APPRENTICESHIPS
Our goal is to effectively convey our knowledge and training format to people embarking on a career of professionally training dogs. Unique in its structure, this program immerses its participants in the day to day activities of a professional training facility. It is an intense work program with the apprentices getting as much benefit out of the experience as the amount of effort they put in to it.
The program parallels our dog training classes so that each apprentice can gain in depth knowledge of our system. Each level of training consists of a four week apprenticeship. While we recommend working through all 3 levels in one 3 month period, it is possible to separate each apprenticeship in to shorter 4 week sessions.
Each apprentice begins at the Foundation Level and works progressively through the 3 stages of training. We recommend planning to complete the apprenticeship through the Advanced Level. With that level of proficiency apprentices can complete a dog's training on their own.
This opportunity is limited to a select group of people that have an affinity for dogs, are self-movitivated, can work alone or in a group setting, have a knack for seeing things that need to be addressed, and who take instruction well. These individuals are professional, courteous, and humble. This experience is not three months showcasing the romance of hunting, but the true nuts and bolts of caring for animals and training them to be their best.
Foundation Level Apprenticeship
This level of apprenticeship covers the 1st stage of the 3 stage Smith Training Method. This is the beginning level of training. During this stage Ronnie and Susanna work with the apprentice to gain expertise in the following areas of puppy development and foundation training:
Socialization
Building prey drive / prey chase through bird work
Recognizing an honoring situation
Introduction to the gun
Stake-out Chain
Quartering drills
Building Points of Contact for handling and stopping
Obedience and agility work
Heeling on lead
Prerequisite: a desire to learn more about bird dogs
The program correlates to the Formal Training Classes at SK so the apprentices can have the benefit of seeing a large group of dogs progress through each level. This level of training can be completed during the periods of either October or February 15 - March 15 of every year. Apprenticeships are filled on a first-come-first-served basis. To hold a spot please contact us for an application. The cost for this month is $3,500.
Intermediate Level Apprenticeship
This level of training covers the 2nd stage of the 3 stage Smith Training Method. Ronnie and Susanna work with the apprentices to gain expertise in the following intermediate areas of training:
Transitioning to remote stimuli of e-collar
Overlaying commands to known commands
Handling in the field
Honoring
Steadying dogs on game ("stopping the chase")
Building the proficiency of each dog
Physical conditioning
Prerequisite: Foundation Level Apprenticeship
The program runs in relation to the Formal Training Classes at SK so the apprentices can have the benefit of seeing a large group of dogs progress through each level. This level of training can be completed during the periods of March 15 - April 15 or November of every year. Apprenticeships are filled on a first-come-first-served basis. To hold a spot please contact us for an application. The cost for this month is $3,500.
Advanced Level Apprenticeship
This level of training covers the final stage of the 3 stage Smith Training Method. Achieving this level of training ensures the apprentice is well versed in the entire training system and can take a dog from start to finish.
During this month, Ronnie and Susanna work closely with the apprentice to gain expertise in the following advanced areas of training:
Transitioning to one Point of Contact on the neck
Working to the point of learned behavior
Completing the steadying process ("stopping the creep")
Working multiple dogs in the field
Proficiency at training a dog to a finished polish
Transition from pigeons to game birds
Transition to shooting game birds over dogs
Prerequisite: both the Foundation & Intermediate Levels of Apprenticeship
The program runs at the same time as the Formal Training Classes at SK so the apprentices can have the benefit of seeing a large group of dogs progress through that particular level. This level of training can be completed during the months of April 15 - May 15 or December of every year. Apprenticeships are filled on a first-come-first-served basis. To hold a spot please contact us for an application. The cost for this month is $3,500.
