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 with which we treat our own dogs. 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 your goals 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, the one thing that remains the same for all dogs throughout our training program 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 rather than 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 has grown to love, 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 several other Professional Trainers. His desire for developing strong working dogs has given him the opportunity 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 has 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 10 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 be 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 and Drills

• Exposed to Marking Concepts on Land and Water

• Introduced to Multiple Marks

• Exposed to all of the Various Factors Associated with Running Entry Level Retriever Tests and Stakes 

This is 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 be taught:

• More Difficult Marking Concepts on Land and Water

• Multiple Marks

• Diversions

• Higher Level Yard and Drill Work

• Blinds

Dogs at this level will also be exposed to all of the various factors associated with handling of middle and upper tests and 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

This level of training also provides the dog with exposure to the force fetch for smooth delivery to hand and to prevent any hard-mouth issues.

Private Lessons:

These sessions provide one-on-one training with you and your dog. Together, we will develop a program to help you meet your goals. Private lessons are held on our private training grounds and/or at various locations around our facilities to expose your dogs to different environments. Private lessons are a minimum of one hour each session at $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.

Here is a photo of some of the training ponds leased exclusively to Lakota Retrievers.

Workshop & Seminars:

Lakota Retrievers offers a workshop every summer. This is an extremely popular workshop and our limited number of spots fill quickly.  Through this workshop, both the dogs and handlers experience maximum exposure to the Lakota Retriever training method and grounds. Please see the Lakota Retrievers website for information on the next workshop.

If your training club is interested in hosting a Lakota Retrievers workshop, please contact Paul Kartes for available dates.

Pictures From The 2010 3-DAY Workshop

Below Are a Few pictures of the 2010 workshop in Delavan, WI.

Video Young Retriever Training.

This is a 13 week old Toller in for training and expsure.  In this video he is learning his first live flyer.  Many weeks of training went into this pup before

this was attempted.  Do not just take a young pup out and try this by yourself.

Pictures From The 2009 3-DAY Workshop

Below Are a Few pictures of the workshop in Central, IL.

Here is a video of one of the set-up during the workshop

< Video Bubba Gun >  

Training Policies and Procedures