Testimonials

Well this is Mia’s first bird season and things are going really well in my opinion. She is my first bird dog so I don’t have any experience to compare progress to but she is getting very consistent at locating and pointing birds. She is starting to hold her point a little longer each trip out. We are getting to hunt together at least once a week now that archery season is done and just passed 50 taken birds this year. We have been hunting pheasant and quail with some goose and duck trips scheduled this winter. Her retrieving is really fun to watch and you can tell she loves to hunt. I have force fetched trained her and we are in the process of whoa training now. She doesn’t hunt well with other dogs yet but I’m sure that will come with time.

Todd Bass

Dave,

First I want to say what a pleasure it was to be around Locker, he is so well mannered. You did a great job with him.

I worked him every day in the river and on land also, took him running with my dirt bike, he did every thing I asked of him. His training was awesome. I left him with a good friend of mine who hunts and I am hoping he has got into some birds by now.

I really regret telling you I won’t be able to meet you in the Dakotas as I have to go to a training seminar that is required for my job. I wish you good luck and much fun, hopefully next year. I will stay in touch, You to, and again I must say Locker is more than I was expecting, what a great job you did with him. I had a dog that was supposed to be started before and he was nowhere close to the dog I have now, thanks. If you think of breeding him back into your kennels just call...Lenny

Dave,

Thank you for the email, always nice to stay in touch! We could not be more pleased with Newt, he has really been a fun addition to the family. He has a HUGE heart, will do anything to please, and is an absolute gentleman to be around. I get a lot of compliments on his looks, he really is a unique colored, looking Labrador.

He is still a pup, only being a year old, but when we do go to the field, he is all business. Obviously, it is going to take him some time to become great, but he really “acts” like he knows what he is doing : ). I trained him to the commands (he is VERY obedient) . . . And then, Abby, my 4 years old Black Lab has taken him under her wing to show him the ropes in the field. Newt and Abby are best of “buds”, and sometimes I question if Newts loyalty would be with me or her if it came down to it!!!

Anyhow, we couldn’t be happier. He is a cherished member of our family, and we have thoroughly enjoyed him since he came to live with us.

If you ever have a potential buyer curious about past pups, do not hesitate to send their questions our way. We absolutely love our pup : ) !

Jim Heath

Howdy Dave,

Just wanted to send you an update on Newt’s progress.

The last email I sent you, Newt had been joining Abby (4 year old Black Labrador) on several hunts in which he was extremely obedient, had his nose to the ground, and went through the motions. He never really showed signs of breaking out on his own, almost content with following Abby and understanding of the fact that he was learning from his older mentor. He always went after each bird shot, and would obediently retrieve to hand when he was the first to arrive at the downed bird. The gunshot was simply an alarm that got his attention and always had him looking to the sky, he loved the water, and he showed allot of heart. But, he was simply going through the motions, and I was content at the fact that he was showing signs of knowing what he was supposed to do, but ok with the fact that he wasn’t yet finding birds because he was young. Pointing was something I was new to, and quite honestly hadn’t expected much from Newt this season.

That has all recently changed. I cannot tell you what it felt like the first time I saw Newt lock up on a bird. At first I couldn’t believe it, not understanding yet the natural tendency of a Pointing Lab. We were walking through a creek bottom that held a large batch of brush. Abby was acting a bit birdie, and Newt was following in line with her. Abby ran by one opening into the brush, and Newt paused and stayed looking in to the brush. Honestly, I didn’t think it was a point . . . Figured maybe something had caught his attention and he was simply investigating. However, he was still, intense and not moving. I brought Abby around to Newt’s location and told her “in here” where Newt’s attention was directed. Immediately a rooster flew from the thick cover.

I must admit, that one . . . I chalked up as coincidence. I was thinking in my mind, maybe it was a point . . . But wasn’t too excited. That all changed about 20 minutes later in the hunt. Still in the creek bottom, I saw a rooster that had found his way into a trouble spot, out in the wide open of the creek bed standing below a slight cliff. Newt saw me stop (he was running through the brush above the creek bottom) and came down to investigate. What happened next, I will never forget. As Newt descended into the bottom with me, he saw the rooster. Instantly, Newt went in to the most beautiful point I have ever seen a Labrador make. Heck, it was the most beautiful point I have ever seen a dog make, period! He lifted his front leg, his body went rigid much like a statue with his tail out and his head cocked towards the rooster. It was one of my highlights as an owner of a Labrador Retriever and avid bird hunter. I have never owned a pointing Lab, and have to give him all the credit . . . It was completely natural.

I stood there for easily 3 –5 minutes just taken back by the moment. The rooster didn’t flinch, and neither did Newt. He stood their with steadfast discipline, never wavering from his point. He looked like a perfect statue of a dog on that creek bottom. Eventually I ended the moment by telling Newt “get him up!” Newt broke from his point towards the bird. The bird flew and we shot him. Newt retrieved the bird with the utmost care back to my hand.

This scene is probably one you have seen hundreds of time raising pointing labs. For me it was a first, and I will never forget that moment with Newt. He has since pointed several more birds, retrieved them, and as always behaved beyond expectations. To tell you we are thrilled with our Newt would be a great understatement. This animal absolutely amazes us every day that he is in our lives. He has a human-like quality, the way he looks at us, and pays attention to our conversations, we almost half expect at times that he is going to open his mouth and start speaking to us! That human-like quality, his hunting ability, the care in which he responds to our children, and the absolute gentleman his is as a house dog quite honestly makes him a once in a lifetime animal.

