Training

Birds are Everywhere!

We believe it is very important to use a high number of quality birds to develop bird sense and prey drive.  We have released a portion of our 4000 birds and our morning training sessions can reach up to 200 flushes on a run.  This speeds the training and creates a great training environment for the dogs.

Willow Creek is constantly seeking ways to incorporate a more positive approach to training all breeds of dogs, utilizing both researched methods and innovative experimenting.  The professional trainers eagerly share ways to help anyone who is wishing to develop their dog of a lifetime.  When you choose Willow Creek as your partner in developing your dog, we will speak with you about your hopes for hunting or obedience and set training goals together.

CORE TRAINING PROGRAMS

These various programs will be customized to your range and speed of hunting.  One of our trainers will help identify specific training goals before or during the drop off.  A combination of these programs may also be developed to achieve both upland and waterfowl skills.

• Puppy bird & gun introduction – 2-4 weeks of training for puppies 4 – 6 months old

  • Clicker & collar conditioning to whoa, here, and kennel
  • Exposure to high numbers of quality birds to develop your dog’s bird sense, prey drive, tracking and pointing/flushing as quickly as possible
  • Gunfire conditioning

• One month program for pointing breeds 

  • Clicker & collar conditioning to whoa, here, heel and kennel
  • Bird and gun introduction
  • Steady to wing (point and hold until you flush the bird)
  • Most dogs will have a handle on stop to flush, if they bump the birds we will whoa them
  • Develop retrieving hold
  • Exposure to high numbers of quality birds to develop bird sense quickly
  • Establish range through positive reinforcement and collar condition
  • Extending this training beyond one month would allow for work on a conditioned retrieve, steady to release, honoring through another dog’s retrieve, stop to flush and more experience

• One month program for Upland Flusher / Retrieving breeds

  • Clicker & collar conditioning to sit, here, heel and kennel
  • Bird and gun introduction
  • Develop retrieving and hold
  • Exposure to high numbers of quality birds to develop bird sense quickly
  • Establish range through positive reinforcement and collar condition
  • Extending this training beyond one month would allow for work on a conditioned retrieve, sit to flush steadiness training, hand signals, increased marking ability and difficulty, blind retrieves and more experience

• One month program for waterfowl

  • Clicker & collar conditioning to sit, here, heel and kennel
  • Whistle conditioning
  • Duck and gun introduction – Live winged mallards are tossed into a small pond to develop prey drive and tracking in cattails and water.  The dogs learn what a duck does in the water and how to find wounded game
  • Steadiness from a blind, customized to your hunting/blind conditions
  • Marking singles and doubles
  • Cheating singles
  • Develop retrieving and hold
  • Extending this training beyond one month would allow for work on a conditioned retrieve, hand signals, blind retrieves, more experience, and increased steadiness

Pricing for Training

• $750/month (plus tax in MN)
• $420/2 week bird and gun intro
• $35/day for training less than a month
• Prices are all inclusive (includes food, boarding, birds, tick and heart worm preventative)
• Consulting Sessions – $50/hour

WILLOW CREEK TRAINING GOALS

• Custom train each dog to each owner’s specific needs
• Teach you how to stay consistent with what the dog has learned
• Dog and owner both go home with the confidence it takes to make a perfect team
• Our training customers can participate in our Saturday Handler’s Clinics free of charge if they need to brush up on commands and handling

We understand there is a great deal of information to transfer after training your dog.  We will spend the time needed to ensure your understanding of the training done, and how to maintain it.  We are only a phone call away if any questions arise.

Here are some (but not all) of the many training goals you may select:

• Learning to walk on the treadmill
• Obedience – sit, here, heel, kennel, etc.
• Steadiness work
• Water work
• Retrieving work – Conditioned Retrieve, blind retrieves, hand signals,
• Whoa training
• Gun dog training
• Socialization
• Hunt test training
• Gun sensitivity/shyness
• Bird work – pointing, honoring, duck search

What to Expect When Willow Creek Trains Your Dog

Training Dogs:

• Two training sessions per day
• Five training days per week
• Each training session will last 15 to 30 minutes
• At Drop Off we will go over your goals for your dog

What to Bring:

• Shot records verifying:
• Rabies vaccination
• Bordatella (kennel cough) vaccination
• DHPPC (distemper) vaccination
• Any medication other than flea and tick preventative or heart worm preventative
• Payment of one month in advance
• Optional: Dog Food