Trainer in the WA, OR, ID area for a Brit

[jetjockey]

My dad is starting to do some research and hes looking for a pointing dog trainer in the NW to train his brittany.  He currently has several options but he wants to do as much research as possible before he picks a trainer.  Do you guys have any ideas who would be good for a brit in the local area?  I know about Dunfur Kennels and Dave Walker in ID, but is there anyone else with lots of experience with pointing dogs?  Thanks in advance.

[Special T]

Long hollow Retrievers in Ellensburg.. he trains both pointers and retrievers... Worked for a guy that only did pointers for quite a while too... 

[ribka]

I know Cooke Canyon has few very experienced trainers there. In Elllensburg

[bonneylakebowman]

Long hallow. Ryan is an outstanding trainer

[pointer]

check out kempfer gun dogs in sweet home Oregon.  they run the Oregon bird dog challenge.  Kirsten trained my English pointer, I was scheduled to have her there for 4 - 6 weeks of training she called me after 3 weeks and told me she was done.  Very honest people and a great trainer.  My dog has won the OBDC high point award for 3 straight years and also won the western nationals in Nevada last year.  I won't have another dog trained any place but there from now on.  I think there is a link to the training on here www.oregonbirddogchallenge.com They will have a booth at the sportsman show as well.  or her number is 541-936-4765

[thinkingman]

In a conversation with John Greer,(Tiger Mtn Pointing Labs), he mentioned he got his start with Britts, maybe give him a call.  I have been working with Jim Cochran and like his approach, patience and calm demeanor.  I think he's done alot to help me as a dog owner.

[jetjockey]

Thanks for the updates guys. 

I just looked at Longhollow in E-Burg (forgot I had looked into him when my brother was looking for a trainer).   WOW!  I don't care how good he is, he ain't worth $900 for 4 weeks.  If you look at his costs, from start to finish would be over $5000 for a totally broke dog.  Thats absolutely rediculous for pointing dog training.  Just for comparison, I have my dog with a Pro Field Trial Brittany trainer for 6 months of the year to run the circuit.  She also goes to S.D every summer to be trained on wild pheasants, sharptail, and chickens..  I originally sent her off just to get trained, but she ended up as a field trial dog as well as my hunting buddy. She came back after her first summer at camp totally broke and winning trials, plus, she had tons of wild bird experience that you just cant get in WA state.  Total cost $1400 for a totally finished dog!    I haven't even spent $5000 on everything (training, trial entry fees, and handling fees) and my pup has been with the trainer on and off for a total of one year, ran almost 15 trials, and is now a Field Champion....  Hopefully we will find someone a little more reasonable, otherwise my dads making a trip to SD in July to drop his pup off with my trainer.

[Bluemoon]

Hi Troy
Give me a call if you want..I have changed a lot of the ways the kennels is ran down here now.  I now run two training camps in Montana, running on wild birds.. Actually looking at property back there to move on.
Only hunted birds one day in this state last season..
You know the number to reach me
Regards
Richard

[Special T]

I thought you wanted some one some what close... There is no comparision for how much or little you will spend if your willing to send your dog to SD or some place else in the midwest...  Not sure how you got to $900... I'd give him a call tho...

[Happy Gilmore]

Training, boarding and birds combined runs about $600-1,000+ a month from every pro I know.

[Happy Gilmore]

Thanks for the updates guys. 

I just looked at Longhollow in E-Burg (forgot I had looked into him when my brother was looking for a trainer).   WOW!  I don't care how good he is, he ain't worth $900 for 4 weeks.  If you look at his costs, from start to finish would be over $5000 for a totally broke dog.  Thats absolutely rediculous for pointing dog training.  Just for comparison, I have my dog with a Pro Field Trial Brittany trainer for 6 months of the year to run the circuit.  She also goes to S.D every summer to be trained on wild pheasants, sharptail, and chickens..  I originally sent her off just to get trained, but she ended up as a field trial dog as well as my hunting buddy. She came back after her first summer at camp totally broke and winning trials, plus, she had tons of wild bird experience that you just cant get in WA state.  Total cost $1400 for a totally finished dog!    I haven't even spent $5000 on everything (training, trial entry fees, and handling fees) and my pup has been with the trainer on and off for a total of one year, ran almost 15 trials, and is now a Field Champion....  Hopefully we will find someone a little more reasonable, otherwise my dads making a trip to SD in July to drop his pup off with my trainer.

