Working Man's Retriever hunt

Pro dog trainer Dan Hosford of Medical Lake and cameraman Mickey Hough of Spokane put in a long day of waterfowl hunting and dog training in mid-January 2012 along the Lower Coeur d'Alene River to film an episode for the Working Man's Retriever. The TV series is set to debut in April on The Sportsman Channel. Steve Croston of Pinehurst, Idaho, facilitated the hunt with his airboat while providing the two stars of the show -- a pair of yellow Labs named Riley and Gunner. Tom Pipkin of Kellogg also joined the hunt in which Hosford took breaks to film training tips. The show features dogs that are not yet perfectly trained so their mistakes can be filmed. Then Hosford steps in with the dog and the owner to show the techniques the trainer uses to correct the mistakes.

Section:Gallery

Fri., Jan. 20, 2012

Two yellow Labs -- Riley at left and Gunner -- wait aboard the air boat in the pre-dawn darkness while hunters set out decoys near the lower Coeur d'Alene River for a waterfowl hunt and the filming of an episode of the Working Man's Retriever TV series, featuring Dan Hosford, professional dog trainer from Medical Lake, Wash.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Videographer Mickey Hough of Spokane surveys the spread of decoys from his photo blind during the filming of an episode of the Working Man's Retriever TV series, featuring Dan Hosford, professional dog trainer from Medical Lake, Wash.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Hunters wait for their decoys to lure in flocks of ducks and geese along the lower Coeur d'Alene River.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Gunner, a yellow Lab, and pro-dog trainer Dan Hosford get into position in their blinds during filming of an episode of the Working Man's Retriever TV series.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Dan Hosford, pro dog trainer, calls to Canada geese that are circling his blind during filming of the Working Man's Retriever TV series.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Dan Hosford, a professional dog trainer, prepares to shoot as a flock of Canada geese sets wings over his decoys during filming of the Working Man's Retriever TV series.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Dan Hosford springs up to shoot at a flock of Canada geese over his decoys along the lower Coeur d'Alene River during filming of the Working Man's Retriever TV series.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Gunner, a yellow Lab, springs into action to retrieve the first geese dropped by North Idaho waterfowl hunters during filming of an episode of the Working Man's Retriever TV series, featuring Dan Hosford, professional dog trainer from Medical Lake, Wash.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Gunner, a yellow Lab, chases down a wounded Canada honker during filming of the Working Man's Retriever TV series, featuring Dan Hosford, professional dog trainer from Medical Lake, Wash.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Gunner, a yellow Lab, retrieves one of numerous geese taken by North Idaho hunters during filming of the Working Man's Retriever TV series, featuring Dan Hosford, professional dog trainer from Medical Lake, Wash.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Tom Pipkin drops his call and readies his shotgun for Canada geese locking their wings over his decoys while Gunner, a yellow Lab, keeps his eyes on the birds and prepares to launch a retrieve during filming of the Working Man's Retriever TV series, featuring Dan Hosford, professional dog trainer from Medical Lake, Wash.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Steve Croston and Tom Pipkin burst out of their blind to shoot at Canada geese during filming of the Working Man's Retriever TV series, featuring Dan Hosford, professional dog trainer from Medical Lake, Wash.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Tom Pipkin waits in the blind while Steve Croston sends his Lab, Gunner, on multiple retrieves for geese that fell on an icy mud flat during filming of the Working Man's Retriever TV series, featuring Dan Hosford, professional dog trainer from Medical Lake, Wash.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Tom Pipkin spots geese downed by hunters as Gunner, a yellow Lab, makes multiple retrieves on big honkers during filming of the Working Man's Retriever TV series, featuring Dan Hosford, professional dog trainer from Medical Lake, Wash.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Cameraman Mickey Hough spots geese in the distance from his photo blind during filming of the Working Man's Retriever TV series, featuring Dan Hosford, professional dog trainer from Medical Lake, Wash.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Dan Hosford, Steve Croston and Tom Pipkin rise from their blinds to shoot at circling geese during filming of the Working Man's Retriever TV series, featuring Dan Hosford, professional dog trainer from Medical Lake, Wash.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review
Three geese fall to the water after a volley of shots from waterfowl hunters during filming of the Working Man's Retriever TV series, featuring Dan Hosford, professional dog trainer from Medical Lake, Wash.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Riley, a yellow Lab pup, makes its first retrieve on a Canada goose during filming of the Working Man's Retriever TV series, featuring Dan Hosford, professional dog trainer from Medical Lake, Wash.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Camerman Mickey Hough captures the moment as Riley makes a first retrieve on a Canada goose during filming of the Working Man's Retriever TV series, featuring Dan Hosford, professional dog trainer from Medical Lake, Wash.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Steve Croston works with his two yellow Labs in a training break from waterfowl hunting during filming of the Working Man's Retriever TV series, featuring Dan Hosford, professional dog trainer from Medical Lake, Wash.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Dan Hosford works with Gunner, a yellow Lab, in a waterfowl hunt training break during filming of the Working Man's Retriever TV series, featuring Dan Hosford, professional dog trainer from Medical Lake, Wash.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Pro trainer Dan Hosford throws a mallard to reinforce a training lesson with Gunner during filming of the Working Man's Retriever TV series.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Pro dog trainer Dan Hosford sends a yellow Lab to fetch a duck in a training break during filming of the Working Man's Retriever TV series.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Gunner, a yellow Lab, relaxes after a job well done retrieving ducks and heavy honkers during filming of the Working Man's Retriever TV series, featuring Dan Hosford, professional dog trainer from Medical Lake, Wash.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Dan Hosford, left, and Mickey Hough pack decoys after a long day of filming an episode of the Working Man's Retriever TV series.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Dan Hosford, Steve Croston, Mickey Hough and Tom Pipkin survey their harvest at Croston's air boat after a day of waterfowling along the lower Coeur d'Alene during filming of the Working Man's Retriever TV series.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Gunner, a yellow Lab, does his job and lets his owner, Steve Croston, know he's ready for more retrieves during filming of the Working Man's Retriever TV series, featuring Dan Hosford, professional dog trainer from Medical Lake, Wash.

Kathy Plonka The Spokesman-Review
Steve Croston tells his yellow Lab, Gunner, to kennel up in the air boat after a successful duck and goose hunt along the lower Coeur d'Alene River during filming of the Working Man's Retriever TV series, featuring Dan Hosford, professional dog trainer from Medical Lake, Wash.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
Steve Croston hauls his waterfowling gear out of the lower Coeur d'Alene River area after a successful hunt during filming of the Working Man's Retriever TV series, featuring Dan Hosford, professional dog trainer from Medical Lake, Wash.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review