Here's the page of all the frequently asked questions that I get running at tests, meeting people who want to train their dogs, or even people who are curious about what I do to get my dogs to hunt.

1) Teaching Whoa?
I teach whoa in the house on the floor. I teach and enforce whoa before a dog eats, goes outside. I do not use a half-hitch unless I feel it will help a dog understand the command and will help them perform the task at hand. I teach whoa on birds using a launcher, allowing the dog to want to naturally 'creep' up on the bird and then having it launched at a certain distance. This is the easiest way for me to teach a dog whoa as I do not have a wild bird population at the ready. This makes the connection that a bird going up means "whoa" and that a dog cannot get the reward by chasing or pouncing on the birds when it comes time to teach a dog to be steady to the shot and fall.

2) How often do you train?
Unlike the 'pro-trainers', I have a job. I go out when I can, be it once a month, week, or every day. My dogs are trained to hunt when I need them to, and just like when I go out hunting, I cannot do it every day (even though I'd like to!) and therefore, I hunt and train when I can. When I have dogs that are staying with me during training, however, I push to be out in the field a minimum of two times a week, with the rest of the time being in the house and learning obedience and manners.

3) Do you believe in negative or positive reinforcement?
I can never say that I haven't reprimanded dogs for doing bad behavior (such as counter-shopping). But when it comes to birds, it is all about fun and positive behaviors. If your dog is not happy doing the job it was bred to do, then it turns into something boring and scary for the dog.

4) Can I come out and train with you?
SURE! Don't just sit at the truck and watch, that's never any fun! It's your hunting companion, and I would LOVE for you to come out and join in on the training, if you'd like to! After-all, it's your dog that you'll be hunting over. Why not train as a team, too? It's my job to teach you - so you can teach your dog. Besides, he's your hunting partner for years to come!

5) Do your dogs live in the house?
Yes, and they sleep on my bed with me, too. They are my companions and fur-kids, so to speak. They do not live outside, or are tied out to trees during the day. They have constant interaction with other dogs and people.

6) Forced-Retrieve?
I try to bring out the natural retrieving instinct of the dog. When brought out at an early age, retrieving is fun and exciting for a puppy or any dog. Only by request of the owner do I use a force-fetch method specific to the dog and the dog's learning abilities.

6) How many dogs do you take for boarding and training at one time?
I take a maximum of two dogs at any given time. I never could understand how those big kennel operations could train 20+ dogs in a day, this means that your dog has the potential to sit around for a few days at a time. But I take all the dogs to the field a minimum of two days a week, during the summer months it is close to a minimum of 4 days a week; thus optimizing plenty of bird time.

6) How can I schedule a visit?
This is a common question asked; but it is also a common missinterpretation. But what I have to say is that we are not a training facility, we have been fortunate enough to have both of our dogs and client dogs living in the home with me. We do not have impressive kennel runs, outdoor training fields or training area. We do a lot of driving to be able to use grounds suitable for training and testing our dogs. Only people who have dogs currently stationed with us for extended periods of time (one month or more) have the right to schedule an appointment to come meet and play with their dogs with our busy schedule permitting.