Retriever Training

Lakota Retrievers is proud to offer professional retriever training and handling at all levels for all retriever breeds.

Many people do not have the time or facilities to be able to train their own dog. Lakota Retrievers can provide a learning environment for your retriever at our facility.

We limit the number of retrievers in our care so that your dog will receive the individual attention we feel they need. Our program is geared to enhance and build on the strengths of your retriever, and to fit the dog into the program, not to fit the program into the dog. Each retriever is an individual and will be treated with the care and respect that we treat our own dogs with. We pride ourselves on making each dog entrusted in our care a part of our family.

Our training program is built on the belief that each dog is an individual.  For this reason our training program varies with each dog we train. When you decide to send your dog to us, we discuss what goals you have for your retriever. Not everybody wants or needs a retriever that can compete in hunting tests or field trials. Whether you want a competitive dog or a solid hunting partner, the basic obedience program is required, both for your retriever’s safety and for your enjoyment of the time you spend with your hunting companion.

However, one thing that remains the same with all dogs we train is the idea that a strong foundation builds a more solid retriever.

Retrievers are meant to be hunting companions and therefore we feel it is important to have a dog who works with the handler versus for the handler.

Our goal is to provide you with a dog that willingly, enthusiastically, and happily looks forward to each hunt.

Trainers

Paul Kartes has been around and appreciated hunting dogs all his life. His passion and love for retrievers has brought him where he is today as a professional trainer and respected hunt test judge.  In an effort to learn more about the sport he had grown to love, Paul began training dogs with professional trainer and hunt test judge Mitch White. Together they started the Gamekeepers Retrievers Training Program, where Paul began his full time career as a professional trainer. Paul has been instrumental in developing training manuals, seminars and workshops over the recent years with Gamekeepers.  His desire for developing strong working dogs has given him the opportunities to train with some of the top field trainers in the country over the recent years.      

In addition to his work as a professional trainer, Paul had dedicated many hours of volunteer work in supporting and promoting the breed he loves, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers.  Paul has been an active member of the NSDTRC-USA Club for the last 9 years, spending countless hours organizing and chairing several Toller field events. Paul’s hard work and dedication to training shows in the dogs he takes to the line. He is committed to training each dog and handler he works with to their fullest potential.

paul@lakotaretrievers.com

Training Programs

We offer a variety of retriever training

Getting Started Puppy:

Starting your 12 week to 6 month old puppy out on the right foot.  Your puppy will exposed to but not limited to the following.  Basic Obedience, Introduction to retrieving, introduction to birds, introduction to guns, introduction to swimming.  This early training builds a strong foundation for your puppy to enable him to advance into basic training.

Foundation Basics:

Good, solid basics are essential for being competitive at any retriever test/stake.  During performance training, your dog will be force fetched, electronic collar conditioned, introduced to basic yard work/drills, exposed to marking concepts on land and water, introduced to multiple marks and exposed to all of the various factors associated with running entry level retriever tests/stakes.  This a complete training program that takes the average dog 4 to 8 months to complete.

Advanced Training:

Candidates for mid/upper level retriever tests/stakes that have advanced beyond basic training will taught more difficult marking concepts on land and water, multiple marks, diversions, higher level yard/drill work, blinds and will be exposed to all of the various factors associated with handling of mid/upper tests/stakes.

Gun Dog Training:

This training exposes the dog to various hunting situations coupled with basic obedience to produce a well mannered hunting companion.  It emphasizes exposure to various game birds, scenting, tracking and flushing for upland work, steadiness for the duck/goose blind, force fetch for smooth delivery to hand and to prevent any hard-mouth issues.

Private Lessons:

One-on-one with you and your dog.  A program is developed to help you meet your goals.  Private lessons are on our private training grounds and/or at various location around our facilities to expose your dogs to different environments.  Private lessons are a minimum of one hour each ($50.00 per hour).  Availability is limited.

Owner Participation:

Lakota Retrievers Property:

Lakota Retrievers is located on 1-1/2 acres outside of Harvard IL; our property is completely fenced in and overlooks thousands of acres of conservation area.  Dogs are kept in a home environment to ensure individual attention as well as the opportunity for us to build a strong bond and understanding of each dog.

Training Grounds:

Lakota Retrievers has unlimited access to over 7,000 acres of private training grounds within minutes of our home. These grounds offer countless opportunities for the most basic levels training to the most advanced levels of training including water work.

Technical Water:  Here is a very creative video created by Hal Ronin from a private training session.  Hal came out to train on Lakota Retrievers private ponds.  He took some wonderful pictures and created this video collection and set it to music.  I thought all might enjoy seeing it, the last few pictures are of Hal and his Flat-Coated retriever “Nell”.  The file size is a bit large so you may want to save it to your hard drive first before viewing.

Here is a slide show of some of the various grounds.

Photo of some of the training ponds leased exclusively to Lakota Retrievers.

Training Policies and Procedures