Dog trainers??

[Ducktrickster]

Originally Posted by mudman03

Ken or Chad Vidrine. Ken is in Opelousas area and his son is in Lafayette area. Ken had my dog finished at 9 months. Took him in at 6 months and he won 2nd in the Gueydan duck festival in the beginner division. As he was still a beginner and was his first ever fireld trial he lost to a finished dog that ran for one of the trainers mentioned above. Needless to say either one of the guys i mentioned are great.

That is impressive. Ken must be a phenominal trainer.

[bgizzle]

Chad had his hands in with my dog for awhile too until mark sonnier stopped messing with all that then chad started his own gig. He helped my buddy train his gyp and I must say.... That dog had the most drive and obedience I've only seen in one other dog besides her and the other dog was a gyp trained by Barry Lyons. She had a grand pass as of late. I say of late but it was last yr in Iowa I believe.


"Go ahead, share your opinion! I won't cry"

[Shawn Braquet]

Originally Posted by Ducktrickster

That is impressive. Ken must be a phenominal trainer.

Kind of my thoughts, "Finished" has lots of meanings in the dog world. At 2.5 yrs old mine still isn't "Finished" but hoping to get there soon.

[Dogdoc21]

Ed and Jackie Thibodeaux with Satin Belle Retrievers. You can find them on facebook for quick contact info. I have one of their dogs and she's incredible in the field and at home.

[Nickt87]

If I were ever to send my dog to a trainer I would want

#1A to know my dog is in good hands when it comes to feed, care, and overall humane treatment. (after seeing how some "pros" treat dogs you would know why I have this as my #1A)
#1B I would want to see some ribbons on his wall showing what he has accomplished. Just to make sure he's not just some internet trainer or somebody that likes to play dress up and go throw bumpers for dogs.

With that being said and being part of the hunt test community for a few years now I would recommend 2 people that could fit for you. (Not saying any other recommendations are bad at all, but if I were to pay another man to put his hands on MY dogs these would be them in South Louisiana for Hunt Test.)

Chuck McCall for AKC and UKC-Great guy, great trainer, and great dogs

Robert Authment for UKC-Great Guy, Responsible breeder, and from what I've seen has some nice dogs in UKC.

Another good thing is these trainers stay local year round, they don't winter up north to where you can't go see your pups progress.

[bbrown]

I agree with Nick on the trainers but do not overlook a trainer that goes north for the summer. I will only put a competitive dog with a person that goes north for the summer for 2 reasons.

1)It is much cooler up north and you can get more out of a dog when the weather is under 100F and 1000000% humidity

2)The dog will have more opportunity to run tests during the HT/FT as most test are held up north during the summer months.

With that being said its all about who you are comfortable with and echoing what Sprunt said, go and train with the person prior to sending your dog there. If he is training what you are comfortable with them move forward with him. Everybody on this site has an opinion however with your dog, yours is the only one that matters.
Good luck in the process and I hope you enjoy it.

[Nickt87]

Originally Posted by bbrown

I agree with Nick on the trainers but do not overlook a trainer that goes north for the summer. I will only put a competitive dog with a person that goes north for the summer for 2 reasons.

1)It is much cooler up north and you can get more out of a dog when the weather is under 100F and 1000000% humidity

2)The dog will have more opportunity to run tests during the HT/FT as most test are held up north during the summer months.

With that being said its all about who you are comfortable with and echoing what Sprunt said, go and train with the person prior to sending your dog there. If he is training what you are comfortable with them move forward with him. Everybody on this site has an opinion however with your dog, yours is the only one that matters.
Good luck in the process and I hope you enjoy it.

Competitive FT dogs definitely, you don't stand a chance on the FT circuit training for the 30 mins a day of tolerable weather during the summer. I think that many HT trainers can and do make it work down south in the summer, bc the setups are so different that it allows them to train many more dogs per hour than FT.

[Spunt Drag]

Originally Posted by bbrown

I agree with Nick on the trainers but do not overlook a trainer that goes north for the summer. I will only put a competitive dog with a person that goes north for the summer for 2 reasons.

1)It is much cooler up north and you can get more out of a dog when the weather is under 100F and 1000000% humidity

2)The dog will have more opportunity to run tests during the HT/FT as most test are held up north during the summer months.

