Our started English Springer Spaniels and Labrador Retrievers show the good looks, excellent temperament, remarkable intelligence, style, and stamina you would expect from their pedigrees. We offer three different levels of started hunting dogs to meet your requirements.
1. Basic Obedience
2. Started Hunting Dog
3. Finished Hunting Dog
Basic Obedience – As the name suggests, dogs at this level have completed our formal Basic Obedience Program. In addition to formal obedience training, these dogs have been socialized around the house, with kids and other dogs, and introduced to retrieving, birds, and gunfire. Dogs at this level are a great option for clients looking to do most of the training themselves but would like a young dog with a strong/proven foundation. English Springer Spaniels and Labrador Retrievers at this level of training are generally $4,000 to $5,500 and are between 6 and 12 months of age. Based on the popularity of these young dogs, availability is very limited.
Started Hunting Dog – This is the most popular program we offer and will do almost everything your average hunter is looking for in an upland or waterfowl dog. Our started hunting dogs have completed the formal obedience program and have been started on basic fieldwork. They have been introduced to a wide variety of cover and birds; they will hunt under control for you in the field. Our Started English Springer Spaniels will find flush and retrieve birds to hand for you, and our Retrievers will remain line steady and retriever ducks for you on both land and in water. If you are looking for a proven performer dog that will be a pleasure to hunt over, then a started hunting dog is for you. Our Started English Springer Spaniels and Labrador Retrievers run between $5,500 and $7,500 and are generally between 12 and 24 months of age.
Finished Hunting Dogs – Our finished hunting dogs are truly amazing animals. As the name implies, these dogs are completely finished dogs. Our finished English Springer Spaniels are steady-to-wing-and-shot (sit/hup on the flush and wait until released to retrieve the bird), work an impeccable quartering pattern, and will handle blind retrieves on both land and water. While our finished Labrador Retrievers will be rock solid steady to multiple birds, listen to verbal and whistle commands, perform blind retrieves with diversions on both land and water, and honor other dogs.
Typically, our finished hunting dogs have been on the truck with our “Travel Team” competing in AKC Hunt Test or Field Trials. Truth be told, you will not find a better-trained hunting dog. Our finished dogs generally range in price from $7,500 to $15,000 and are normally two years of age or older.
Here is an example of a Finished Hunting Dog working pheasants:
Please call us to hear more about our started dogs – 203-518-0549.