Are you saying you ran 15 trials AND got training for less than $5K?     

I just spent $700 in two weeks on entry fees and a handler for a dog show. Your numbers don't pencil out from anything I've ever seen. I say if you have a guy who will take your dog for a year for $1,200 leave him there, send your dad's dog there plus about 10 more, you can make a fortune selling FC's when you get them back-

[jetjockey]

I didn't mean to offend anyone.  But $800-$900 a month for training is very, very expensive.  If your familier with NSTRA, then you know who Nolan Huffman is.  He charges $600 a month for training in Montana, and you don't need to purchase birds.. And he's expensive. Chad Holman, one of the winningest Brit handlers ever charges $500 a month for training/handling.  When you can save $400 a month on training, it begins to make it cost effective to send your dog off.  I live in the heart of pointing dog country in GA, there is no way a trainer could get the kind of prices guys seem to be able to get in WA. 

Happy.  My prices are not wrong.  I know exactly what it costs for my dogs training and handling fees. 

[bonneylakebowman]

Hey jet could you pm my some info about the guy that takes your dogs to the dakotas? I would love to do that with my pup

[wildweeds]

R.J. Marquart,Quicksilver kennels in Moses lake washington. Has put FC's on every pointing breed but weim,spinone and red and white setter. Unlike other trainers he modifies the program to fit each individual dog rather than running a bootcamp where the ones that don't conform are cast aside.Known for taking another trainers junk and putting championships and wins on them.An English setter NFC comes to mind,a famous AF handler put the screws to her to get her on track with the rest of the gang and got her blinking/bolting and pointing with a pumphandle tail.R.J. re broke her his way and won a National title with her.Been at it close to 30 years as an occupation and has over 80 championships on 8 breeds, pointer,GWP,GSP,Visla,Britt,Setter,Gordon setter,Irish setter. Akc,CKC and AF CH have been won.


   When you consider that a "Board" fee in washington is going to be at the LEAST 15 dollars a day, 600 for training,high quality feed,and roading is cheap.The retriever guys are the cause for the high prices IMO.They were charging 700+ 9 years ago,I paid 400 month for training at that time. Hunting dog training or Trial dog training were the same prices at that time too.But the pointy trainers watched what the retriever guys were getting away with and followed suit,can you blame them? The retriever guys also caused a big price jump in the training bird costs.Pigeons were 1 dollar,then the retriever guys started paying more to try to get the market cornered.Pigeons are 3 bucks now.At one point they were selling for 4 dollars,pretty good for the pigeon trappers.

   The thing to consider is how much work ethic does the trainer have? I know a couple I would NEVER EVER send a dog to.Because the dog would spend 80% of the time laying around and 20% getting worked.As to this nonsense of "Breaking" a dog on wild birds..................not buying into it.They need to be broke in a controlled enviorment then transitioned to wild birds,And I don't care where your at.Not every dog whelped is a superstar and short bus riders just ain't gonna get anywheres fast with a massive amount of unknowns that come with wild birds.You break them first to the "Green" broke stage THEN run em on wild birds.At least that way they have a good understanding of what's required.


  As far as your georgia dog goes..............if the dog wins an AF purse that money goes to the handler..........Correct?

   As far as what I typically paid for Entries/travel/training for a Season of trialing.......2500 bucks spring and fall.Total of 5K per year.Campaigned the dog 3 years and he was a good one with a place/win to times ran ratio of 50%.Last year I ran him he came home off the road with 9 ribbions in 7 trials.Thing with owning a Setter is ain't no one ever going to breed to it or get a pup out of a female that gets trialed.ALL stock is purchased from AF Kennels.So the thought train of "Bettering" the breed does not apply to AKC field dogs in the Pointer and Setter breed IMO.

  No wild birds to run on in Washington state............? Guess when I went along on a couple of training outings to sewed up private ground the chukars and huns the dogs pointed were on vacation and just visiting from Idaho or Oregon.Over 20 thousand acres of private training grounds in the chukar hills.My little guy had 4 finds one day, a covey of quail,rooster pheasant in the bottom and two coveys of chukars on top.

