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Otter Tail Kennels

A dog your can brag about!

Hunting programs

Hunting with a trained dog is one of life’s simple joys.

We offer a variety of hunting training programs for the following retriever breeds – Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever and Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

All programs include obedience training. In addition, we introduce your dog to hunting equipment and hunting scenarios and shoot live birds over your dog. Each program is designed to develop your dog’s natural desire and potential, the result is a dog you can brag about!

Please keep in mind that every dog learns at his own pace. For this reason, all program times are approximate only.

upland hunting training

Upland only

Duration: 12 weeks

If you only hunt pheasants, grouse or other upland birds, this is the program for you. It includes:

  • on-lead obedience,
  • off-lead control
  • whistle training,
  • collar conditioning
  • hold
  • complete force fetch program
  • delivery to hand,
  • quartering and flushing live birds,
  • flyways with and without gunshot, and
  • field control.

It does not include water retrieves or steady work.

age to start hunting dog training

Basic Waterfowl

Duration: 12 weeks

The Basic Waterfowl program is for hunters that only hunt waterfowl including ducks and geese. This program includes:

  • on-lead obedience,
  • off-lead control,
  • collar conditioning,
  • hold,
  • complete force fetch program,
  • whistle training,
  • steady to shot,
  • water and land marking,
  • delivery to hand,
  • hunting from a boat, blind and bucket,
  • decoy exposure,
  • duck/goose call exposure.
Sportsman hunting training program

Sportsman

Duration: 14 weeks

This program combines both the Upland and Basic Waterfowl programs, therefore giving you a well-rounded hunting companion. The program includes:

  • on-lead obedience,
  • off-lead control,
  • collar conditioning,
  • hold,
  • complete force fetch program,
  • whistle training,
  • steady to shot,
  • water and land marking,
  • delivery to hand,
  • hunting from a boat, blind and bucket,
  • decoy exposure,
  • duck/goose call exposure.
  • quartering and flushing live birds,
  • flyways with and without gunshot, and
  • field control.
black lab in blind hunting

Advanced Waterfowl

Duration: 16 weeks
Prerequisite: Basic Waterfowl or Sportsman program

If you are an avid hunter, this is the program for you! You can either send your dog back for this advanced waterfowl training or simply add this on to your Sportsman program right away.

This advanced program includes:

  • off-lead obedience,
  • increased field control,
  • multiple marks (doubles and triples),
  • honoring (watching while another dog makes a retrieve),
  • hand signals, and
  • blind retrieves on both land and water.

Fall Refresher

Reserved for previous clients only

Get your retriever ready for the hunting season with this specialized program for dogs with previous hunting experience. Training is limited to refreshing and reinforcing previous training with us. No new training is involved. Only available to retrievers who have completed one of our hunting or hunt test programs.

During training…

During training we provide owners with weekly progress reports via phone calls. We do, however, ask that you keep visits to a minimum, especially during the initial part of your retriever’s training. Transitions are scheduled as your retrievers done date approaches. During transition, we work with you to teach you what your dog has learned and how to maintain his/her training.

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