A strong foundation is the best platform in the development of a well-mannered bird dog. Young dogs must first show a desire for the bird and, with proper introduction, accept the gun before moving through basic and advanced yard and field training. Because every dog responds or learns at a different pace, we use benchmarks instead of time frames to advance the dog through the program.
We evaluate your dog when it arrives at our facility and draft an individual program to maximize its potential. During the training process, our staff encourages you to make frequent visits. This ensures that you can monitor your dog’s progress and assists you in maintaining discipline when he returns home. Please contact us at 423-290-5631 for any specific questions about our training programs and methods.
Training Philosophy
Three to Four (3-4) Months
Our comprehensive puppy development program that takes advantage of a young puppies imprinting stage. The program includes human and canine socialization, introduction to birds and gunfire, and time to just be a puppy.
Four to Six (4-6) Months
Your pup returns home for continued socialization and indoctrination to the environment and lifestyle it will live within. During this time you will develop the pups desire to hunt and introduce him to the rules of your pack.
Six to Eight (6-8) Months
Handling and Boldness Training. In this developmental program, the focus is on handling and boldness. The young dog will be allowed to quest and find birds, as well as learn to go with you in the field. Although given plenty of time to just be a puppy in the field, the dogs enrolled will begin introductory yard and obedience training as well.
Six to Ten (6-10) Months
Nothing is better to develop a young dog than wild birds. If you only do one thing for your young dog, give him a lot of time to run on wild birds. Our wild bird camp held in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan will give your dog the chance to fill his nostrils with both grouse and woodcock scent.
Fourteen to Twenty-Four (14-24) Months
During this time period you need to hunt your dog. Wild birds are preferred, but liberated birds are better than none. Ask us about our four week wild bird programs held on the bird rich prairies of South Dakota hone your young dogs bird finding skills and prepare him for his final stage of training- finishing.
Twenty-Four to Thirty-Six (24-36) Months
Finishing, Force Fetching- if necessary, and then enjoying a bragging rights hunting dog.
Latest News
January 2011
During the late Spring of 2010,
we bred our guide dog Bella ( a daughter of Grid Iron) to Smarty Smith, one of the top setters in the country. Now at roughly seven months, we feel this is one of the most bird-savvy litters of English Setters we have ever raised. Bird crazy, the pups are pointing birds, and love the gun. Handling and going with us in the field, the pups are now beginning basic yard work and being introduced to the inside environment of the home. We feel these pups will make excellent companion-hunters that will set the field on fire and have perfect manners in the lodge or house at the end of the day. If you are looking for that one special dog, please call us for more information.
