Retriever Training
Retriever Training Programs
We train retriever gun dogs, hunt test, and retriever field trial dogs year round in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia from our home in Smithsburg, Maryland. We have training grounds in the Frederick and Buckeystown area in addition to our grounds surrounding Hagerstown and nearby Greencastle and Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.
Widely known from our days on the field trial circuit, we have trained gun dog, hunt test, and field trial dogs for clients from California to Rhode Island, from Florida to Vermont.
We are an easy commute from Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia for our private instruction gun dog and competition retriever owners.
Retriever Training for Dogs, Instruction for Dog Owners
We know you send a dog to us for retriever training because you want him to work for you, not us. Toward that end we encourage you to visit and train while your dog is boarding with us. During your visits we will teach you how to maintain and progress your dog’s retriever field education and teach your dog to listen to you.
Through one-on-one instruction and through our seminars we have been very successful in teaching our clients to train and handle their own gun dogs and hunt test and field trial retrievers. Handling their own dogs, our owners have been successful at every level of retriever field trial competition, winning many placements in the Derby, Qualifying, Amateur, and Open stakes.
Our hunt test clients are very active and have titled numerous dogs from the Junior, Senior, to Master Hunter level, including Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Flat-Coated Retrievers, and Irish Water Spaniels. Several of our clients have qualified for and run the Master National hunts.
Puppy Training Programs
In addition to our gun dog and retriever hunt test and trial training programs, we offer training for puppies. We raise and train puppies for field trials, hunting, and working dog programs.
We train pups using a unique approach combining reward-based motivational training and our knowledge of what the growing pup is capable of learning at different stages of development. This ensures that your pup learns to love training while learning foundational skills they can integrate into adult training programs.
We offer board-and-train for puppies and private and group instruction for puppies and their owners.
Retriever Gun Dog and Hunt Test/Field Trial Competition Training Programs
Board-and-train retriever packages are billed monthly at $750 a month, plus cost of birds.
We offer day training (private instruction) at $35 a day plus cost of birds for owners wishing to train their own dogs and improve their competition handling skills.
All dogs progress at their own rate, but the following schedules are fairly typical.
Started Dog Retriever Training
Our three-and-a-half month started dog program covers:
- Basic obedience on leash and off
- Trained retrieve, or force fetch
- Introduction to birds, boats, blinds, decoys and calls on land and water, and gunfire
- Marked retrieves on land and water
- Steadying and delivery of birds to hand
- Introduction to multiple marks
Call Pat Nolan at 301.748.8518, or email Pat@PonderosaKennels.com to schedule a visit or to sign your dog up for the started dog program.
Advanced Retriever Training Programs
Intermediate retriever training typically runs about another three or four months of training after completion of the started dog program. The intermediate program completes the group of drills commonly referred to as “Basics” in retriever circles.
1. Casting
2. Pile work
3. Single T
4. Double T
5. Swim-by
6. More complicated multiple marks on land and water
Transition training typically runs 4 to 6 months after the completion of the basic and intermediate programs.
1. Cheaty singles
2. Pattern blinds
3. Walkout blinds
4. Introduction to advanced/complicated multiple marks
Retriever Training for Hunt Test and Field Trials
Ongoing or advanced training includes:
- Preparation for competition
- Exposure to varied and difficult trial and hunt test set ups
Call Pat Nolan at 301.748.8518 or email Pat@PonderosaKennels.com to schedule a visit or to sign your dog for any of our advanced or competition training programs.