   How old is this dog that your looking for the training on ? if it's less than 18 months and your looking to break ?

[Bluemoon]

Hey Wildweeds
I have an FC/AFC/MH  He got his FC at 18 months.   

[jetjockey]

Wild

Yes, the winnings go to the trainer/handler.  

I think your right about prices.  There isn't a ton of retriever trainers down in GA, but there are tons of pointer guys.  Thats why the prices caught me off guard.  Typically down by us you can expect to pay $400-$600 a month for training.  IMO thats reasonable.  $800+ per month is not.  Many of the trial guys run camps in MT, ND, SD, and KS, and the price saving could easily make it worth the long drive to the Dakotas.  I understand there are wild birds in WA as well, but the numbers just aren't comparable.  I went to summer camp two years ago to watch my pup run.  I asked my trainer how many pheasants we would move on the average evening running puppies.  I though he was full of it when he said we would move 500-1000 birds.  He wasn't!  Ive never seen so many pheasants in my entire life.  However, most of the training is done on sharptails and chickens in the prairies once the dogs mature.  

The dog is currently 7 months old but won't start serious training until its 1.  The goal would be to have her broke, or really close by hunting season in the fall.  The problem with sending her to my trainer in SD is that she wouldn't get the yard work prior to SD, so she would be starting behind the 8 ball..  When I sent my pup off for the first time she had 1 month of yard work and then hit the ground running in SD.  We dropped her off June 1st and she was in SD the first week of July, she had her first broke find by late July and was basically broke by mid August.  She ran her first adult trial at 15 months old, and made it around. It shouldnt take much more then 2 or 3 months to get her broke if shes a decent dog. Dave Walker in ID is $600 a month, and might be a very good choice.  His accomplishments speak for themselves.

[Happy Gilmore]

what do trial entries cost? Don't you have to pay a handling fee and travel expenses for each trial?

[jetjockey]

Usually $50 entry fee for a 30 minute trial and $100 for a 1 hr trial.  Championships go up from there.  Handling fee is $50 for a 30 minute, $100 for a 1 hr, and the same as the entry fee for a championship.  The only "travel" expense is when the trainer goes out to summer camp in SD. 

[wildweeds]

You pay 4 hundred a month plus handling fees ? if you ran the northwest schedule and entered a GD and OLGD youd pay 4 hundred in handling fees alone which = 800 per month total.The eastern math on dog training just has another column that's all.Never paid a "Handling" fee myself

Usually $50 entry fee for a 30 minute trial and $100 for a 1 hr trial.  Championships go up from there.  Handling fee is $50 for a 30 minute, $100 for a 1 hr, and the same as the entry fee for a championship.  The only "travel" expense is when the trainer goes out to summer camp in SD. 

[jetjockey]

Not sure where you get the extra column.  Maybe its different on the west coast.  My training and boarding is less then $400 a month.  Just for grins, lets say a dog runs 4 weekend GD trials in a month.   My total cost would be $750 for training, entry's, and handling fees during the trial.  Make one of those trials an hour trial and it would be $850 a month.  Ive never entered my dog in OLGD and OGD in the same weekend.  Doesn't make any sense to me to do that.  She has however ran in OGD and OAA in the same weekend, but shes not a true AA dog yet.  However, she keeps running bigger and bigger every summer an her grandad did the same thing.  Started out a GD and ended up being a really nice AA dog who made a very nice name for himself.  Shes a shooting dog right now, but if she does become an AA dog, then trials get a LOT more expensive.....  BTW.. My dad talked to my trainer last night.  Training at camp in SD would cost $300 per month for the gun dog program (none FT dogs).  Hes leaning towards making the trip.  Especially since the trainer said to bring his shotgun when he picks her up so they can hunt sharptail for two days while the trainer teaches my dad do handle his pup properly.  

Heres some picktures from summer camp two years ago.  The dog in the bottom picture is pointing a small covey of sharptail.

[Rowdy]

My 

I'd rather spend a little more for a better product.  It's the same for buying pups, I'd rather better my chances and get a well bred pup that might cost a little more.

