Let us train your dog for you, using our proven bird dog training method, facilities, and fields.
Our Smith Method of Bird Dog Training has been crafted over generations and continually evolves to improve how we communicate with our bird dogs. We can put our collective knowledge and experience to work for your dog. Your dog can benefit from the experiences we have gained by working with other dogs for decades and from our well established facilities and fields.
There are numerous reasons to have your bird dog trained: it broadens their experiences, enhances their natural abilities, and equips you with the skills to handle them more proficiently. A trained dog is not only safer in the field, but also more composed and enjoyable to hunt with. Our approach focuses on building your dog’s Confidence, Composure, and Compliance—qualities that make them welcome in the field and wherever else you may take them.
Our Smith Method of Dog Training (also known as the HuntSmith Silent Command System) has been developed over two generations and works for any dog, regardless of breed or background. Like a well-designed curriculum, our system begins with foundational training and systematically builds more advanced skills.
By elevating your dog’s prey drive and then shaping it into controlled, focused behavior, we help develop a confident, mannerly bird dog. Through conditioned responses, a solid foundation, and consistent training, your dog will learn to work with you in the field, become a proficient bird finder, and stand steady on birds. We don’t just train dogs—we partner with them, offering leadership and guidance while drawing out their natural potential.
Bird Dog Training Focused on Mindset and Responses to Subtle Cues
Our approach to bird dog training goes beyond commands—we shape dogs that think. At the heart of our program is a mindset-based method focused on the 3 Cs: Confidence, Composure, and Compliance. These qualities shape everything we do, creating pointing dogs that are not only obedient, but better mentally equipped for the challenges of field and home life.
From day one, dogs in our program learn to respond to subtle cues, begin staying more composed in exciting moments, and to work in true partnership with us. Whether it’s in the field, at home, or handling on our agility course, each dog is trained to join up—to read the handler, stay mentally connected, and move with purpose.
We welcome all pointing breeds, including English pointers, setters, German shorthairs, Brittanys, labs, pudelpointers, drahthaars, and more. What matters to us isn’t the breed—it’s the individual dog and their unique qualities that matter. With a limited number of dogs in training at any given time, we’re able to give each one focused, hands-on instruction tailored to their needs at every moment.
Obedience, steadiness, and mindset development are all part of the daily structure. And because every bird dog’s performance starts with nutrition and health, we proudly feed Purina Pro Plan—trusted for decades to support working dogs’ energy, coat, and overall condition.
FIELD INTRODUCTION CLASS
This class introduces your dog to all of the elements of the field, builds your dog's inherent prey drive on birds, and prepares him for formal training. This class is designed to bring your dog's prey drive to a pinnacle. There are no rules taught at this level as we are focusing on developing a desire to hunt.
We recommend dogs be at least 4 months old to attend this class. This is a great preparatory class for any dog going into the Basic Formal Training Class (even if a mature dog). The class is designed to allow individuals to roll right into their Basic Formal Training Class the following month without interruption. There is no upper age limit for our Field Intro.
If your dog has no prior field experience on game birds, the Field Intro Class is required before a dog can begin Formal Training.
$875 (2-week class)
Available classes:
Sept. 15 - Sept. 30, 2025
January 15 - February 1, 2026
BASIC FORMAL TRAINING CLASS
Your dog's formal training as a bird dog begins here.
When you look at all of the skills a pointing dog needs to know they can be entirely simplified in to three basic skills.
These foundational skills are what we call our Core Behaviors:
Go With You: This Core Behavior begins with a good loose lead heel, progressing to an off lead heel, and then to going with you at a distance in the hunting field. The mindset of Going With You is one of the early indicators of a dog joining up with you and beginning to work with you.
Come To You: Every dog needs a solid recall, which is also the foundation for a good natural retrieve.
Stand Still: The ultimate challenge for bird dogs is the Core Behavior of standing still, particularly in moments of excitement. This includes standing still on point, during a back, when standing beside his owner, at a gate/door, on the vet table, and a multitude of other situations.
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This 3-month class will teach your dog Core Behaviors, steady your dog on game and develop the fundamental skills every bird dog should know. During this class, we will teach dogs both an on and off-lead heel, teach them to work scent and be steady on game, work on handling, honoring, recall, loading, and basic manners to be a refined bird dog. At the end of the Basic Class these dogs have seen numerous birds and hunting scenarios every day of class and they are ready for the experience the world outside the classroom will give them. These are "green broke" dogs ready to begin a career!
The first month of training works to develop behavior or conditioned responses to mechanical cues of a rope (ie: on lead heeling, on lead recall, whoa post, direction changes, etc). The second month progresses to transitioning those conditioned responses to the remote cue of an e-collar and begin the steadying process on birds. The third month puts the finishing polish on the dog and brings them to the cusp of learned behavior. This 90-day program teaches a dog all that he needs to know to be successful and mannerly in the bird field and in life in general.
We implement our Challenge Course (agility obstacles) throughout the class as a way of quickly teaching dogs to listen to cues that are increasingly subtle and as a way of getting dogs to join up with us, becoming partners in action. The Challenge Course also gets dogs comfortable jumping on objects when asked and standing still (just like at your vet's office). By navigating these obstacles dogs also gain the benefit of increased balance and more awareness of where their feet are. Presenting dogs with challenges, such as the Challenge Course, helps to build their resiliency and ability to manage stressors in a positive way.
If your dog likes to retrieve, we will work to polish that natural retrieve and work on the dog's ability to hunt dead. Trained retrieve is not a part of this class.
We do ask owners to come to our kennels to pick up their dogs at the end of training, instead of having them picked up or flown home. We will spend time going over the training and how to manage the dog for optimal behavior and performance. We guide the dog and owner through this transition as they begin to implement their new experiences in order to restructure their relationship for the better. This transition is critical for the dog's success.
If your dog has not had any prior bird and field exposure, the Field Introduction Class is a pre-requisite to enrolling in this class. Field Intro can typically take place during the two weeks prior to the beginning of the Basic Formal Training Class.
Generally, dogs are ready for this class at around a year of age. If you just received a new puppy now is a good time to sign up for his Basic Class next year!
$1,750 per month (3-month class)
Available classes:
Oct. 1 - Dec. 31, 2025
Feb. 1 - May 1, 2026
TUNE UPS & ADVANCED CLASSES
Prepare your bird dog for hunting season with an Annual Tune Up.
This is an annual opportunity to bring your trained dog's performance to a peak and prepare him for a great hunting or trialing season. Just like with people, when dogs do not perform a certain skill for a period of time (ie: the off-season) they get "rusty" and out of shape, both mentally and physically. This class is designed to prepare your dog to hit the ground running on his first hunt of the season focused and giving his best performance. Your dog will get a refresher on any handling cues they may have not been using on a daily basis, have multiple bird contacts a day to regain focus on working birds, and improve their physical condition. Any dog previously trained at Smith Kennels is eligible for this experience.
This class elevates your dog’s skills and further developing him as a proficient and mannerly hunter.
$1,750 per month
Available classes:
Sept. 1 - 30, 2025
Please click below if you'd like to receive a Reservation Form to hold a spot for your dog in a class. If a class has already filled, we can place you on our waiting list.
PRIVATE INSTRUCTION
On premise private instruction is offered at $300 for two hours and $1,000 for a full day of instruction. Advance notice is required.
Click below to reach out and schedule a session.
