With 19 years of professional training behind us, Cross Creek Kennel provides the best gun dog training for your working retriever. Whether you want your dog to work in hunting situations or compete in hunting competitions, we are here to train your companion for your hunting needs.

Our Philosophy behind dog training is show, teach, then train.

Our program is structured around each individual working retriever!  Not all dogs learn the same way, so your dog is trained at its own pace, not ours. 

Working Retriever Training services:  

• Puppy Head Start

• Basic Gun Dog Training Program

• Advanced Gun Dog Training Program

• Continuance of Advanced/Hunt Test Competiton

• Obedience Training Program (non-hunting dogs)

Retriever Puppy head start Program

We have recently added a puppy head start program. Building a up a puppy's retrieving desire is as important as training.  It's up to the trainer to ask your dog to be obedient & drop the bumper/bird, however it's up to your dog to want to continuously go after the birds in the hunting field.  Our Retriever Head start program is available to dog 4 months or older.  Your puppy will be exposed to following:  Birds, bumpers, ducks, different types of swimming terrain, decoys, different types of land terrain, introduced to training pistol sounds.  Your puppy will also be exposed to an introduction to obedience.  All retriever puppy work is based on praise and fun.

Basic Gun Dog Training

Includes on and off lead obedience, mouth work, steadiness, and marking singles & doubles up about 100 yards.  Why do we emphasize on marking for young dogs? The marking training teaches a dog not just to use their nose, but to box off areas to hunt productively for retrieves.   The marking training also teaches your dog to push over & through different terrains & hunting scenarios to find a retrieve.  Your retriever will be ready to hunt over and/or compete in AKC Junior or UKC Started level Hunt Tests.

Advanced Gun Dog Training

Includes handling or casting training for your dog to run land and water blinds.  In the advanced gun dog training program your dog learns more than just taking hand casts.  They learn the concepts of running a blind.  Your dog will also learn more advanced marking concepts. Your working retriever will be able to run a blind in the duck blind or compete in AKC Senior or UKC Seasoned level Hunt tests.

Continuance of Advanced/Hunt Test Competition

The majority of dogs we train never see trials, however if you are intersted in competitng your dog and your dog is capabile this is an option for you.  For competition dogs we will run them in Junior/Started while they are going through our Advanced Gun Dog Training.  After they have learned to handle then we start competing them in Senior/Seasoned Hunt test.  During hunt test season they will be learning advanced hunt test training while competing.  If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

Obedience

For the non working dogs we provide obedience training.  Includes on and off lead obedience. The commands learned are Here, Sit, Down, and Stay.

We provide a free evaluation on dogs prior to entering in any program.  So if you are unsure if your dog will be the kind of hunting dog you want, give us a call. 

Already have a puppy?

From the time you bring your puppy home there is a lot you can be doing to help bring out your puppy’s retrieving style and desire.  Bring out your retriever's retrieving desire is just as important as formal training.

We have a couple of options for you.

• Puppy Head Start Program (as above)

• Need ideas on how to build up your puppy’s desire & style?  I have written an article called “Raising a Working Retriever”.  Just contact me & I will be happy to send you a copy.

Searching for a working retriever puppy?

We are here to help you find your next working retriever puppy.

If you have any questions just call or email us.