Aleah Marcoe shares practical training techniques that improve dog performance and hunter satisfaction....
Whether your guests arrive with a seasoned bird dog or a young prospect, quality dog work can have a major impact on their hunting experience. That's why the 2026 Hunting Club Conference will feature a session dedicated to developing better hunting dogs through proven bird-based training methods.
Aleah Marcoe of Backwater Hunting Dogs will present "Dog Training Fundamentals That Ensure Hunter Satisfaction," sharing practical insights into how live gamebirds can be used to build the skills and instincts that create reliable hunting companions.
Drawing from her experience training and competing with upland dogs, Marcoe will explain why bird work serves as the foundation of a finished hunting dog. Attendees will learn how game birds help develop bird drive, pointing instinct, steadiness, retrieval skills and hunting confidence.
"Great hunting experiences often start with great dogs," said Dan Barngrover, chairman of the Hunting Club Conference. "We're excited to welcome Aleah and provide attendees with practical training knowledge they can apply whether they're working with their own dogs or helping clients enjoy a more successful hunt."
The session will cover the advantages of training with live game birds, including pheasants, bobwhite quail and chukar, and how each species can be used to achieve specific training goals. Marcoe will also discuss how to properly introduce young dogs to birds, avoid common training mistakes and recognize when a dog is ready to advance.
For those working with more experienced dogs, the presentation will explore techniques for developing steadiness, honoring, retrieving and bird recovery skills. Attendees will also receive practical guidance on bird management, including housing, transportation and effective bird-planting strategies.
The fifth annual Hunting Club Conference will take place July 20-22, 2026, at the Embassy Suites Omaha Downtown Old Market in Omaha, Nebraska. The event brings together hunting preserve operators, gamebird producers and industry professionals for three days of education, networking and idea sharing.
Registration is $375 and includes all sessions, meals, breaks and hospitality events.
To learn more or register, visit NorthAmericanGamebird.com.
