HAVE US TRAIN YOUR BIRD DOG
There are many reasons to have your bird dog trained. Training enhances a dog’s abilities and gives the owner the tools to better handle their bird dog. The ability to easily handle a bird dog and maintain steadiness in the field keeps dogs safer. Good training builds a bird dog’s Confidence, Composure, and Compliance. Training is the experience that opens doors for your dog to be welcomed and enjoyed wherever he goes. The benefit of training extends well beyond the bird field.
The Smith Training Method (also known as the HuntSmith Silent Command System) has been developed through two generations of our family training bird dogs and the method works for any dog. Like any successful school curriculum, this bird dog training system begins with the fundamentals and builds skills based on that solid foundation.
This training format helps to bring dogs' inherent prey drive to a pinnacle and then begins to mold that natural instinct into the desired behavior of a confident, mannerly bird dog. Through the development of conditioned responses and learned behavior we are able to have dogs that go with you in the field, are proficient bird finders, and are mannerly around game. We work in partnership with the dogs as we train, giving them leadership and relying on their natural abilities.
Our training philosophy revolves around developing specific mindsets in dogs which we see as the key ingredient in any dog's success in life and in the field. These Core Mindsets we call the 3 Cs Confidence, Composure, and Compliance. It’s our goal every day to structure a dog’s experiences in a way that builds their capabilities in each of these areas.
Each workout is orchestrated to further develop these key traits in a dog and every interaction between trainer and dog is tailored to meet the individual dog’s needs at that particular time. Our continual goal in training is to get every dog to join up with us in a working partnership, for every dog to be proficient in all aspects of training, and for each dog to be more mentally capable due to the training.
We do not specialize in any one particular breed and all pointing breeds are welcome to attend any of our classes. At any given time in our kennels you will likely find an assortment of English pointers, English setters, German shorthairs, Brittanys, labs, drahthaars, pudelpointers, and more. To us it is not the breed that is important, it is the individual dog and their innate qualities that are vital.
We personally work with each dog in our training program. A large part of our daily routine is spent training, cleaning kennels, and caring for our dogs. We only take a limited number of dogs and take the time to work with each individual.
We are proud to feed Purina Pro Plan to both our personal dogs and the client dogs staying in our kennels. It is a high-quality feed that we wholeheartedly believe in. We have been feeding Pro Plan for decades and we have consistently had great success with it over the course of many years. Bird dogs use a lot of energy and Pro Plan is an excellent fit for their dietary needs. Pro Plan provides the nutritional platform for good endurance, glossy hair coats, firm stools, and overall good body condition. There are many reasons that professionals choose Pro Plan, for us the nutritional science stands above the rest.
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:
January 15 - February 1, 2025
Sept. 15 - Sept. 30, 2025
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:
Feb. 1 - May 1, 2025
Oct. 1 - Dec. 31, 2025
TUNE UPS & ADVANCED CLASSES
Prepare your dog for each 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, 2024
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.
