Professional Bird Dog Training by Ronnie Smith Kennels

SPEAK A DOG'S LANGUAGE AND
GIVE HIM LEADERSHIP
Our training format brings dogs' inherent prey drive to a pinnacle and then begins to mold that natural instinct in to the desired behavior of a confident, mannerly bird dog. Through the development of conditioned responses and learned behavior we are able to produce
dogs that are proficient in heeling off lead, handling on cue, and confidently working birds. We work in partnership with the dogs as we train, giving them leadership and relying on their natural hunting
abilities.

Ronnie Smith Kennels currently accepts dogs for training in two rotations. The first rotation begins the first of May and the second rotation begins the first of August. Upon arriving at the Kennels, each dog will be evaluated by the staff for prey drive, intensity, and socialization. This evaluation helps both owner and the Kennels to identify that individual dog's strengths and weaknesses and serves as an indicator for how the dog will respond to formal training.

Bird Dog Training Format
The training format used by Ronnie Smith takes dogs through three distinct levels of formal training. These levels are founded on the belief that the training process is accumulative, with each step building on the previous one. In order to setup a dog for success after the training is complete, Ronnie asks the owners to come to the Kennels and spend time in the field transitioning the dog from trainer to owner.

Young dogs need the opportunity of exposure to birds in the field to develop their inherent prey drive. At the beginning of training the Kennel may require a month of PUPPY DEVELOPMENT ($400). This ensures a young dog is excited about birds and has learned the basics of how to utilize his instincts. This level elevates the dog's intensity of prey drive and readies them for the formal stages of training.

The FOUNDATION LEVEL begins formal training by establishing Points of Contact on the neck and flank. Through the use of the points of contacts conditioned responses are taught, thus shaping behavior or in some cases re-shaping undesired behavior. This is also when work is begun on the dog's natural retrieve.

The INTERMEDIATE LEVEL transitions a dog from mechanical cues to remote cues in the field and ultimately verbal commands are overlaid to the conditioned response. At this level dogs are becoming steady on game, learning to honor another dog's point and quartering on cue.

At the ADVANCED LEVEL, dogs are reaching the point of learned behavior. They learn to work scent in adverse conditions, how to look for and recognize backing situations, mark and hunt dead, retrieve, and take direction and go with you in the field. Ronnie Smith Kennels is a custom training facility creating a bird dog that fits the owner's needs and preferences. Some of the bird dogs that go through the Kennels go on to win field trials, some are utilized by commercial hunting operations, and others spend their lives as successful personal hunting companions.

• $700 per month
• All inclusive (birds, feed, training costs)
• 3-4 month format
• Please if you'd like to reserve a spot for your dog in an upcoming rotation

Tune Ups

• $700 per month
• Dogs previously trained at Ronnie Smith Kennels are eligible to return for "annual tune ups" prior to each hunting season
  

Private Instruction

• On premise private instruction is offered at $100 an hour, $300 for a half day and $500 for a full day of instruction. Advance notice is required
• for scheduling