Education

There are few things more frustrating than a dog that won’t listen. If your dog doesn’t come when you call him, or if she runs around you and plays keep away, you know what I am talking about. And the madder you get, the more the frustration grows, the harder it is to get your […]

YOU want to do WHAT? I imagine this is the response many people get when they suggest to their significant other or family members that they want to send the dog away for training. For some people it is simply inconceivable. The idea of sending their dog away for weeks and months at a time […]

Occasionally we get a call from someone with a new puppy who has gone off the deep end. In their excitement, they are training their 8-week-old puppy like it is an adult dog – multiple sessions a day, working on perfection of obedience commands and trying to steady their little pup on retrieves. Calls like […]

Avoid these red flags and find the best dog trainer for your dog Are you looking for a trainer for your hunting dog? If so, you probably realize how confusing a task this can be. If you are like me, your dog is very important to you. In fact, he/she is probably like a child […]

And why you don’t have too! Everyone who buys or adopts a puppy has good intentions. Intentions to love and take care of the beautiful animal. Most even plan to teach their dog to be obedient and to have good manners. Yet not everyone is successful at this endeavor. In fact, most people fail when […]

Many retriever owners do not understand the natural talent and skill that lies just below the surface of their family retriever. It brings us joy to display this raw talent and encourage owners to develop it.

Finding the optimal training time for your retriever I often hear owner’s say, “I just don’t have time to train my dog!”. While I understand busy work and family schedules, this excuse usually equates more to not having the knowledge and/or interest than an actual time crunch. Or maybe the task just seems overwhelming to […]

Doing this training will prepare your dog for future training If you plan to send your dog to a professional dog trainer for hunting and/or competition training, you may be wondering what you can do with your dog prior to that training. Since formal hunting dog training generally does not begin until a pup’s adult […]

Maintain your trained dog with these tips If you have invested in professional training for your retriever, you should be enjoying a more obedient, responsive dog. But that does not mean that your dog’s training is compete or that he/she will maintain that training for the rest of their life. Unfortunately, that is not how […]

Understand what your retriever can do at what age If you have a young retriever that you plan on using as a gundog or hunting dog, you may be excited for your pup to move from the puppy stage to the “hunting machine” stage. And that is understandable. Unfortunately, too many people try to rush […]

A guide to walking your retriever – stress-free Does taking your dog for a walk leave you exhausted and embarrassed? I know how you feel. I have been there. There is a solution, and it is not as hard as you might think. But it does require some work and dedication on your part. Are […]

Using a pedigree to find your next hunting or competition dog If you are looking for a new retriever puppy, there are a lot of ways to go about the search. But if you are looking for that puppy to be an incredible hunting companion or a fierce hunt test competitor, you should be referencing […]

How to prepare for a new retriever puppy in your home Many people adopt a puppy with no idea what that will mean for their home and family. They think it will just be all cuteness and love. And don’t get me wrong, there will be a lot of that! But if you have not […]

The missing link to a great hunting dog What characteristics do you look for in a great hunting dog?  Obedient. Great prey drive. Strong retrieving desire.   These are all good and important characteristics, but what if I told you there is one more thing your dog needs to become a great hunting or competition […]

10 essential things your new puppy needs! Bringing a new Labrador puppy home is both exciting and terrifying. Puppies are so cute; you cannot help but fall in love with them immediately. Then you get them home and realize just how much work they are! Like human babies, Lab puppies require 24-hour care for those […]

Adding a new puppy to your home is a big commitment. It is a commitment in time, money, and emotion (I mean who doesn’t love puppies!). That is why it is especially important that you spend some time upfront preparing for this journey.

Every retriever trainer runs into issues somewhere along the line. When that happens, it usually is a result of one these common mistakes.

Recognizing dog avoidance behaviors and how to stop them. For the most part, Labs are not big fans of obedience training. They love to retrieve but walking at heel and sitting in a structured environment is not their favorite thing. And they often make their feelings well known. We often see Labrador Retrievers mope and […]

While price is an important consideration when choosing a professional retriever trainer, it should not be the only one. There are many components that should be factored into the discussion.

Many people think of electronic collars as a quick-fix solution for behavior issues. This could not be farther from the truth! But the electronic collar is a powerful training aid and when used correctly can dramatically speed the learning curve for your retriever.