Basic obedience
Sit, heel, here, kennel, whoa — solid in low-distraction settings, building under distraction. Usually 6 to 10 weeks.
Scout works search-and-rescue with our county team. Nose, drive, recovery, the calm under noise — it's all there. We told Maggie what we needed her to be, and she picked the pup out of the litter. We didn't pick. She did. That decision held up every day for the next two years of training.
Programs Offered
Four tiers, picked to match where your dog is and where you want it to go. Sarah will tell you honestly which program fits — and how long it'll take.
Started program
Foundation through bird intro, water intro, gunfire conditioning, and single marks. 4 to 6 months depending on the dog.
Finished program
Full marks (singles, doubles, triples), blind retrieves, handling, force-fetch, and steady manners. 12 to 18 months.
Hunt-test prep
Targeted work toward Junior, Senior, or Master Hunter — running mock tests, polishing standards, and campaign support.
The Facility
Sarah's training operation is built into the family farm. A converted barn with insulated runs, a fenced training field, two ponds at different sizes, and access to thousands of acres of grass and crop ground for upland and marking work. We also work the Cheyenne Bottoms waterfowl area regularly during season — real cover, real water, real birds.
- Climate-controlled kennels in a converted barn
- Two training ponds — short marks and long water
- Fenced training field with mowed lanes and natural cover
- Access to crop and grass ground for upland and long marks
- Cheyenne Bottoms waterfowl area for in-season hunt work
- Limited string size — never more than six dogs at a time
Who Should Bring a Dog
Outside-client training is for people who want a small, attentive program — not a high-volume kennel running thirty dogs through a treadmill.
Owner-trained pups stuck
You started the dog yourself and hit a wall — bird shyness, refusing water, breaking on the gun. Sarah can diagnose and reset.
Hunt-test campaigners
You're chasing a Senior or Master title and want a small-string trainer who'll actually be there at the test with you.
Adult dog needs polish
Your dog is a great hunter but rough around the edges — pulls on the lead, breaks on the shot, mouths the bird. We can fix that.
Want a personal program
You've heard the horror stories about big-string operations. You want a trainer who knows your dog by name and remembers what you said last month.
Process
How Outside-Client Training Works
FAQ
Common Questions about Training
We charge a per-week boarding-and-training rate. The exact rate depends on which program your dog is in. Get in touch and Sarah will quote you direct based on what your dog needs.
Usually a couple of months for a basic-obedience or started slot — longer for finished and hunt-test work, since those dogs stay in the program longer. The honest answer is whatever Sarah's calendar looks like the day you call.
Yes — and we want you to. Once a month at minimum. The dog is yours; you should see the work, run the dog yourself, and learn the language Sarah's using.
Sarah specializes in retrievers — Labs, Goldens, Chesapeakes. She'll occasionally work with other sporting breeds when there's a fit. Not the right fit for pointing breeds or non-sporting dogs.
We don't run a boarding-only operation — every dog on the property is here for training. If you need just boarding, we can recommend a couple of folks in the area.
Ready to send a dog to training?
Tell Sarah about your dog — age, breed, where you're stuck, and what you're hoping to do. She'll write back with a real read on whether we're the right fit.