anyone had dogs trained at cooke canyon?

[NW-GSP]

Im thinking about taking my gsp there.

[Rhinoron247]

Yes, I have taken 2 English Setters to him for 30 days each.  Doug is the best around.  He has a great facility and loves every dog he takes in.  Your dog will come home a different animal.  If you have any questions please feel free to PM me for details.

[halflife65]

I'd be interested in finding out what you learn about that...the guy is just down the road from me.

I've heard some good things about some guy named Coy in Selah or maybe Moxee that's supposed to be pretty good (I don't know from personal experience but my dad hunted with a guy that had a dog from Coy and said it was really good.)  Anyway, that's kind of vague info but I can try and find out more if you're interested.  Maybe someone else on this site knows about that guy.  I think he has GSPs and wirehairs.

[halflife65]

Let me add to that - the Cooke Cyn guy got a good recommendation just now.  Not trying to take any business from him and have no reason not to think that he's really good (I've actually talked to the Cooke guy at the Puyallup sportsman show and he seems like a nice guy.)  If you go that direction, I would just be interested to hear about your experience.

[NW-GSP]

the sire and dam of my gsp are owned by scott a cooke canyon, he is 10 months old and is not pointing birds, he flushes them without any hesitation. I talked to scott about it and he said he just needs to be put on more birds so Ive been hunting him on pheasant release sites but have had a hard time getting him on birds at the sites. Its tough cause I just dont have the money to pay for alot of training right now. he is trained really well to come and almost always listens to whoa. ( I have not shot any birds he has not pointed ) I was at the release site and saw a bird so I brought the dog downwind and made him whoa and I went in flushed the bird and was able to bring it down, I was hoping that this would help him get the idea. sorry for rambling on

[Rhinoron247]

Positive reinforcement and repetition is the key to success when your first staring out.  If you know nothing about dog training you can't go wrong by just getting out in the field with your dog and making it fun for him.  I am sure he has it in him and he will figure it out to a certain point.  Another solution is to hunt him with an experienced dog and let him follow along for a while.   

Good luck

[follow maggie]

They trained my lab last year- left her there for 30 days and went back to get her.  She put up pheasants every single time we hit the fields last year.  Today we were out working for the duck opener.  It's the first time we've been in the field since April due to a car accident, and she still hits the water and brush hard.  Having Maggie trained by Doug and Scott was the best money I've spent.  I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

[Sportfury]

For those of you who got your dogs trained at Cooke Canyon could you give us a base price on 30 days? Also was 30 days enough? How much training did you do yourself before turning your dog over to them?

[follow maggie]

If I remember right, the 30 days was $850.  The only training I did with her prior was sit, stay and heel, and she wouldn't stay at all.  She had never even heard a gun shoot before they introduced her to guns.  When I got her back, I can tell her to stay at the edge of a field, walk 150 yards and when I turn around, she's still sitting there, waiting for the command to hunt.

30 days won't give you a finished gun dog, so don't expect that.  You will get a good started dog that you can continue working with.  I wish I had taken my last lab there.

[Shannon]

NW-GSP,
Do you have any launchers? I am not a pro but I think I can get a pointer to point but you need birds and launchers. PM me if you'd like some help.

[TEX-X]

don't whoa the dog on point...just my opinion...i would look into getting the delmar smith book.... also you can go to www.gundogforum.com/forum   they are a great bunch of people with valuable information.  they'll help you out  I trained my first gun dog with delmar smith's book and the help over there at gundogforum.com.  the advice i'll give you on training a versatile dog  birds birds birds...and when you're tired of birds throw some more birds at him....  you don't really need launchers to get him started pointing on scent...but i highly suggest launcher when you start training to whoa to flush....it will take alot of time (only work 2 to 3 birds a day) but keep at it.... I have a GSP as well and they can be a little bit piq headed at time....oh and i would get an electronic collar and collar break him...it just makes the training go along alot smoother... if you are ever up around the whidbey island area let me know and you can hunt your pup with mine....  plus the pheasant release sites up here are decent...plus i got birds and a launcher....

[NW-GSP]

thanks for the advice t-rex and if Im in the area I will be sure to contact you.

[whitey]

I have had 2 Of their Pointing Labs and I had Ruger Go through His 2 month Upland Bird class.Outstanding..These Labs Hold solid on point and work great in the Blinds.I have one Now from their Lab Hornet and this dog is on fire.Doug is a very good trainer and the money is well spent.
I have talked with other trainers and all they have to say about cook canyon and Doug and Alice are great things.





These picture are from a Youth hunt I was invited to. They  ask Me if I could bring My Cooke Canyon lab over Because they had more kids than hunting dogs,of course I jumped at that chance for a training run..All in all The group of kids that hunted over Harley shot 13 rooster and harley did great the birds didnt hold real well they liked to fly.But My 16 month old lab pointed and held point solid on 5 birds.He is really going to click..Cooke canyon I cant say enough good about those folks

[halflife65]

That's great, Whitey!  Looks like a fantastic time and I'm glad you got your dog out.

Good luck this year! 

[whitey]

Thanks Buddy,Good Luck to You also..The only bad thing is My Ruger Red label is Back In New Hampshire getting fixed..She broke on Me.Hopefully have it back soon..
Have a great weekend