We can not thank you enough for the care and attention you put into the perfect blend of hunting genetics and obedience making this wonderful family member of ours. I am sure you get loads of emails about the successes other have had with your dogs, but I just felt very inclined to let you know how fun it has been training and hunting besides this remarkable animal that is merely a one year old pup.

In the attached picture you can see me holding Newt as he intently guards the birds we had shot that day.

We truly lucked out stumbling across your website when we were looking for a new pup, and we could not be more pleased or proud of our Newt.

Jim Heath

Dave,

I am not the spokesman for the dog. He does it all himself. He was in our Alaska Fishing camp and spent four weeks with 80 different people. He is crazy about fish and figured out in short order what was happening when the drag went off on a salmon strike. After a short while he began pointing the rod when it had a bite. Sits in the boat and watches intently at the rods. Shortly after that when the fish got close to the boat he launched in the water. We had to put in some training at that point for him to be steady in the boat. He is a ton of energy, Is a gentleman, Minds anyone who pays attention to him. We are confident in his basic training at this point. Planning on working with him on some live birds for retrieving and making sure he is steady on the shot, for the upcoming duck and goose season. As a retriever it appears he will be first class. Going to introduce the shock collar soon. He has some of his own ideas that need to be worked out.
Next is the pointing and upland work. We had him on live pheasants at 4 months and he definitely understood the program.

Anyway fabulous dogs and great bloodline. I am sure some other folks will be calling you.

Bob Klontz

That pup has a great nose. After shooting a pheasant on the ground, some 70' away after letting it out of a bag, the pup tracked it from where it was released, then brought it back to me. I was elated.

Locking the pup in the shed ( so he could not see what I was doing, I dragged the carcass from 250' thru the high grass, zigging and zagging, then stashed it in some tall grass. I released the pup from the shed. He immediately picked up the scent, followed it thru the filed, quartering with the wind in his face. readily, he found the hen carcass. This time, however, he would not bring it to me, instead ran off with it and began chewing on it.

Two hours later, to show my wife what the pup did, I again dragged that carcass around in the field, this time leaving it some 200' away from where he had originally found it. Once again,, that pup tracked that scent and recovered the bird. I was so much elated, just as much watching your son taking his first steps. Mind you now, this pup is some 3 1/2 months old. He is still in kindergarten, as my wife says. He can only improve. his skills. However, I have to work on subduing his temper. He gets ornery at times when he cannot have his way--and will bark at you, then go into a fit of running back and forth till he works off his anger. Alas, one cannot have everything!! So far, I'm thrilled. Moreover, I still have 10 birds in the pen to continue working him with.

Ronald Stearney

Dave,

I was going to wait for hunting season to end before i sent you a update on Lucy. She is my second dog and already at 9 months is half as good as my 12 year old.
Lucy has probably retrieved 30 ducks so far mostly water retrieves. Thats another thing she has been in the water since 10 weeks and is a true water dog.
I have learned to trust her already sitting in the blind if she looks up you better be looking for birds. Now pheasants, she is a bird finding machine. she has roughly 40 flushes on wild birds. I have shot 11. Lucy has sight pointed for me a few times and has stopped on scent, but im not sure it was a point. so I have backed off pheasant hunting until I have time to work on the point and im not tempted to shoot a bird she did not point. Lucys first stage of training went really well. She is very eager to work everyday. I was worried about the strong drive going with a female but she is as intense and focused as any dog ive seen. Lucy fits in well with our other dogs she really likes to keep our schnauzer in shape. And sleeps with the cat. We are very happy with her and I am certain she will be an out standing dog. I am going to hunt test her this spring she should do well. Dave thanks for everything and we will be in contact

Jason Peters

DEAR DAVE: WE NAMED HIM TANNER, OH MY GOD IS HE A KEEPER! HE IS SO SMART AND LOVES TO LEARN. WE HAVE HIM IN CLASS WITH OTHER LABS THAT ARE A YEAR OLD AND HE IS WAY AHEAD OF THEM IN HIS TRAINING. HE IS GOING TO BE IN HIS 1ST HUNT TEST THIS WEEKEND HERE IN WHITEFISH. I WAS OVER IN MALTA DOING OUR SPRING TREE AND HABITAT PLANTING AND WAS ABLE TO GET HIM ON TO ABOUT 2 DOZ PHEASANTS. HE JUST LOVED IT AND WANTED MORE, HE EVEN WENT ON POINT FOR ABOUT 1/2 MIN ON A HEN THAT HELD FOR HIM. FEW OF THE ROOSTERS RAN AND GAVE HIM THE SLIP BUT HE DIDNT WANT TO GIVE UP. HE COMES TO WORK WITH EVERY DAY AND PEOPLE ARE SO IMPRESSED WITH HIM THEY WANT TO KNOW WHERE GOT HIM SO I HAVE GIVEN YOUR NAME TO LOT OF PEOPLE. PLEASE KEEP US ON YOUR LIST, WE KNOW WERE GOING TO GET OUR NEXT PUP. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TANNER, PETE OLSON