The most popular choice of service that we offer is the Gun Dog Training. This program is a four to five month program. In today's busy world, most owners do not have the time that is required to properly train their retriever. Best Retrievers offers a variety of in-kennel training programs whereby we board, feed, and train your dog to the desired level of performance you seek for your hunting companion. **DOGS ARE REQUIRED TO BE 6 MONTHS OLD OR OLDER TO START THE GUNDOG PROGRAM**
- The beginning program is designed to provide the owner with a retriever that is obedient, steady to shot, and reliably retrieves and delivers the birds to hand under a variety of hunting scenarios. We begin during the first month with a thorough obedience program that teaches your dog five commands: Sit, Down, Heel, Here, and Place. We train your retriever on a leash and then transition to off-leash obedience on an electronic collar. Basic Obedience is the foundation of a good retriever and a high priority is placed on this stage of training. We also introduce and expose your dog to birds (ducks and pigeons), gunfire, and swimming; and encourage the desire to retrieve with lots of fun bumpers. This process takes approximately one month, but can vary from dog to dog.
- Next, we teach your retriever how to properly hold, fetch, and drop bumpers and birds on command. This process is important because it teaches the dog how to heel and deliver the birds to hand, and avoid problems such as playing, eating, or mouthing the birds. This process takes approximately one month, but can vary from dog to dog. There are 55 steps in this phase.
- During the third month, we take the training that your dog has learned in the first two months and apply it to a basic retrieve in the field. We show your retriever how to retrieve on command and be steady until sent, how to hunt and find birds in cover, and how to reliably return your birds to hand. We apply this to both land and water. This process takes approximately one month, but can vary from dog to dog.
- Once your dog understands the process of a basic retrieve, then we begin to introduce him or her to a variety of hunting scenarios. From dove hunting from a bucket over a stock pond, to duck hunting in a blind over a big spread of decoys, to goose hunting a field of Texas rags in lay-down blinds, we expose your retriever to every hunting scenario imaginable. Our goal in this stage is to try and familiarize your retriever with as many different set-ups as possible so that he or she can be comfortable in any setting that you might choose to hunt your dog in. This process takes approximately one month, but can vary from dog to dog. The Basic Gundog Program is also designed so that your dog is prepared to run the basic level hunt test program for both AKC (Junior) and HRC (Started).
A new program starts on or around the 1st of every month and spots are limited. Please schedule in advance to reserve a spot for your dog and we collect a $200 nonrefundable deposit.