Chuckarhill Kennel, Kittitas, WA

[Bandit]

Anybody ever had a dog trained by Trena Cardwell of Chukarhill Kennel in Kittitas?  I am looking for a trainer, for my english setter and I live on the east side of the state.  Would like some recommendations.  Thanks

[bobeyerite]

Look up Dan Houk At Dunfur Kennels. He is one of the best trainers you are going to find anywhere. Here is his website link  http://www.dunfur.com/points.htm    he is near Cheney WA............Bob

[bonneylakebowman]

I second highclimber went over and hung out with ryan for a day and was really impressed with his dogs he was training.  I will be sending my pup over to him soon hopefully

[Copperwood]

  Longhollow is the way to go.

[follow maggie]

Check out Doug at Cook Canyon in Ellensburg:  http://www.upland-dogs.com/index.html
He trained my Maggie and did a great job.  Turned a shy pup into a hunting machine.

[LG]

i have also heard very good things about ryan at longhollow

[jetjockey]

Longhollow better be good for what they charge!  Holly crap they are expensive.  Started and advanced program is $4200 for 5-6 months of training?  WOW!!!!!!   $2000 for FF.. WTH?   It should only take 3, maybe 4 months to get a dog completely broke to wing and shot, backing, and broke to flush.  In other words, 3-4 months to have a totally finished dog except for retrieving, if the dog doesn't do it naturally.  I sent my dog off to summer camp in South Dakota last summer and it was only $350 per month.  She went to the trainer at the beginning of June and she was totally broke by the beginning of Sept.  Totally cost, $1400 for a totally broke dog who saw well over a thousand birds in 3 months!  Grant it, I live in Georgia wich is the bird dog capital of the U.S. and we have a lot more competition with trainers, but the WA trainers are expensive.  You could save a ton of money by sending your pup to someone outside the state.  If your paying much more then about $500 per month for training, IMO its too much!  The best trainers in the country head out to the Dakotas every summer for a reason.  They can get a dog on more birds in one summer then most will get for the rest of their lives.  If you could get your pup to a good one, you would be very, very happy, and they don't charge anywhere near what the WA trainers do.

[Copperwood]

Longhollow better be good for what they charge!  Holly crap they are expensive.  Started and advanced program is $4200 for 5-6 months of training?  WOW!!!!!!   $2000 for FF.. WTH?   It should only take 3, maybe 4 months to get a dog completely broke to wing and shot, backing, and broke to flush.  In other words, 3-4 months to have a totally finished dog except for retrieving, if the dog doesn't do it naturally.  I sent my dog off to summer camp in South Dakota last summer and it was only $350 per month.  She went to the trainer at the beginning of June and she was totally broke by the beginning of Sept.  Totally cost, $1400 for a totally broke dog who saw well over a thousand birds in 3 months!  Grant it, I live in Georgia wich is the bird dog capital of the U.S. and we have a lot more competition with trainers, but the WA trainers are expensive.  You could save a ton of money by sending your pup to someone outside the state.  If your paying much more then about $500 per month for training, IMO its too much!  The best trainers in the country head out to the Dakotas every summer for a reason.  They can get a dog on more birds in one summer then most will get for the rest of their lives.  If you could get your pup to a good one, you would be very, very happy, and they don't charge anywhere near what the WA trainers do.

Don't want to get in a pissin match with ya bud but Long Hollow is expensive because he is really good. You're dog might not get on as many birds as they do in the Dakotas or Georgia but it'll get on more than any other trainer in the state because he makes it a priority to do so. Ryan is very good at what he does which is why he gets booked up every year. Sending your dog out of state of would be nice to save a little money but it's nice to show up anytime and check out the pup to see how it's doing. Just my opinion.
P.s sure hope I get the chance to hunt birds down south one day. good luck next season

[jetjockey]

Don't get me wrong, Im not saying hes not good, Im just saying he is expensive.  I know of a lot of trainers who have trained National Champion FT dogs who charge half what he does.  Heck, my trainer trained the Brit that took runner up in the Open All Age NFC this year. He also trained the National Amateur All Age champion, and the third place dog in the Amateur AA championship.  He has trained several NFC AA dogs and also National Champion Gun dogs. 
If your a NSTRA guy you have obviously heard of Nolan Huffman, he charges $600 a month and will summer in Montana.  His reputation on the NSTRA circuit speaks for itself.  Im not bashing Longhollow at all, Im just saying that they are very, very expensive.  Since there aren't a lot of trainers in the WA area, Im sure he can charge what he does and keep a full kennel, but he ain't cheap.

[DDFever]

I would have to agree with jetjockey.  Longhollow is very expensive, especially since he just ventured out on his own and opened his own kennel.  Other trainers in the area of Washington and Idaho run between $600 and $650.  These trainers have 20 plus years training and have the field trial results to back them up.  Maybe Longhollow can charge that much because of Seattle being close and they are willing to pay that much.  Ryan might be a very nice guy but being $300 more than other trainers?  He ain't that nice.

[old boat]

Don't over look Coy Moore out of Moxee, Reliable Kennel. He is definitely "old school" but he knows his trade, birds, birds and more birds! Sent my setter there and two GSP's of friends. He is a GSP/GWP guy but he'll train them white dogs too.....