Tina Dokken
Pro Staff
Although Tina is originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin and a die-hard Packer fan, she decided to attend Kansas University where she completed a business degree and played on the woman’s golf team. After graduation, she spent 13 years in corporate sales and also coached basketball and golf. Through her coaching experiences she realized a passion for teaching, so she decided to leave the corporate world to become a middle school math teacher.
Sixteen years ago, she was introduced to the sport of hunting after meeting her husband at Game Fair, a hunting-shooting trade show in Anoka, Minnesota. Tina’s husband lined her up with a shooting instructor and made sure she had a proper fitting gun and hunting gear. In addition, he also trained her dogs to hunt. Watching her dogs work birds is what motivates Tina to keep on hunting. It is her love for her dogs and the joy she gets from watching them retrieve that keeps her searching for more hunting opportunities. She now spends her summers training her dogs with her husband Tom, a world-renowned dog trainer. In addition to waterfowl and upland birds, Tina bow hunts for deer and turkey.
Tina used her husband’s cut-down shotguns, so she was excited and very honored when Franchi invited her to join their pro-staff to participate in the introduction of the first gun ever made for women- the Catalyst line. The enjoyment she has for hunting and her dogs is what inspires her to continue to encourage girls and women to get involved in the sport.
DOG TOWN
Tips and tactics for your favorite hunting breeds
By Tina Dokken
The Hunt Starts Here
Training your hunting dog begins the moment you bring your puppy home from the breeder.
At shows and events, my husband and I are often asked about dog training—not just by attendees, but by friends and family too. As a teacher and lifelong learner, I’ve always appreciated the power of visual learning. That’s why I started recording our puppy training sessions, whether with our own dogs or with friends’ pups during their early development. I’d frequently share those videos with people looking for guidance, often alongside a recommendation for my husband’s book, Tom Dokken’s Retriever Training, which includes clear step-by-step photos.
But I wanted to take things further—to help people not just read the book, but see it in action. That idea became the foundation for my YouTube series, Tina Dokken Unleashed. It follows the training journey of our chocolate Lab, Gabby, who joined our family in September 2021, along with my veteran hunting dogs, Sassy and Lucy. The series walks through the real-life steps of raising a gun dog, giving viewers an up-close look at what it takes.
hile I’m not a professional trainer by trade, I’ve spent more than two decades working alongside my husband and training our own hunting dogs. My goal is to share that experience and help others build a strong foundation with their own gun dogs—starting with choosing the right puppy.
The first step is identifying the kind of hunting you’ll be doing, which will help narrow down the best breed for your needs. Hunting dog trainers can be great resources during this stage, as they often work with a wide range of breeds and temperaments.
Once you’ve settled on a breed, the next question is whether to get a male or female. Both make wonderful household companions. In our experience, males may mature a bit slower, but that’s not always the case—plenty learn just as quickly as females. It’s worth noting that females come into heat a couple of times a year, which may influence your decision depending on your lifestyle. Either way, gender doesn’t dictate hunting ability.
After that, it’s all about the breeder. Are they reputable? Do they stand behind their puppies with health guarantees? We require certifications for hips, eyes, elbows, and EIC (Exercise-Induced Collapse), a genetic condition that can cause collapse after intense exercise. Make sure to ask the breeder how they handle health issues if they arise. And before bringing your puppy home, find a veterinarian—ideally one familiar with sporting dogs—so you're ready from day one.
When you purchase a puppy from us, we provide these guarantees and remain available for questions throughout the early training stages. We want to help you do things right the first time—because it’s always harder to fix problems after they’ve developed. A well-prepared puppy enters formal training socialized, confident, and ready to learn.
The breeder will also help match the right puppy to your family based on personality. With a good pedigree, temperament differences are usually subtle, but that hands-on guidance is still invaluable.
Pedigree itself is key. It’s a window into a dog’s natural ability and trainability. Look for titles like FC (Field Champion), AFC (Amateur Field Champion), MH (Master Hunter), and SH (Senior Hunter) within the first three generations. These are signs of strong genetics and a higher likelihood of success in the field.
As your puppy’s arrival approaches, you’ll want to gather the right gear: a 6-foot leash (both puppy and adult sizes), a check cord, nylon collar, choke chain, whistle, training platform, crate, and eventually a remote collar. And skip the squeaky toys—especially if your dog is being trained to retrieve. You don’t want them getting in the habit of squeezing down on birds.
I still remember how excited I was to pick up Gabby from the breeder. It had been 10 years since I brought home a new pup, so I re-read my husband’s book to brush up before diving in. That feeling of anticipation never gets old—and it’s where every great hunting partnership begins.
And finally—don’t forget to enjoy your puppy. Let them become part of your daily life, your household, and your adventures. The training is important, but so is the bond you build along the way. In the end, a great hunting dog isn’t just a working partner—it’s a loyal companion and a beloved member of the family.