YRK Training Options

Beginning at 4 months of age, we offer a Puppy Jump Start program that gets your pup headed in the right direction to begin any advanced training program. This includes socialization, crating, swimming, consistency and repetition of basic commands, and desensitization to gunfire and other related noises and distractions. This program ensures your pup is well adjusted and ready to take on a more specialized training program. 

Our obedience training is a 2 month program in which the first month is learning basic commands (sit, down, heel, stay, place, kennel, etc.) and establishing proper boundaries (no jumping, nipping, etc). In the second month, they are conditioned to the e-collar and the training established in month one is moved to an off-leash portion of the program. Here your dog will learn proper recall to ensure they return to you every time you call. We like to have owners out at the end of each month to get hands on with their dog's training to ensure a smooth transition back into home life. 

Basic gun dog training is a 5-6 month program, which includes our obedience program. After two months of obedience, we move on to force fetch in month three. Here is where your pup will learn to fetch on command. Once this is mastered, we combine these skills in field work beginning in month four. Here your dog will learn to remain steady during gunfire and are worked into hunting scenarios. They will be trained on land and in water using training bumpers and then real birds. Upon completion of the basic gun dog program, your dog will be able to confidently retrieve single marks on land and in water, as well as be able to complete AKC Junior and UKC Started hunt tests. 

Advanced gun dog training is a 4-5 month continuation of the basic gun dog program. Dogs will learn to retrieve multiple marks at a time using their memory. Using structured drills, they are trained to fetch blind retrieves both on land and in water. These drills are also taught to the owner, as to ensure a continuation of this training once in the field. Upon completion of the advanced gun dog program, your dog will be able to complete AKC Senior and UKC Seasoned hunt tests. 

Owners and dogs looking to be involved in more intense work with higher levels of efficiency can enter the finished level of training after mastering advanced training. These dogs are usually running in hunt tests regularly and length of stay is on a per dog basis. Most dogs will complete a finished level of training in a total of 12-16 months, depending on what AKC and/or UKC titles owners are wanting to obtain. 

Select blood tracking candidates will be accepted during the deer hunting season. This program includes obedience and collar conditioning and is typically a three month program. 

Shed hunting, in most cases, can be added alongside gun dog training or as a stand alone program.