Molly, less than a year old, is always happy to have New York Outdoor News columnist Steve Piatt back home after a hunting or fishing – or sport show – excursion. (Photo by Steve Piatt) ...

If you get lazy, your dog could end up with the same name as every other Lab at the hunt test. Inspiration for a hunting dog name can come from anywhere, but the best ones follow a few simple rules.

But I had missed the entire thing. Instead of shooting, I had been crouched at the doorway to the big wooden blind, one eye on the hunters inside and the other on my Lab, Hatchet, in the dog box. We ...