Training

We have 3 training areas. We have 750 aces on the first, 109 acres on the second and 68 acres on the third.

We have been training pointing breeds for more than 15 years. Below you will find our philosophy on what needs to be done at what level. Levels are NOT based on age. Levels are based on experiences of the dog. We are also training retrieving breeds as well for companion hunting dogs and the AKC retrieving hunt tests.

I am accepting pointing breeds and retrieving breeds for the 2011/2012 hunt tests. Please contact me for pricing!

*Please note: We will not accept any dog for training that is under 8 months old. They are required to have all vaccinations including rabies, kennel cough, parvo and distemper. If they will be run in the hunt tests or field trials, they must be AKC registered and MICROCHIPPED! We ONLY handle dogs in the AKC hunt tests, we DO NOT handle customer dogs for AKC Field Trials or for NAVHDA, NSTRA or any other testing organization.

A great bird dog takes several key factors: Proper breeding, Training, Love and BIRDS, BIRDS, BIRDS!!
Training takes 3 key things: Patience, Patience & MORE Patience!!!

Puppy: (POINTING)
1. Socialization - This is the MOST important 'training' a puppy/dog can receive. If a pup is not socialized, he will not make a good bird dog or family companion.
2. Exposure - This is to acclimate the puppy to a bird wing (5 weeks to 6 months) or live bird (6 months or older). This is also when we begin light exposure to the pop gun (gun fire) at a predetermined distance. At this level, we allow chasing and catching the bird. He/She will also be exposed to retrieving a feather laced dummy. He/She will be exposed to other dogs of varying sizes/ages, children of all ages, horses and cats.
3. NO PRESSURE!!! - This is extremely important at this level as pressure will break a puppy's spirit and his tail will drop as a result. We have also found that the more pressure on a pup of this level will discourage his hunting ability/instinct. "Training" at this level should ALWAYS be 'FUN' for the pup.
4. Light Obedience - A pup of this level will get started on learning a few commands. A pup will learn his name, be able to walk on a collar & leash, be exposed to 'come', 'kennel' and 'alright' (meaning go out into the field to look for your objective).
5. Treat Training - NEVER, NEVER, NEVER use treats to train a hunting dog. Treats take the attention of the dog away from the task that you are trying to expose the pup to. Treats are fine for house companions that are ONLY in training for obedience (but NOT recommended), but NOT hunting dogs. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Puppy: (RETRIEVING)

1. Socialization - This is the MOST important 'training' a puppy/dog can receive. If a pup is not socialized, he will not make a good hunting or family companion.
2. Exposure - This is to acclimate the puppy to a bumper (6 weeks to 6 months) or dead bird (6 months or older). This is also when we begin light exposure to the pop gun (gun fire) at a predetermined distance. He/She will also be exposed to retrieving a feather laced dummy. He/She will be exposed to other dogs of varying sizes/ages, children of all ages, water and feathers in their mouth.
3. NO PRESSURE!!! - This is extremely important at this level as pressure will break a puppy's spirit and his willingness to please will drop as a result. We have also found that the more pressure on a pup of this level will discourage his hunting ability/instinct. "Training" at this level should ALWAYS be 'FUN' for the pup.
4. Light Obedience - A pup of this level will get started on learning a few commands. A pup will learn his name, be able to walk on a collar & leash, be exposed to 'come', 'kennel' and 'fetch' as well as 'sit', 'mark' and 'heel'.
5. Treat Training - NEVER, NEVER, NEVER use treats to train a hunting dog. Treats take the attention of the dog away from the task that you are trying to expose the pup to. Treats are fine for house companions that are ONLY in training for obedience (but NOT recommended), but NOT hunting dogs. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Started Dog: [Beginning]: (POINTING)
1. Live Birds - Started dogs will be worked with pigeons and quail in a DT System Natural Flush launcher that are planted out in the field at a determined distance from where we would cast him/her.
2. Shock Collar - Conditioning to the shock collar (e-collar) begins at this level. No pressure is put on a beginning started dog with the shock collar. *IF TESTING, THE SHOCK COLLAR WILL NOT BE USED*
3. Reinforcement of Obedience Commands - At this level, they will have all of the obedience commands reinforced. They should be almost perfect at walking on a leash, know the 'come' and 'kennel' commands as well as understand well what 'alright' means. Whoa training begins here.
4. Retrieve - A pup of this level will be evaluated for natural retrieving or begun on force break to retrieve from land and water.
5. Testing - A pup of this level should be able to run in the Puppy/Derby Field Trials or Junior Hunt Test with the AKC and pass most of the tests in a decent amount of time.

Started Dog: [Beginning]: (RETRIEVING)
1. Live Birds - Started dogs will be worked with ducks in a launcher that is planted out in the field or over a pond at a determined distance from where we would cast him/her.
2. Shock Collar - Conditioning to the shock collar (e-collar) begins at this level. No pressure is put on a beginning started dog with the shock collar. *IF TESTING, THE SHOCK COLLAR WILL NOT BE USED*
3. Reinforcement of Obedience Commands - At this level, they will have all of the obedience commands reinforced. They should be almost perfect at walking on a leash, know the 'come' and 'kennel' commands as well as understand well what 'sit', 'mark' and 'fetch' means.
4. Retrieve - A pup of this level will be evaluated for natural retrieving or begun on force break to retrieve from land and water. Hand signals begin at this level as well as a whistle.
5. Testing - A pup of this level should be able to run in the Puppy/Derby Field Trials or Junior Hunt Test with the AKC and pass most of the tests in a decent amount of time.

