dog training Dokken's Oak Ridge Kennels

[fisher]

I have been Email places for my lab to go for training.

I have talked to the people at Oak Ridge Kennels which they say is good. I don't know if thats just because of all the things Mr. Dokken has done. I have also talked to some one at On-line kennels. that sounds like a nice place also.

I'm looking for a 2 week program that is all about birds, Guns Water and Fun. I cant do the birds and guns thing because I live in down town St. Paul and I think the cops would not like that!

On-line kennels the dog stays in the house with them that kind of cool. But Oak Ridge has that name.

can any of you recamend any other places where that I could look into or have any thing to say about ether Oak ridge or On-line.

thanks

Jeff Krop

[Kallista]

If you cant get out to train your dog , how are you going to get out once he is trained?

[LABS4ME]

Dokken has a good program that is proven. The one problem is Dokken will never teach your dog. He has a staff of trainers to do all the work. Now that may be good or bad depending on your expectations...

I think your dog will be trained by the owner of On-Line retrievers if he goes there. They have a great reputation also, for producing some fine field dogs. I had no idea they stayed in the house with the owners... That is a nice touch if you have a house dog right now.

Talk to both personally and see which you are more comfortable with. Find out what you will get for your oney in the 2 week program. Ask them if they will spend some time with you and the dog once the training is complete to show you what to continue working on... Then base your decision on which you feel more comfortable with. It's like picking out a college with your kid... you just know the right one once you see it.

Good Luck!

Ken

[nine-tiner]

I took my yellow lab to David and Michelle at On-Line and couldn't be more satisfied with their facilities and the results. Unless things have changed David does the training himself. Good luck in whatever your choice is.

[fisher]

I'm not looking for training. I'm just want my dog to work with birds and guns. A LOVE FOR BIRDS!! I don't want any mad talk it should be FUN only!! I think this is the best way to train a bird dog. Along with walks in the woods which he get 5 times a week for 45 min.

[Bushwacker]

Quote:

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If you cant get out to train your dog , how are you going to get out once he is trained?

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I have had both of my dogs at a trainers for 4 weeks with my female and 3 months for my male. My male will be out on over 50 waterfowl hunts this year and my female will be out 20 to 30 upland game hunts with a few waterfowl hunts mixed in. So I don't think the theory of no time to train vs. time to hunt has any relationship at all. A pro is just a very worthy long term investment in my opinion.

[duckbuster]

It doesn't sound like you need a trainer but a good friend to take your dog somewhere.

I would suggest that you find someone who is going to South Dakota or Manitoba and let them hunt your dog.

Dokken or On-Line is not going to do any more than take your dog out into their fields for some quartering training for about an hour a day.

Having a friend take your dog hunting is going to way less expensive and they will get far more out of it than 2 weeks at one of the above mentioned trainers.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

[snatcher20]

I sent my lab to Dokken's two years ago to their intro to birds and guns. My dog is a family dog first and hunts 3 months a year. All I wanted was my dog to be comfortable around the gun and know what was going on. Now my dog also missed essentially all of her first training/hunting season due to TPO surgery. But her first time in the field last year she retrieved the first duck ever shot over her. And with limited training and prep over this past summer, she retrieved the first and only duck this year. Last weekend we only had one flock come near and missed the shots. She went nuts thinking there should be a bird down. She learned at Dokken's that gun means bird. I don't have the resources to train that. Like I said, she is a family dog that hunts. To me, she learned exactly what I wanted her to learn in a two week intro to birds and guns and her instincts take care of the rest.

[JDM]

The gun into is very important and that is where the pro would be an asset. If you already have introduced the dog to gun fire and you know you don't have a problem, I would save your money and take her to a game farm to hunt pheasants and let her instincts come out.

As far as pro's, you want some very, very basic training and only for two weeks. Anyone who calls themselves a pro should be able to handle this, so I would pick one close to your home. You say you are not looking for training, but you really are. Gun and bird into's are definitely training - not just fun. Two weeks is not a very long stay. Most pro's require a longer program or there is not guarantee on results.

[Wayne Ek]

When I lived in the area I sent a number of Brit's and GWP to Dokkens for intro. to wing and shot. I have also boarded a number of dogs with Dokkens when I was gone for a week or two. I have been totally satisfied with the training and boarding.

[1runhotshot]

The 2 week course is simply "Intro to Gun and Birds". As stated before, if he has been shot over and has fetched live birds (Piegons) don't bother. If the pup has not been shot around and want to make sure (ok nothing is a sure thing) there is not a gun shyness issue then ship him off.