Gun Dog Forum

Hey guys,

I am looking for a good trainer in Michigan? Also I was wondering about what age do most dogs go to a professonal trainer?

Thanks,

Luker

can't help you on mi. trainers, but on the age to send a dog to a pro, it depends on what you want the pro to do. if you have a supply of birds and can get the dog into birds frequently, then you can do most of the work yourself until the dog is about a year of age, then send it to a pro for training to steady to wing and shot. if you do not have that supply of birds, wild or pen raised, then you can send earlier for the pro to develop the dog.

most pros would like to see the dog before they are two, and better yet around 1 year of age. if they are untrained until they are two, it is going to make the pros job harder, because it takes longer to train them (harder to teach an old dog new tricks).

have sent dogs to pros at all ages between 6 mos. and 2 years, and has worked out good. you just need to know what the expectations are, that is, what do you want the pro to accomplish with the dog. if a young dog, under 1, the expectation should be to get the dog exposed to birds, get it to point, and hold point at least long enough for you to get up to flush. after 1, the expectations can be higher.

if you have a dog you plan to put with a pro to field trial, then about 6 months is right.

I have heard very good things about Bruce Minard up in Beulah, MI. I believe he specializes in pointing breeds.

I recommend Bruce Minard from High Five Kennels as well. Honest hard working trainer. http://hifivekennels.com/home.htm

The best one I know of is Scott Townsend in Maybee, MI.

OhioOnPoint, We live about 15 min. apart. I live in wauseon. That is really crazy. Do you train your own dogs? How long have you guys been doing hunts? Do you enter in any events?

There are a few trainers in MI. It depends on what you are looking for.

Scott is a good one and runs NSTRA. A bit heavy handed for me.

Im trying to remember the GSP trial dog trainer up there now....name slips me...give me sometime! ...Dave Zost....That was killing me!

Hart is up there as well....predominently a long tail man, but decent too.

One of the better ones recently died, unfortunately.

Phil
REO

Bruce Minard
Dave Grubb
Ed Hart

I've heard of Ed Hart - I think. is he a vizsla breeder as well? Up beyond Grand Rapids?

The one that passed recently I believe was Gary Jagoda, a vizsla guy.

Yes it was....I ran with him at trials quite often.....He will be missed.

In fact he died at a trial in Iowa, doing what he loved!

Phil
REO

Didn't Dave Grubb pass away a couple of months ago too.

Ezzy

Dave Grubb's ad is running weekly in the American Field.
Says he's down at his winter camp in Selma Alabama.

Scotts kennel is www.crosswindkennel.com

He may be heavy handed (i am not sure) but his dogs are champions.

I saw Fritz and Chopper about 2 weeks ago, and they are Money!