"You get out of a hunting dog what you put into a hunting dog". 

Our methods were developed from working with pointing dogs for 30 years. It is a practical positive approach geared to the individual needs and wants of the owner.  You and your dog will learn at your own pace with a program designed specifically for you and your dog!

My training experiences with dogs began as a 13 year old boy working in a kennel. The owner at the time was a very respected breeder of German Shepherds competing in all sorts of activities. It was at this kennel that we trained dogs to be  wonderful companions in the home as well as to compete in agility and other activities. At 18 I got my first German Shorthair Pointer. I was fortunate as with my introduction to hunting dogs I was able to work with some fairly accomplished trainers of the time!

Fast forwarding to today and some 30 plus years working with my own dogs,  as well as helping friends out with their dogs, I have developed my own training methods from puppy to adulthood. All of my training is done with positive reinforcement. For me that is the key. Think about it how do you feel when you want to do something versus when you feel we have to do something? Think about your own leraning when it was fun you excelled when it was pain stacking if you were like me you muttered through it! One major issue is that like people dogs are individuals. They do not learn at the same pace. One must be able to read the dog so that they get the most out of a training session. We build a solid foundation of learning so that your puppy, or older dogs looks forward to learning. We can begin with puppies as young as 7 weeks through play training teaching you the fundamentals of the ground work that will enable your puppy to learn and keep learning, all through their adult years. If you have a older dog that needs some help we can devise a plan to achieve the results you are looking to achieve.

So whether it is a hunting dog that you need to teach manners around birds, in the field, or retriveing from water or with or a family dog that needs additional training give us a call you will not only be suprised at the results but glad you made that call.

It is certainly best if you start your puppies learning at an early age. The sooner the better. At this stage we teach the puppy through play training we begin to show them that learning is fun. There is no pressure only fun. Following our methods withni a few short sessions you pup will know how to kennel up when you say so and remain in the kennel until you realease the puppy. Starting at this age makes sucn an easy transition to when you dog is 65 or so lbs and you want him to kennel up in the back of your truck without having to lift him.

Puppy Sessions (indoors): Each session is a one on one basis, all commands are learned with a verbal and hand signal. These commands are the building blocks for the rest of your dogs life! 

• Sit
• Stay
• Come; puppy will sit in front of the handler
• Whoa
• Retrieve
• Kennel

Puppy Sessions (outdoors) Training utilizing live birds. This program s designed for you to have a dog you can hunt over in the field and enjoy the time out.

• Pointing
• Steady to a flush
• Avoiding the delayed chase 
• Quartering verbally and with a whistle
• Come with a whistle
• Tracking both live and dead birds
• Additional whoa training
• Control of your dog in the field
• Introduction to gun fire
• Introduction to water
• checking back with you

Adolescent dogs: This is the advanced level. At this level we are preparing you and your dog to being that brag about dog. The one you cannot wait to get your friends to hunt behind as when this stage is completed you will truly have a dog that is advanced in every aspect of the definition,

• Pointing: steady to the fall of the bird
• Retrieving on both land and water
• Drag work
• Stop to a wild flush
• Delievery to hand on the retrieve
• Hunting as a team with you
• Heeling on lead
• Reinforcing Whoa, kennel, come, stay
• For those that hunt waterfowl we will work on duck searches.

Adult dogs at this level we expect when the training is completed you will have a fully finished gun dog. Thr is is a dog that you wil l be able to hunt with your buddy and his dog if he has one. How ever you may not want to hunt with another dog unless that dog is as well trained as yours!

• A field dog that is 100% steady on birds 
• 100%Steady to the retrieve
• 100 %Retrieve to hand
• Retrieve from water
• Complete  a thorough duck search of a lake
• Complete a 150 yard drag
• Steady through an honor
• Steday through a wild flush
• Steady in a blind
• Blind retrieve
• This is a dog that if you decided to test at either the AKC MH hunter level or the UT NAVHDA level barring anything unforseen should be able to pass both venues!
• Total compliance on whoa, sit, come, heel, kennel, quartering , checking back works on verbal as well as hand signals. 

Training programs are designed to fit your schedules at the pace your pup / dog is learning.  I know how busy you are but if you can devote 10 -20 minutes per day coupled with 45 minutes a weekend  for the first year or so of your puppies life you will have a dog that is a joy to hunt behind and more importantly a dog that is a joy to be around in your home. If you can not deovte this time then perhaps a puppy may not be the right choice for you.

Nobelle Kennels teaching you to teach your dog!