With that being said its all about who you are comfortable with and echoing what Sprunt said, go and train with the person prior to sending your dog there. If he is training what you are comfortable with them move forward with him. Everybody on this site has an opinion however with your dog, yours is the only one that matters.
Good luck in the process and I hope you enjoy it.

To the OP or anyone else interested in running dogs competitively.
Not so much in the HT, world but the FT world, a working class Amateur almost doesn't even stand a chance because of these reasons. A young dogs average day on a pro's truck is usually some yard/drill work in the morning and then head out to the field to run a marking setup that afternoon. The pro will have hired, full time bird boys who are trained to throw and/or shoot birds for him. The setups will increase in difficulty throughout the week, M-F. Then after a full day of training, they will crank up the 4-wheeler and run all the dogs for 30 minutes to exercise and condition them. That's 5 days a week of training in a knowledgable trainers hands. And when it gets hot, they travel 20 hours north where's it's 60 degrees in the mornings.

In contrast to an Amateurs dog, when he/she doesn't have work, honey-do's, T-ball games, dance recitals, a wedding, a funeral, work again, visiting relatives, another baby being born, illness, or just life in general, they will go out and train said dog. If they're really lucky, the other Amateurs that he/she trains with, don't have any of these things to do that day either, and can throw birds for each other. And most of the time when these stars do align, it's usually a race against the clock/sun to get all the dogs some work in before it gets dark or the the wife calls and says get your a$$ home now!!! All while trying to balance the fine line between getting a good session in, and killing your dog from overheating. And if that Am is REALLY lucky, they'll have a pro on speed dial to help them through the bumps they'll encounter in the training process.

Sending your dog with a pro, is money well spent. When you go to the line, you'll have a dog that has seen plenty of marks, been trained by a knowledgable trainer, and still has plenty left in the tank in the 4th series because of the conditioning it received. Just use due-diligence when choosing the pro you will use. Some good pro suggestions already. Give em a call and see which one is right for you.

It's a great sport but be careful, it's highly addictive.

[Shawn Braquet]

Originally Posted by Spunt Drag

To the OP or anyone else interested in running dogs competitively.
Not so much in the HT, world but the FT world, a working class Amateur almost doesn't even stand a chance because of these reasons. A young dogs average day on a pro's truck is usually some yard/drill work in the morning and then head out to the field to run a marking setup that afternoon. The pro will have hired, full time bird boys who are trained to throw and/or shoot birds for him. The setups will increase in difficulty throughout the week, M-F. Then after a full day of training, they will crank up the 4-wheeler and run all the dogs for 30 minutes to exercise and condition them. That's 5 days a week of training in a knowledgable trainers hands. And when it gets hot, they travel 20 hours north where's it's 60 degrees in the mornings.

In contrast to an Amateurs dog, when he/she doesn't have work, honey-do's, T-ball games, dance recitals, a wedding, a funeral, work again, visiting relatives, another baby being born, illness, or just life in general, they will go out and train said dog. If they're really lucky, the other Amateurs that he/she trains with, don't have any of these things to do that day either, and can throw birds for each other. And most of the time when these stars do align, it's usually a race against the clock/sun to get all the dogs some work in before it gets dark or the the wife calls and says get your a$$ home now!!! All while trying to balance the fine line between getting a good session in, and killing your dog from overheating. And if that Am is REALLY lucky, they'll have a pro on speed dial to help them through the bumps they'll encounter in the training process.

Sending your dog with a pro, is money well spent. When you go to the line, you'll have a dog that has seen plenty of marks, been trained by a knowledgable trainer, and still has plenty left in the tank in the 4th series because of the conditioning it received. Just use due-diligence when choosing the pro you will use. Some good pro suggestions already. Give em a call and see which one is right for you.

It's a great sport but be careful, it's highly addictive.

Talk about hitting the nail on the head when it comes to Am's, but it's Weeball and not Teeball and no dance recitals yet thank goodness.

[Ducktrickster]

Enjoy ot now Shawn. With two girls doing softball, karate, and gymnastic there is little time for anything else. I had to hang up my whistle and heeling stick.

[MarshRat89]

All great stuff guys. Thanks I appreciate the help. I don't plan on getting into the FT's. I just want to get him titled atleast HRCH. Then I'm undecided where I will go from there. Either sell him as a finished dog or keep him and hunt him.


