2, your pointing dog will:

• •Stop and stand automatically on bird scent or sight
• •Remain steady through flush, wing, shot, and fall
• •Respond to boundary setting during hunts
• •Honor other dogs' points
• •Accept corrections without shutting down mentally

Critically, they emphasize doing this right from the start. That first experience hunting wild birds is a make-or-break moment. Rushing through it or cutting corners creates problems that take years to fix.

AZ Pointing Dog doesn't just train dogs—they train handlers. The mentoring component focuses on what actually takes to own and run a pointing dog effectively:

• •Kennel training (house, truck, camp)
• •Recall exercises and timing
• •Natural retrieve development
• •Practical field decision-making
• •Reading your dog's success zones and rewarding appropriately

Advice is free. They answer questions to help you make the right calls for your bird dog, not to push you toward more paid training.

Chino Valley, Arizona — high desert quail country with year-round hunting opportunity. Contact Mark directly at 602-541-6271 (call or text).

They operate on decades of experience owning, training, and hunting pointing dogs. The blog posts and educational content show a real understanding of common failure points: confusion (the #1 problem), handler inconsistency, mixing too many training "hands," and rushing the foundation phase. They're not here to sell you on flashy results—they're here to build dogs that work reliably when it matters.