Train-the-Trainer

Duckhill Kennels is a proponent of making retriever training simple, easy, and gentle on the dog. We believe that as breeders we should be breeding a dog which the average hunter can train easily and with a small investment of time. To this end we conduct monthly on a Saturday, a one-day training seminar, in which we deliver a comprehensive, scientifically based training program to enable you to produce an excellent gundog. The training principles and protocols are based on B. F. Skinner's principles of operant conditioning. The lecture is delivered in powerpoint medium and the student is furnished with a take-home copy. Plenty of demonstrations are furnished to illustrate the training principles.

Join us for a seminar. The schedule can be found at: www.duckhillkennels.com or call (901)428-6694

A Good Week To Go To the Dogs

Annually in April and October, we at Duckhill Kennels devote a week to promoting field trials which produce great gundogs. We bring over a top gundog trainer from the UK to join Robert Milner for a 3-day gundog training seminar on Tues, Weds, Thurs. We have on Friday a practice field trial followed in the evening by a dinner at the Bird Dog Museum and Retriever Hall of Fame in Grand Junction, TN. On Saturday we conduct a Field Trial under the auspices of the American Gundog Club. The trial is limited to 12 dogs that have been previously drawn by lot. The AGC field trial rules are the same as the British Kennel Club rules which emphasize heavily that the dogs have good manners and that they find and retrieve the birds with efficiency. All the retrieves are of shot flyers, and the test is determined by where the bird falls. Thus every dog has a different test and the scenario is as close as you can get to a typical day's hunt.

Duckhill Kennels promotes and supports the British Labrador Association and it supports the American Gundog Club.The BLA is a club for people. Our affiliated club, the American Gundog Club is a club for dogs. The AGC registers dogs, furnishes pedigrees on member dogs, and sponsors and administers gundog field trials. The AGC is licensing a growing number of AGC Field Trials around the country. We also envision building a number of chapters of the British lab association around the country. We hope that these local chapters will serve as a meeting place of lik- minded gundog enthusiasts that embrace the vision of gundog as a well-mannered hunting companion who collects all the downed birds with style and efficiency. We further envision the individual BLA chapter as furnishing a venue for a like-minded group to hold training sessions. A natural outgrowth of these activities will be the individual chapters sponsoring and conducting field trials run under the rules of the American Gundog Club. More information can be found at AmericanGundogClub.com and BritishLabradorAssociation.com

On-the-Road Training Classses

In addition to our regularly scheduled gundog training seminars at Duckhill in Tennesse we offer 1, 2 or 3-day seminars on the road. If you wish to sponsor one, we would be happy to help you put it together. Call Robert Milner at (901) 428-6694.

Our current schedule of on-the-road seminars is:

Aug 27-29, 2010- A 3-day seminar featuring Robert Milner and UK Labrador trainer, Robin Watson
At our new affiliate Alabama Location, Duckhill Kennels Alabama at Gaylesville, Alabama.
Venue is the beautiful Chattokee Lodge in Gaylesville, Alabama

Experts teaching successful, gentle British Gundog training methods Demonstrations of the best practices in America and the UK Theory and practical application of operant conditioning for gundogs Hands-on & individual practice for each participant Bring your own dog or we will provide one for you

Cost: $100 per day or $275 for 3 days.

Robert Milner, author of several popular retriever training books, has an extensive background in retriever training with both American and British Labrador gundogs. He is the original founder of Wildrose Kennels, and currently owns Duckhill Kennels.

Robin Watson is an "A Panel" Judge of Retriever Trials in the UK, and owner of Tibea Gundogs in England. Robin competes in the UK and is currently campaigning his FTCH Brackenbird Minnow.

Sep 4 & 5, 2010 - A 2-day Seminar in Minnesota - Details soon

Oct 1, 2010 - A 1-day seminar at Syracuse, Nebraska (near Omaha)
Contact: Bud Clouse
18010 Nicholas Rd
Plattmouth, NE 68048
clouseba@yahoo.com

Cost: $75