Our string of bird dogs is what has made our guiding business the success it is today. We insist on our dogs being well mannered and steady. These manners provide our hunters with high quality shots and a comfortable pace for hunting to the gun. With 32 years of professional dog training we can do it all. Specializing in pointing breeds we will take your dog to the level you desire depending on the dogs natural ability and trainability. There is no set time period.

Training begins with an evaluation of the pup or dog making sure the natural ability is there. Once we are confident in the natural ability the obedience training will begin teaching whoa, heel, load up / kennel, and reinforce basic training. It’s at this time we will begin collar conditioning introducing the pup to the e-collar during the end of obedience work. Training in this method makes the transition to field work much easier. From there we go back to the field for bird work, handling exercises etc. The field work will consist of extensive bird work teaching the dog to hold point, become steady on game, handle and hunt for the gun. The level of training will depend on the dog’s ability and what you desire.  More advanced training will take place as the dog can handle it. The trained retrieve, steady to wing and shot etc. It is your call!

We realize the importance of teaching you how to handle your dog. We will spend as much time as you need in order to feel confident about handling and keeping your dog trained. That’s a promise.

In Minnesota we train from mid March- early July on native grouse and woodcock teaching dogs how to hunt cover and learn the birds. Yard work, pigeons and chukar are used in all kinds of habitat which helps the dog adjust to different cover and habitat types finding birds in all these places.

Mid July we start our South Dakota training. It’s perfect for the younger dogs, simply because of the bird numbers, and for the older dogs we can put the finishing touches on them exposing them to multiple birds flushing, a covey rise or flock blowing out to the front. This is what makes them a bird dog.

Our winter grounds will find us in Kansas and Oklahoma. Here we can get an early start on all aspects of training, yard work, field work and wild bird work. I just can’t say enough about the importance of wild birds to make a bird dog. We have them here, and it couldn’t be better.

Our setter breeding is from dogs proven in the grouse woods, these dogs must have lots of point, a great nose, are smart and a desire to hunt for the gun. We seldom sell pups due to us keeping them back to put into our own string of guide dogs. We do however sell started and finished dogs. The started dogs are 1 year to 2 year’s old. The only real difference between our started and finished dogs is exposure to wild birds. Our started dogs are steady on birds and obedient for the gun.

Finished dogs are 3-6 year’s old that have been part of our guide string for a year or more. They are seasoned, well mannered and reliable with experience on all the game birds we hunt.