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[robertnla]

Originally Posted by mudman03

Ken or Chad Vidrine. Ken is in Opelousas area and his son is in Lafayette area. Ken had my dog finished at 9 months. Took him in at 6 months and he won 2nd in the Gueydan duck festival in the beginner division. As he was still a beginner and was his first ever fireld trial he lost to a finished dog that ran for one of the trainers mentioned above. Needless to say either one of the guys i mentioned are great.

The truth will always come in time. Its my time.
I take it you are talking about the 2011 35th Gueydan Duck Festival Dog Trial. You have 2 things right. One, your dog won 2nd. Two, Your dog lost to first place dog named HUNTER. What you are not truthful about is 1st place was won by a 9 Month old dog DOB: 11/20/2010 that had never run a trial in his life. He was a nice started dog that could do single marks and deliver to hand. He ran dead last and in the heat of the day. He did a great job and was judged by a panel of 2 judges who evidently seen the same and awarded the dog 1st. The dog was just a client dog I raised from a puppy. Info http://www.huntinglabpedigree.com/pedigree.asp?id=23113 . If someone told you Hunter was a finish dog then that person was a liar. If no one told you that I don't have to explain any further what you are. I seriously don't think you heard it from your trainer cause I know them well and they have more pride in their work than to be slinging mud. I judge their dogs often and they have very fine dogs and don't have to make excuses cause dogs will be dogs on any given day. If it wasn't your dog's day so be it. There were 28 dogs in started and I personally would be happy to have any dog in the top 4 any day of the week. I ran several of my own dogs and they all lost but Im not crying about it. I started training for 2012. If the truth hurts so be it. Don't come slinging mud down my street with lies especially in public. On the flip side I Wish you better luck next time. The difference between me and you is I'd be hugging my dog if it won any of the top 4 spots. I don't have to cheat and my 1st place record at the Duck Festival is second to none and speaks for itself.

[Goooh]

Should the term "mud slingin" be changed to "rock slingin"?

[jlincecum]

keep the info coming guys

[bgizzle]

Originally Posted by Goooh

Should the term "mud slingin" be changed to "rock slingin"?

Like


"Go ahead, share your opinion! I won't cry"

[bgizzle]

Barry Lyons Scott! I told you before and I'll tell you again! He is bad to the bone. Look up his grand passes. He is beast mode


"Go ahead, share your opinion! I won't cry"

[robertnla]

I don't have anything against any trainer or handler. I like um all. I enjoy seeing them and the dogs run.I enjoy their conversation and will go out of my way to talk to them at a hunts. I just don't like liars and people who cry about something they know nothing about.

[coonasscat]

Cecil is really good and does hunt trial if the customer wants! I recommend him top of all! Know most of the names mentioned, cecil is the best far and above! You will be able to work besides him with your dog so the transition is normal.

[Ilovestohunt]

Originally Posted by Spunt Drag

Here's some advice that's worth what I'll charge you for it: try word of mouth first. Whoever numerous people recommend you to, go check em out. Go watch a day of training with them. Ask questions and be up front with concerns and GOALS. Notice I used the term GOALS instead of EXPECTATIONS. When dealing with a living, breathing, free-thinking animal, expectations can quickly turn into disappointments. Don't set a timeline, "I'm gonna send him to you til November and I want him to run cold blinds by then". Tell him what you want; just an obedient pet, a polished gun dog, a dog to play the Hunt Test game with, or a competitive Field Trial dog. Watch the dogs he takes out of the truck/trailer for the day. Are their tails wagging, or tucked between their legs? Do they enjoy their work, or dread coming out of that box? Every pro will probably have 1 or 2 dogs that are pigs, but a truck/trailer full of them should raise concerns. Don't be alarmed when they give the dog a harsh correction, be more concerned with how the dog handled the pressure and did it figure out how to work through it and succeed in its task. That will tell you everything u want to know about that trainer. And lastly, try not to worry about the price. It will cost a small fortune, so prepare yourself.

Yes indeed. Well said, it's been awhile but back in the day I worked for and around some very good trainers. I also shot live marks for HT and FT. Anyway,. Goals vs expectations- very well said. I ain't sayin nothin else on the matter but bump^^

I haven't had a dog in a few years but plan at least one more before I check out. So I enjoy all the info y'all share here.


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[Spunt Drag]

Here's some puppy fever for y'all. I'll try to take some better pics later