If this is your first step into the world of hunting retrievers…WELCOME! We are happy to have you join us. Stepping into something new can be overwhelming and sometimes a little intimidating. We want this to be as much fun as possible for both you and your dog. To get you started, we’ll answer some common questions:
How do I know if my dog can even do this? Some dogs take to retrieving right away, some need a little encouragement. We’ll be glad to work with your dog and help you start them off on the right paw. We can tell you what to work on at home in your own training.
Do I have to be a hunter? Absolutely not. We have members who are avid hunters and members who have never hunted. We train our dogs to be good hunting companions, but hunting is optional.
I don’t have a Labrador or a Golden…can I still train? Of course! At a recent day we had plenty of labs and goldens..along with Flat-Coated Retrievers, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Curly Coated Retrievers, Boykin Spaniels, Standard Poodles and even Miniature Poodles. If you are willing to learn and your dog is willing to work we are happy to have you.
I don’t have access to a lot of land (or water) how do I train at home? Many of us don’t. The fundamentals of retrieving can be taught in your back yard, a local park, soccer field. etc. In fact many drills are best done at home first where distances are short and distractions are few.
There is so much to learn. Where do I start? Watch other dogs and handlers. Ask questions. Start with the basics. Building a great retriever is about a solid foundation. We can recommend excellent resources to help you train at home and progress. Come watch a hunt test – or even better – volunteer to help.
I am not a member – how do I come to teaching day? You are welcome to come as a guest to see if this is for you. You will need to sign the Waiver on the 2019-MembersipApplication and bring it with you. We have some helpful suggestions if this is your first time with us.