Our field training program is designed to develop family companions who are excellent hunters of Antler sheds, Waterfowl, or upland birds, by building skills from the ground up. Starting with carefully selected puppies with outstanding genetics, our unique "learn to learn" puppy program shapes their innate desire to retrieve and gently introduces them to gunfire, setting a solid foundation for advanced training.

As the puppies grow, we focus on instilling essential hunting foundations such as commands like 'here,' 'heel,' and 'sit,' as well as " hold," " fetch," and reliable "delivery to hand. "

Each stage of our training is tailored to harness the natural instincts of the dogs while ensuring they develop the discipline and skills necessary to excel in the field

Shed Dog

Despite being a popular spring pastime, hunting sheds can be difficult. Dropped antlers can be hard to spot in thick cover and nearly impossible to see if covered by debris. Having a trained shed dog to assist in your search can be a rewarding experience and help you rack up a pile of antlers.

Your Shed Dog will have the following skill sets:

  • Exposed to antlers at a young age
  • Trained with scented antler Dokken and actual shed antlers
  • Exposed to shed areas and taken shed hunting before going home
  • Formal obedience of here, heel, sit
  • Fun retrieves on land and water
  • Crate-trained and started on house training
  • Exposed to high-stress environments
  • Comfortable in family settings
  • Exposed to travel and new terrain

How Much Does a Trained Shed Dog Cost? $11,710
When Is a Trained Shed Dog Ready to Bring Home? At 9 months old

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Started Gun Dog

After completing these blocks, we take it one step further by taking your started gun dog into the field. This training phase allows us to transition the dogs from training to hunting and gives your partner the extra experience they need before you take them home.

Your Started Gun Dog will have the following skill sets

  • Exposed to birds and gunfire
  • Formal obedience of here, heel, and sit
  • Formal hold
  • A sound understanding of running long concept marks
  • Formal delivery to hand, on land and water
  • A strong desire for water retrieves
  • Comfortable in family settings
  • Exposed to travel and hunting situations
  • Comfortable around high-stress environments
  • Quietly honors other dogs’ work

How Much Does a Started Gun Dog Cost? $14,710
When Is a Started Gun Dog Ready to Bring Home?  At 1 year old

Seasoned Gun Dog

This is the partner that you can take directly to the field. Our Seasoned Gun Dogs have already been hunted over several times. They are comfortable chasing down roosters or sitting quietly in the canoe on a river hunt.

Your Seasoned Gun Dog will have the following skills :

  • Formal obedience of here, heel, and sit
  • Formal hold
  • Formal delivery to hand, on land and water
  • A sound understanding of running long concept marks
  • A strong desire for water retrieves
  • Comfortable in family settings
  • Exposed to travel and hunting situations
  • Comfortable around high-stress environments
  • Quietly honors other dogs' work
  • Have actual hunting and guiding experience

How Much Does a Seasoned Gun Dog Cost? $16,710
When Is a Seasoned Gun Dog Ready to Bring Home? At 14 months old

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Finished Gun Dog

Whether you are an avid waterfowler or an upland hunting enthusiast, we can offer you and your partner a customized, advanced training program.

Your Finished Gun dog will have the following skills :

  • Formal obedience and off-leash obedience.
  • Formal delivery to hand, on land and water
  • A sound understanding of running long single marks
  • Confidently handling doubles and triples
  • Handling on blinds
  • Working in marshes and raised blinds
  • Working in and out of lay out blinds
  • Quietly honors other dogs' work
  • Actual hunting and guiding experience
  • Exposed to travel and hunting situations
  • Comfortable around high-stress environments
  • Comfortable in family settings

How Much Does a Finished Gun Dog Cost? $24,000 (estimated)
When Is a Finished Gun Dog Ready to Bring Home? At 2 years old

Pre-Season Tune-Up

During a long summer off, your hunting partner has enjoyed playing with the kids, chasing tennis balls, and lying in the sun.

While you are cleaning your gun and checking your decoys, send your retriever to have a refresher course as well.

During a pre-season tune-up, we will review the following:

  • Obedience
  • Honoring
  • Marks
  • Formal delivery to hand on land and in water
  • Gunfire
  • Boat exposure
  • Being quiet and well-mannered in the blind
  • Birds

Program cost: $1,000 a month

*Pre-season tune-ups are only available to dogs raised and previously trained by Sundance Retrievers.

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