Started Dog: [Intermediate]: (POINTING)
1. Live Birds: Intermediate dogs will be worked with pigeons and quail in a DT System Natural Flush launcher or dizzied birds that are planted out in the field at a determined distance from where we would cast him/her.
2. Shock Collar - Conditioning to the shock collar (e-collar) continues at this level. Pressure is now put on an intermediate started dog with the shock collar. *IF TESTING, THE SHOCK COLLAR WILL NOT BE USED*
3. Reinforcement of Obedience Commands - At this level, they will have all of the obedience commands reinforced. They should be perfect at walking on a leash, know the 'come' and 'kennel' commands as well as understand well what 'alright' means. Whoa training continues here.
4. Retrieve - A pup of this level will be naturally retrieving or force break to retrieve from land and water.
5. Steadiness - A dog of this level will begin steady to flush and/or shot. Honoring another dogs point will also begin at this level.
5. Testing - A pup of this level should be able to run in the Junior Hunt Test with the AKC and pass all tests.

Started Dog: [Intermediate]: (RETRIEVING)
1. Live Birds: Intermediate dogs will be worked with ducks in a launcher that is planted out in the field or over a pond at a determined distance from where we would cast him/her.
2. Shock Collar - Conditioning to the shock collar (e-collar) continues at this level. Pressure is now put on an intermediate started dog with the shock collar. *IF TESTING, THE SHOCK COLLAR WILL NOT BE USED.*
3. Reinforcement of Obedience Commands - At this level, they will have all of the obedience commands reinforced. They should be perfect at walking on a leash, know the 'come', 'sit', 'heel', 'mark' and 'kennel' commands.
4. Retrieve - A dog of this level will be naturally retrieving and delivering to hand or force broke to retrieve from land and water. Double marks and hand signals begin without high-pressure at this level. Whistle training is continued at this level.
5. Steadiness - A dog of this level will begin sit for marking without restraint at the side of the handler.
5. Testing - A pup of this level should be able to run in the Junior Hunt Test with the AKC and pass all tests.

Started Dog: [Advanced]: (POINTING)
1. Live Birds: Advanced dogs will be worked with dizzied or liberated birds that are out in the field.
2. Shock Collar - Completely collar conditioned. *IF TESTING, THE SHOCK COLLAR WILL NOT BE USED*
3. Obedience Commands - At this level, they will have all of the obedience commands perfect. They will be perfect at walking on a leash, know the 'come' and 'kennel' commands as well as understand well what 'alright' means. Completely 'whoa' trained.
4. Retrieve - A dog of this level will be naturally retrieving or force broke to retrieve from land and water.
5. Steadiness - A dog of this level will begin steady to flush and/or shot. Honoring another dogs point will also begin at this level.
6. Testing - A dog of this level should be able to be run in the Senior Hunt test with the AKC and pass all tests.

Started Dog: [Advanced]: (RETRIEVING)
1. Live Birds: Advanced dogs will be worked with live ducks in a launcher that is planted out in the field or over a pond at a determined distance from where we would cast him/her. Once launched, the bird will be shot with a 20 or 12 gauge shotgun while in flight to simulate a true hunting experience.
2. Shock Collar - Completely collar conditioned. *IF TESTING, A SHOCK COLLAR WILL NOT BE USED*
3. Obedience Commands - At this level, they will have all of the obedience commands perfect. They will be perfect at walking on a leash, know the 'come', 'sit', 'mark', 'heel' and 'kennel' commands.
4. Retrieve - A dog of this level will be naturally retrieving and delivering to hand or force broke to retrieve from land and water. Double marks and hand signals continue with high-pressure at this level. Whistle training continues at this level.
5. Marking- A dog of this level will be marking several downed dead ducks with obstacles and retrieve those ducks more than 70% of the time to hand.
6. Testing - A dog of this level should be able to be run in the Senior Hunt test with the AKC and pass all tests.

Finished Dog: (POINTING)
1. Live Birds: Finished dogs will be worked liberated/wild birds. This is the complete working package. This dog will be able to be handled by anyone. A dog of this level has at least one or more hunting seasons experience.
2. Shock Collar - 100% completely collar conditioned. He/She may not have to wear a shock collar at this level depending on the owner.
3. Obedience Commands - 100% completely obedience trained. 100% completely 'whoa', 'come', 'kennel', 'heel' and other obedience command trained.
4. Retrieve - A dog of this level will retrieve to hand every time.
5. Steadiness - 100% steady to Flush. He/She may or may not be steady to shot depending on what the dog has been trained for. Field Trials & Master Hunt tests will require steady to flush and shot. Companion hunting dogs will not be steady to shot.

Finished Dog: (RETRIEVING)
1. Live Birds: Finished dogs will be worked with live ducks in a launcher that is planted out in the field or over a pond at a determined distance from where we would cast him/her. Once launched, the bird will be shot with a 20 or 12 gauge shotgun while in flight to simulate a true hunting experience. This is the complete working package. This dog will be able to be handled by anyone. A dog of this level has at least one or more hunting seasons experience.
2. Shock Collar - 100% completely collar conditioned. He/She may not have to wear a shock collar at this level depending on the owner. *IF TESTING, A SHOCK COLLAR WILL NOT BE NECESSARY*
3. Obedience Commands - 100% completely obedience trained. 100% completely 'sit', 'come', 'kennel', 'heel' and other obedience command trained.
4. Retrieve - A dog of this level will retrieve to hand every time. Completely whistle and voice trained.
5. Marking - 100% able to mark every down duck. Able to retrieve double and triple blind marks at hundreds of yards. Hand signals are complete at this level.

This is a Master Hunt level for testing.

**NOTE**
Not all dogs will be complete at any certain level at any certain age. Sometimes older dogs need to begin at the puppy stage.

The dogs pictured below have been or are currently being trained by Ariels Kennels. Please feel free to request the name and email address of the owners of these dogs for references.

TRAINING