Our Experience
Between us, we have over thirty years of gun dog training experience. We have:
* worked with field dogs and show lines from North America, Ireland and Great Britain;
* trained labrador retrievers for field trials and hunt tests, and as gun dogs and family companions;
* successfully rehabilitated troubled retrievers.
In addition to, being a AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, a AKC Temperment Evaluator, a member of the AKC Bred With Heart program, a certified pet evaluator for Therapy Pets Unlimited ; a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers ( APDT) , a certified trainer with the Canine Council for Professional Dog Trainers ( CPDT- KA), certified in Pet Psychology ( HCRUIO5) and Canine Communication (BX2K211S).
Having worked with so many dogs, we have a clear understanding of the possibilities for building great gun dogs.
Our Approach to Training
Our training program is based on the belief that building sound quality animals requires fairness and consistency . Only by teaching with patience and understanding can one develop a companion that will be your best friend and trusted hunting partner.
At the core of Sundance Retrievers we have combined time-tested methods with current thinking and new technologies to implement a four step training process:
1. Teach - Give actions a name and mark that behavior with praise.
At this stage, the cue is a request.
2. Enforce - Cues become commands by applying corrections
and praise, i.e. "empowerment through choice";
3. Groove - Repeat the desired response until it is automatic.
4. Apply - Take the learned behavior and transition it into the field.
Through this process we build a dog that not only uses its own mind to think and make appropriate decisions, we create an animal that is happy and wants to work with you. We do accept a limited number of dogs outside of Sundance for training.
1. Teach - Give actions a name and mark that behavior with praise.
At this stage, the cue is a request.
2. Enforce - Cues become commands by applying corrections
and praise, i.e. "empowerment through choice";
3. Groove - Repeat the desired response until it is automatic.
4. Apply - Take the learned behavior and transition it into the field.
Through this process we build a dog that not only uses its own mind to think and make appropriate decisions, we create an animal that is happy and wants to work with you. We do accept a limited number of dogs outside of Sundance for training.
Hunting & Companion Labrador Training Programs
To meet each of our client’s needs, we customize our training programs. We offer complete programs, taking your dog from the beginning of obedience to the more complex blocks of a finished dog. For the at-home trainer we have month to month programs to get through the difficult blocks of Hold or Force Fetch. For the local hunter we offer in-depth private lessons providing comprehensive direction in the complicated world of dog training.
Hunting Programs:
Shed Dog Training
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 prior to 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
Despite being a popular spring past time, hunting sheds can be difficult. Dropped antlers can be hard to spot in thick cover and near 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.
* Approximately 6 Months of age
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 prior to 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
Despite being a popular spring past time, hunting sheds can be difficult. Dropped antlers can be hard to spot in thick cover and near 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.
* Approximately 6 Months of age
Started Gun Dog
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
After these blocks have been completed 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.
* Approximately 10 to 12 Months of age
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
After these blocks have been completed 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.
* Approximately 10 to 12 Months of age
Seasoned Gun Dog
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
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. Depending on the time of year , our Seasoned gun dogs are taken to Arkansas to hunt in the flooded timber, to South Dakota to flush pheasants and / or work at the local game preserves in Pennsylvania.
*Approximately 13 months of age
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
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. Depending on the time of year , our Seasoned gun dogs are taken to Arkansas to hunt in the flooded timber, to South Dakota to flush pheasants and / or work at the local game preserves in Pennsylvania.
*Approximately 13 months of age
Finished Gun Dog
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
Whether you are an avid water fowler or an upland hunting enthusiast, we can offer you and your partner a customized, advanced training program.
* Approximately 2 years of Age
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
Whether you are an avid water fowler or an upland hunting enthusiast, we can offer you and your partner a customized, advanced training program.
* Approximately 2 years of Age
Companion Programs:
Companion Dog
Your companion will be :
* Crate trained and started on their house training
* Have Formal obedience, Here , Heel and Sit
* Fun retrieves on land and water
* Comfortable in family settings
* Exposure to high stress environments
* Exposure to travel and vacation situations
* Prepared for the AKC Canine Good Citizen test
Because we know that there are families looking for a great dog with exceptional manners we offer a unique Companion Dog training Program.
Once our young students have mastered their formal obedience blocks we start taking them on field trips to local parks, daycares, anywhere we can introduce them to new sights and sounds. Our students become well mannered, rounded individuals that take new situations in stride.
