There are many things involved in choosing the proper training program for your dog.  First, you must decide what expectations you have for your dog.  Do you need help with basic obedience that will help your dog be more responsive in the field, or are you wanting to improve retrieving and pointing skills to prepare for hunting season?  Maybe it's the desire to have a competition dog.  Whatever you decide it's absolutely necessary to have an open communication with your trainer to ensure that your needs are met.  After you've given some thought to your expectations of a program, you need to think about the type of trainer you want.  It is best to be able to watch a trainer work their dogs.  Are the dogs responsive to commands and eager to work?  If they are well controlled and have a good attitude you can be assured they are getting the most out of the training process.  At No-Limits we highly encourage you to meet with us or at least speak with us personally in order to get the most out of you and your dogs experience.

The most important thing to realize about your dog is that training doesn't just begin when you send them to a trainer.  It begins the minute you bring them home.  The relationship that you develop with your pup sets the stage for successful training later on.  I would be happy to discuss ways to raise your dog so that they respond well and have a great attitude for retrieving.  These are essential ingredients in order to get the most out of your dog.

By 6 or 7 months of age, most dogs have their permanent teeth and have acquired the maturity that formal training requires.  This is a perfect time to begin.  If your dog is older than this, and you wish to start a program, keep in mind that a few habits may have to be altered, and this may lengthen the training time.  First, obedience must be taught and become as natural as eating and sleeping for your dog.  It's how we live all the time, not just during a training session.  Once this is accomplished we move on to obedience while carrying the training bumper, force fetch, and then retrieving.  When the dog has graduated past this level, I add birds into our routine.  This is what it's all about!  After this, the dogs education is centered on marking, and being dedicated to the hunt.