Late Start Field Training Program for Retrievers

Most training programs and professional field trainers have built their programs around starting very young dogs from scratch. Their expectations are based on working with dogs with extensive field breeding.

The program I have developed is based on working with dogs that are starting their field careers later on, perhaps after a conformation or obedience career. Sometimes this means training has to be configured to match the dog, working on drive development – exposure to a wide range of new stimuli - sometimes just old-fashioned patience.

My original interest in field work was prompted by having working Labs when I was growing up, later on when I bred Lab’s of my own I sold several dogs to hunting homes and in the mid-80’s I became involved in field trials. I was one of the founding members of the Bluenose Retriever Club in Nova Scotia and worked with several friends and members in training dogs for trials as well as acting as marshal at trials over the years. In recent years I have judged at CKC working certificate tests and hunt tests.

In the last five years with (3) of my own dogs we have achieved CKC Working Certificate and Working Certificate Intermediate awards, CKC Junior Hunter and NAHRA Started titles, AKC Junior Hunter and USA LRC Working Certificate passes as well as having successfully hunted over them for geese, ducks and upland birds in the last couple of years.

All (3) are very successful conformation dogs with CKC Championships, multiple Specialty Show class wins and placements including Best in Specialty Show and Reserve Winners Dog at a Specialty. All of these dogs were between 2-3 years of age before starting serious field training.

Training Programs

I offer two programs focused on Basic Skills development to prepare your dog to run CKC WC/WCI, CKC/AKC Junior Hunter, NAHRA Started, UKC Started retriever tests AND to provide a solid foundation for those who choose to go further.

All dogs are required to pass an evaluation conducted by myself before being accepted for any of our programs. There is a fee of $100.00 for dogs being evaluated for our in-house program that will be credited to the first month’s fees if your dog is accepted.

Training As A Team - 8 Week Program

This is an 8-week program for the owner/handler and dog – we assume the dog understands the basic obedience commands of sit, heel and here. The program consists of parallel development with “Yard” and “Field” Work based on the Lardy Program. A detailed outline is provided to participants.

The program consists of (8) weekly classes of (4) hours each (Maximum # dogs per class is 8) – the class is divided between instruction for “Yard” work exercises which each dog/handler team will work on through the following week at home and “Field” work exercises to begin acclimatizing the dogs to the various stimuli to be found in the field e.g. decoys, birds, bumpers, duck calls, gun shots, distance, delivery etc. In addition the handler needs to become familiar with line manners, field etiquette, handling a simulated firearm etc.

I provide all of the necessary training equipment with the exception of personal items like whistles, lanyards, duck calls and items for training at home (bumpers etc). All of these items will be available for purchase at the first session if you do not have them.

In-house Training Program

We provide (2) in-house programs where the dog comes to live with me and work with me on a daily basis.

Our (8) week program assumes the dog understands the basic obedience commands of sit, heel and here and the training sequence is the same as outlined above.

Our (12) week program assumes the dog has no obedience training and we are starting from scratch. These programs consist of the same training sequence as above for “Yard” and “Field” Work based on the Lardy Program however we add a basic obedience component for 4 weeks at the beginning of the 12 week program.

The fee’s include boarding and all training materials. Under this program we encourage the owners to visit and become familiar with their dogs progress and learn to work with their dog’s newly developed abilities. In addition the handler needs to become familiar with line manners, field etiquette, handling a simulated firearm etc. assuming they plan to trial the dogs themselves.

Other Services

Handling Services – once a dog has been trained and is ready to compete if the owner desires we will provide full professional handling services for Working Certificate and Hunt Test programs to help your dog acquire their titles. We charge a fee of $40.00 per trial plus entry fee’s and shared expenses for travel, meals and accommodation.

Stud Services – we currently have standing at stud SR Can Ch. Miron’s Lord of the Rings WCI JH (Am Can Ch Boothgates Chief Producer ex. Miron Rubis). Yuma is a big, athletic chocolate with lots of drive and desire – he has done well in the conformation ring including RWD at the LRC of Saskatchewan 2002 under Breeder/Judge Janice Granneman. He presently has (12) points for his American championship and needs only his 2^nd major.

We will be starting on his Senior Hunter training in the fall of 2004.

Puppies Occasionally – we breed very rarely however when we do we are looking for matches that will produce even-tempered, sound dogs with solid retrieving drive that are competitive in the show ring and in the field

MEMBER: CKC, Labrador Retriever Club of Canada, Labrador Retriever
Club of Quebec, SD&G Dog Association, The Labrador Retriever Club (UK) and
Midland Counties Labrador Retriever Club (UK).

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