*Approximately 6-7 months of age
Your companion will be :
* Crate trained and started on their house training
* Have Formal obedience, Here , Heel and Sit
* Fun retrieves on land and water
* Comfortable in family settings
* Exposure to high stress environments
* Exposure to travel and vacation situations
* Prepared for the AKC Canine Good Citizen test
Because we know that there are families looking for a great dog with exceptional manners we offer a unique Companion Dog training Program.
Once our young students have mastered their formal obedience blocks we start taking them on field trips to local parks, daycares, anywhere we can introduce them to new sights and sounds. Our students become well mannered, rounded individuals that take new situations in stride.
*Approximately 6-7 months of age
Advanced Companion Dog
Your Advanced companion will be :
* Formal obedience of here, heel , sit
* Advanced obedience: extended sit /stays, down /stays , off leash heeling
* Sit before and after going through doors
* Sit until released to eat
* Fun Retrieves on land and water
* Crate trained and started on their house training.
* Exposed to high stress environments
* Comfortable in Family settings
* Exposed to travel and new terrain
* Prepared for the AKC Canine Good Citizen test or most Therapy dog tests.
If you are looking for more maturity and depth of training in your companion dog, perhaps Advanced training is for you. Students from our Advanced Companion program have gone on to be therapy dogs, service dogs and SAR dogs.
*Approximately 8-10 months of age
Working Dog Program:
Your started Search & Rescue or Detection dog will be:
* Confident, focused and have high toy drive
* Have their formal obedience ( here, heel, sit) and off leash recall
* Introduced to handling / moving to different platforms
* Exposed to a variety of search areas, uneven services, rubble and heights
* Exposed to a lift and carry harness
* Used to working around a variety of animals including horses, goats, chickens and other dogs.
If you are looking for a companion that is ready to start a more professional career choice than perhaps a started SAR or detection dog is what you are looking for. From our working dog program, we look to produce-driven, bold young dogs, that are ready to go into a finished program of your choosing.
*Approximately 9 months of age
* Confident, focused and have high toy drive
* Have their formal obedience ( here, heel, sit) and off leash recall
* Introduced to handling / moving to different platforms
* Exposed to a variety of search areas, uneven services, rubble and heights
* Exposed to a lift and carry harness
* Used to working around a variety of animals including horses, goats, chickens and other dogs.
If you are looking for a companion that is ready to start a more professional career choice than perhaps a started SAR or detection dog is what you are looking for. From our working dog program, we look to produce-driven, bold young dogs, that are ready to go into a finished program of your choosing.
*Approximately 9 months of age
Head Start Puppy Program:
Your Head Start Puppy will be:
* Crate trained
* Comfortable with the leash
* Familiar with sit and here
* Relaxed in social and family setting
* Introduced to high stress environments
* Exposed to travel and new terrains
* Birds and Gunfire
Our Head Start Puppy Program, is designed to expose young minds to different exciting places while encouraging good manners.
We provide a foundation for obedience training and good canine citizenship while keeping it a fun puppy experience.
We use a reward based training system to teach the behaviors want to see in these very young students.
Approximately 3-4 months of age.
* Crate trained
* Comfortable with the leash
* Familiar with sit and here
* Relaxed in social and family setting
* Introduced to high stress environments
* Exposed to travel and new terrains
* Birds and Gunfire
Our Head Start Puppy Program, is designed to expose young minds to different exciting places while encouraging good manners.
We provide a foundation for obedience training and good canine citizenship while keeping it a fun puppy experience.
We use a reward based training system to teach the behaviors want to see in these very young students.
Approximately 3-4 months of age.
30 day Programs:
Open Breed Obedience Camp
After your pet's 30- 60 day stay he will have:
* A foundation of here, heel and sit
* Overall good manners
*Proper behavior around children and other animals
* Field trips to local parks, and trips to town
If you want to have your dog trained but you don't have the time to do it...we have our 30- 60 day obedience camp.
Bring your dog, with his food, toys and he spends 30 days learning all the basics for a foundation in obedience training.
After your pet's 30- 60 day stay he will have:
* A foundation of here, heel and sit
* Overall good manners
*Proper behavior around children and other animals
* Field trips to local parks, and trips to town
If you want to have your dog trained but you don't have the time to do it...we have our 30- 60 day obedience camp.
Bring your dog, with his food, toys and he spends 30 days learning all the basics for a foundation in obedience training.
Pre-Season Tune Up
During a pre-season tune up we will review the following:
* Obedience
* Honoring
* Marks
* Formal Delivery to Hand on land and water
* Gunfire
*Boat exposure
* Being quiet and well mannered in the blind
* Birds
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 water
* Gunfire
*Boat exposure
* Being quiet and well mannered in the blind
* Birds
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