I've spent money with three different pointing dog trainers in this state and two of the three were more than capable of finishing a dog.  The prices varied and I went with the guy I felt most comfortable with.  The third guy, well, lets just say I wouldn't allow him to walk my dog for free.

Again, its just my two cents.  Best of luck and gotta love a pointer!

Jake

[jetjockey]

Jake

I understand 100% what you are saying.  Luckily, the trainer I use is very reasonable, and his trial record speaks for itself.  I have been very, very impressed with what hes done with my pup.  I wouldn't have spent the money I have, if I wasn't extremely happy.  He had her broke at less then 15 months (he didn't even receive her until 12 months), qualifed for Nationals at 22 months, and put her FC on her at less then 2.5 years old.  But the best part is that even with all that handling off horseback, shes still a great hunting dog.  Some trainers have that "way" with dogs, and some don't.  I brought my pup home after her first summer at camp.  At that point she had run in several trials but hadn't placed.  However, she was still great to hunt over.  Thats all I needed and was very happy.  Her progression, wins and the FC afterwards were just icing on the cake.  Ive got a lot of good info from people and talked to some people with good, and bad recomendations.  My brother has a trainer in the NW that he is very happy with.  At the end of the day, its all about what makes the owner happy.  However, the owner, and the trainer need to have realistic expectations of what can be done with each individual dog.

[Happy Gilmore]

You've got to remind yourself how many people expect what you got out of your dog in the same time period. When they don't get it, obviously it is the trainers fault.

Your case made it sound very simple to get an FC on a dog. Which is by far and away not the truth. Some people spend $20K + chasing an FC on a dog for years and never get it. (pointers and retrievers)

Every trainer around is probably more than capable of doing the work. Not every owner is able to see what their dog is actually able to do- I think that is a big part of it. You had a very special dog and a cheap trainer who could do the work at a high level. I know a lot of pro's in the retriever world and they obviously will never bite the hand that feeds them- No talking bad about a client who has a mediocre dog but, writes a check every month.

There are also clients who bounce from trainer to trainer and talk smack at each place. There are certain trainers who will engage in that talk- not the good ones. Guys who talk about anything other than what they can do for you- well- they are what they are. usually lack class and make a false hype about themselves. They are usually the guys who get the people in the dog world who are known to be the big mouth gossipers that nobody really cares for-

[Special T]

 

[jetjockey]

Happy

Your thinking too far into this.  My dads not looking for a field champion.  Hes looking for someone to break his dog in about 2-3 months.  Thats it.  He wants a broke dog that handles.  He's most likely not even going to run his dog in trials, and if he does, it will probably be one or two derby's, and thats it.  I understand I got pretty lucky with my dog.  However, the trainer got 4 of the 7 dogs from my pups litter, and every one of them were broke by the end of camp the first year.  Some were more broke then the others, but every one knew what was expected, and just needed repetition to cement the training they had.  My dog included.  The major work was done.   3 months training for some of the guys around here is $2700.  My dad doesn't have that kind of money to spend.  Some of the guys are as little as $1800, and thats still expensive for someone who is retired.  I don't talk bad about any of the trainers abilities.  I may say that one is too expensive, but that says more about the trainers in the area who do the same thing for much cheaper.  I said LongHollow was expensive, and they are when you can find other guys in the area with very good reputations for $600 per month.  Ive hear Ryan does a pretty nice job, but like I said, he is very, very expensive.  That in no way is any indication of his training abilities.

[Happy Gilmore]

sounds like your Dad would be better suited for weekend visits for training and get "home-work" assignments from the trainer. Better off finding one real close to where he lives. I don't know of any trainer around here who will board a dog for less than $300 a month. Training always on top of that.....$10 bucks a day to clean and care for your dog is dirt cheap. I would feel bad paying the next door neighbor kid less than that per dog- per day.

[chuckarchaser]

if it was me sir i would go to QUICKSILVER KENNELS in moses lake Wa. im 14 years old and mr. Rj Marquart trained my GSP and ive shot a awful lot of birds off this dog that Rj trained. if you would like his num. it is (509)765-1213. 

