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

[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