Curriculums

Because  dogs are unique individuals, their temperaments, strengths and weaknesses, and drives come heavily into play during the course of any training program. Therefore the length and goals of any training regimen can be somewhat variable. The program descriptions below represent our typical goals and schedules, but we retain the ability to customize as necessary in order to bring out the best in each dog we train. The training durations below are based on our board-and-train program. Private coaching can take longer and is priced differently.

 

Our board-and-train programs are very intensive and fast. They are built around three main principles:

 

  1. Positive training tends to be fast. Because dogs readily buy into and thoroughly enjoy the notion of working for a positive outcome, they usually learn most gun dog skills very quickly.
  2. We train with intensity. We only take on a few gun dogs at a time, nurture a strong desire to train, and train them multiple times per day. We find this much more efficient than the 4-6 month, high-volume board-and-train programs common in the gun dog industry.
  3. We build you into the equation. Reliable performance mandates that you have an appropriate relationship with your dog, as well as a good understanding of how to handle your dog. We make sure you are prepared to work your dog by building mandatory private coaching sessions into our board-and-train programs.
  4. We keep pricing competitive. Our programs tend to be shorter than traditional board-and-train programs. However, because the dogs train many times per day with multiple trainers, the programs also are much more intensive. When the smoke settles, our program pricing ends up being approximately equivalent to traditional programs for the finished product.

 

Started Upland Gun Dog Program

 

Requirements: Dog must be 6 months or older and be current on all shots.

 

Program Description: In this program, your dog will be exposed to guns and birds, learn to locate and track game, and learn to point or flush birds (depending on the breed). Your dog’s obedience will be fully developed in this program, and he will begin learning to retrieve birds and bumpers. Your dog also will learn the whistle recall and begin learning to quarter and hunt with purpose. When you get your dog back, we will teach you to maintain and continue  refining your dog’s new skills. When this program is completed, your dog will be ready for his first real hunt.

 

Duration: Your dog gets an Intensive 6-week Board-and-Train. Afterwards, you receive two private coaching sessions at our training locations.

 

Price: Fill out our enrollment form for pricing and avialability.

 

Finished Upland Gun Dog Program

 

Requirements: This program requires completion of our Started Upland Gun Dog Program or an evaluation to verify that your dog meets the performance standards for the elements of that program.

 

Program Description: In this program, your dog will learn directional hand-commands, whistle-stop, multiple and blind retrieves, steadiness to wing, shot and fall, honoring and other advanced skills. Your dog’s retrieve to hand, quartering and some other elements of the Started Upland Program are completed in this program.

 

Duration: Your dog gets an Intensive 6-week Board-and-Train. Afterwards, you receive two private coaching sessions at our training locations.

 

Price: Fill out our enrollment form for pricing and avialability.

 

Drive Development

 

Requirements: This program is offered at our discretion to: 1) Puppies 4-6 months of age who we feel may need a head head start on their drive development; 2) Dogs who do not pass our formal evaluation process, and who we feel that — with a little remedial work — will have a good chance of being developed into a gun dog.

 

Program Description: This program includes a number of training protocols for developing prey drive, retrieving drive, noise (i.e. gun) desensitization and counter-conditioning, improvement of the dog’s level of bidable-ness, etc.

 

Duration: Your dog gets an Intensive 2-Week Board-and-Train. Afterwards, you receive one private coaching sessions at our training locations.

 

Price: Fill out our enrollment form for pricing and avialability.

 

Positive Trained Retrieve Program (Forced Fetch Alternative)

 

Requirements: Dog must be at least 6 months old and be current on all shots.

 

Program Description:  This program is offered for anyone who needs just retrieve training for their dog. A dog finishing this program will be able to reliably retrieve bumpers and birds in a highly structured, controlled way. Our Positive Trained Retrieve Program is a dog-friendly alternative to “forced fetch” training. For more information on forced fetching and the trained retrieve, click here.

 

Note: The trained retrieve is covered partially in the Started Upland Gun Dog Program and completed in the Finished Upland Gun Dog Program for Pointers and Retrievers. So if you do both of those programs, your dog will automatically receive this training.

 

Duration: Your dog gets an Intensive 1-Month Board-and-Train. Afterwards, you receive two private coaching sessions at our training locations.

 

Price: Fill out our enrollment form for pricing and avialability.

 

Advanced Waterfowl Program

Our apologies. This program is not currently being offered.

Requirements: Dog must have completed the Started Upland Gun Dog Program and/or the Finished Upland Gun Dog Program and be current on all shots. This program is not offered during winter months.

 

Program Description: This program focuses on turning your dog into a great waterfowl hunting companion. Dogs are taught to be steady in the blind amidst gunfire and numerous other distractions, and they learn to perform water retrieves only when specifically released to do so.

 

Dogs in this program go through confidence- and complexity-building drills that enable them to relentlessly search unassisted for crippled ducks in harsh cover on and around the water.

 

Additionally, they learn to track and recover crippled ducks on the far shore of a pond and mark and retrieve multiple fallen ducks on the water.

 

Duration: Your dog gets an Intensive 1-1/2 Month Board-and-Train. Afterwards, you receive two private coaching sessions at our training locations.

 

Price: Fill out our enrollment form for pricing and avialability.