[Happy Gilmore]

if it was me sir i would go to QUICKSILVER KENNELS in moses lake Wa. im 14 years old and mr. Rj Marquart trained my GSP and ive shot a awful lot of birds off this dog that Rj trained. if you would like his num. it is (509)765-1213. 

What did you pay a month? That was the original question. I wonder about mid-west trainers. I've heard alot about all the wild birds they train dogs on. Are there no hunting seasons for wild birds?

Nobody in the Northwest Charges less than $850 a month unless you have exceptions for food, birds etc. Food, Fuel and birds are expensive. Some trainers might be less but, find out what the bird cost is. If you go to Jimmy Gonia for example, you have a baseline fee and birds are additional. The number of birds used is accounted for and based upon his call on how many birds he feels your dog needs for the stage of training he/she is at. It can be expensive. Wholesale ducks are $11 each. Pigeons $3.50. Chuckar $4. Quail $4. If your dog is through basics, it should have at least 4 birds shot over it a week while in training. I think most retrievers might get quite a few more than that. This doesn't account for the use of homing pigeons on training for pointers. (used to reduce costs obviously)

One excellent way of finding a good trainer is to contact the local breed club. If you have a German Shorthair, call the local club President. If you have a Springer Spaniel, call the local club President. These club Presidents are usually EXTREMELY involved with their specific breed and have been working with MANY different trainers over the years. Some Pros are better with specific breeds than others.

At the same time when you get trainer references, call the trainers and ask them which specific dogs they ran, who owned them and if, you can talk to the owners of the dogs they titled. Titles are confusing to people who don't play the AKC, UKC and APLA games.(american pointing labs). Everyone hears people say that their dogs have "Champion Bloodlines". That doesn't mean CHIT. Pro's who have worked with dogs from specific bloodlines can tell you how the dogs learn, how they train, how they hunt and a lot more information than just a guy telling you that his dog picked up 100 ducks in a season and was on a video. Some "fancy" dogs would be untrainable for the average joe while some dogs that look impressive wouldn't be anything without a very experienced trainer working behind the dog.

Research is the key to learning. Researching facts and talking to people who are in the know. A really good trainer can make a dog look amazing. The best thing you can do is hear the same name mentioned by numerous people who are in the business. Also, finding someone who matches your personality is also important. Again, research. Look up the local Britany Club and find a contact. Ask them questions. The purpose of local clubs is to help people get in contact with folks who know the breed. The Britany CLub President will have the best interest of the breed in mind if you call the person and ask for a recommendation.

[Skyvalhunter]

Used Canine Country club out of Falls City for my brit. Jim did a fine job with him.

[jetjockey]

What did you pay a month? That was the original question. I wonder about mid-west trainers. I've heard alot about all the wild birds they train dogs on. Are there no hunting seasons for wild birds?
[/quote]

There are hunting seasons just like in WA, but places like SD allow dogs to be trained on wild birds out of season as well.  Trainers use blank guns, just like they do in AKC/AF trials.

My dad decided to make the trip out to SD to drop his dog off with the trainer I use for summer camp.  He leaves just after the 4th.  He will pick her up mid September at the tail end of camp.  Im going to go out with him to pick his dog up. Im going to practice running my dog off horseback in preperation for the trial season and the trainer is going to spend 2 days teaching my dad how to work his dog.  BTW.. It will also coincide with the sharptail opener so we are combining a learning trip witha  hunting trip.  Can't wait..

BTW  Happy.  My dogs litter mate smoked her this spring and finished his FC just after he turned 2 1/2.  He is in the top 10 in the nation for Brittany's in gun dog points.  Sounds like FC's grow on trees.  j/k

[Happy Gilmore]

What did you pay a month? That was the original question. I wonder about mid-west trainers. I've heard alot about all the wild birds they train dogs on. Are there no hunting seasons for wild birds?

There are hunting seasons just like in WA, but places like SD allow dogs to be trained on wild birds out of season as well.  Trainers use blank guns, just like they do in AKC/AF trials.

