Retriever Training
Starting age 6 months · Foundation ~4 months · Complete ~7–8 months
Built for waterfowl hunters who want a dog they can trust on land and water.
We will cross-train for upland work when the breed and the owner’s goals allow it.
Foundation — about a Junior Hunter level dog: bird and gun introduction, kenneling, sit, here, heel, place, down, whistle, e-collar, force fetch, hunt command, swim work, steady to shot, decoys, and single marks.
Complete — about a Senior Hunter level dog. Adds double marks, blinds, handling on land and water, and multiple retrieves. This is the program we recommend if the budget allows you to leave the dog for the full duration.
Pointing Dog Training
Starting age 6 months · Basic ~2 months · Foundation ~4 months
Built for upland hunters who want a dog that hunts, points, and is
under control when a bird goes up. We work in real cover and shoot
birds over the dog — not just yard whoa.
Basic gun dog — two months. Kennel, here, and whoa,
plus a proper bird and gun introduction. We get the dog hunting and
pointing, then shoot birds over it in mixed terrain. We don’t clean
up the retrieve on this program — the dog keeps whatever natural
retrieve it has. You leave with a dog you can take hunting, with the
basic control to do it.
Foundation — four months. This is the finished
family gun dog: full obedience for the house (sit, heel, down, place,
whistle), whoa, e-collar, hunting and pointing, and real shooting
over the dog. We also force fetch so the retrieve is to hand, not
whatever the dog felt like that day. If you want one dog that lives
in the house and works in the field, this is the one.
Additional work — honor / backing, and steady to
wing, shot, and fall. Those run month to month after the foundation
is on.
Obedience
8 weeks · Boarding included
Obedience is the foundation of every dog we train. This program is for hunters
who want a solid house dog, and for families who need reliable off-leash control.
- Kennel, sit, here, heel, down, place
- Leave it and off
- Leash foundation, then e-collar for off-leash work
At pickup you receive a command list, video of your dog, and 1–2 hours of hands-on
handling. After-care lasts for the life of the dog.
Shed / Antler Training
Nose work in real cover
For hunters who want a dog that can find sheds with the same drive and
manners we expect in the bird field.
Optional
Add-ons while they’re here
These sit on top of whatever program you choose. Check them on the
registration form if you want them.
Conditioned Athlete — $250 / month
An extra 20–30 minutes of running, three days a week. For dogs
that need more exercise and something to do with their brain
besides the training day.
Tracking — $275 one time
Eight extra sessions on wild-running birds. If you hunt birds
that don’t sit tight, this gives the dog a real jump on following
a track.
Trainer-watched play — $250 / month
Two days a week, 20–30 minutes, with a couple of buddies and a
trainer in the mix. Extra free time — without it turning into a
free-for-all. Good for the social butterflies.
Looking for a dog that’s already been through the program? See
Started Dogs. We don’t have one available
right now.
What’s included: training and boarding. A $100 deposit reserves a spot and applies to the first month. Pay online.
Food: bring one large bag per month, or use our Purina Pro Plan Sport 30/20 feeding program for $75 / month.
Live birds (upland): plan on about $450 for the birds we shoot over your dog in training. Dead-bird work with pheasants, ducks, and chukar is included.
Add-ons: conditioning, tracking, and trainer-watched play are optional — details above.