My dad decided to make the trip out to SD to drop his dog off with the trainer I use for summer camp.  He leaves just after the 4th.  He will pick her up mid September at the tail end of camp.  Im going to go out with him to pick his dog up. Im going to practice running my dog off horseback in preperation for the trial season and the trainer is going to spend 2 days teaching my dad how to work his dog.  BTW.. It will also coincide with the sharptail opener so we are combining a learning trip witha  hunting trip.  Can't wait..

BTW  Happy.  My dogs litter mate smoked her this spring and finished his FC just after he turned 2 1/2.  He is in the top 10 in the nation for Brittany's in gun dog points.  Sounds like FC's grow on trees.  j/k
[/quote]

You run him in any hunt tests?

[jetjockey]

My dogs brother is owned by a guy who is huge in the brittany field trial world.  I think he has almost 9 or 10 dogs with the trainer at any one time, and another 10 dogs at home.  He owns the sire to my dog.  He has never run him in any hunt tests, and Ive never ran my dog in any.   The only reason we are trialing our dog is because she did well as a young dog and showed lots of promise.  So far, shes done well running as an adult as well....  I can't wait until February.  She's going to run at the AKC Gun Dog Nationals at Ames Plantation in TN.  Not sure if you know anything about Ames, but its the most storied field trial grounds in the country and the location of the AF All Age National Championship that is held every year.  I can't wait to ride around on those grounds.  It will be the equivelant of playing baseball in the old Yankee stadium. 

[Happy Gilmore]

My dogs brother is owned by a guy who is huge in the brittany field trial world.  I think he has almost 9 or 10 dogs with the trainer at any one time, and another 10 dogs at home.  He owns the sire to my dog.  He has never run him in any hunt tests, and Ive never ran my dog in any.   The only reason we are trialing our dog is because she did well as a young dog and showed lots of promise.  So far, shes done well running as an adult as well....  I can't wait until February.  She's going to run at the AKC Gun Dog Nationals at Ames Plantation in TN.  Not sure if you know anything about Ames, but its the most storied field trial grounds in the country and the location of the AF All Age National Championship that is held every year.  I can't wait to ride around on those grounds.  It will be the equivelant of playing baseball in the old Yankee stadium.

Sounds like a blast! There is an 11 year old GSP here at the kennel who is a FC. He needs one leg of his Master this weekend to become a MH as well as a FC. He looks like he's 8 years old. A great dog and nice to have around as well. It will be an emotional day for the owner if he gets it this weekend.-

[jetjockey]

Just a fun update on a spirited thread.  My dads Brit has been in SD since about July 13th or 14th.  I just got off the phone with the trainer today and all I can say is WOW.. I SCREWED UP!!!!!  Seems my dad has himself a beast, or as the trainer puts it, a machine.  He said that breaking her was the easy part, the tough part has been getting her to handle the way my dad wants her to.  Seems that she doesn't just want to find birds in the same field, she wants to find birds in the next country!  Shes perfectly happy 800+ yards out and going away.  She would be a true All Age brittany that guys breed, and breed, and breed to try and get.  And I could have had her for free!     Unfortunately, my dad only wants a foot hunting dog that stays within about 200 yards, and that has been the hardest part for the trainer.  He says that the first time she finds a bird when he puts her down, its like someone injects her with crack, and she wants to go faster and faster.  Ive only heard him get really excited about one other dog, and that was her older brother from a different litter.  He was the reason they did a rebreeding, and it sounds like my dad got the dog they were rebreeding for.  Oh well.  My dad's going to have himself a heck of a bird dog that is great on birds, and will run as big as he lets her.  Im heading out next week to SD with my dad to pick her up.  The trainer is going to work with him for 3 days to learn how to handle her.  Her bird work is great, shes just going to need my dad to be able to handle her rediculous desire to find birds.

[Happy Gilmore]

Fritz passed his master test on Sat. at 12 YO. Transitioning from being a FC dog to a HT title was very difficult for him.(and others I am told) Sounds like a fun dog. I just made plans to attend my first upland field trial next April. I have a guy bringing me a horse and putting me up. He's an AM has a place in Sauvie and one in Sunnyside. Looking forward to it but, still a way out.....

[ProsserChukar]

Doug Burnett at the cooke canyon hunting club is great, he trained our brit and I couldn't be happier with the results.