FAQ's

What do I need to bring with my dog

You will need current vaccination and shot records, and that your dog is free from parasites (worms, flees, ticks). We prefer that your dog has a good sturdy collar that fits properly and can't be pulled over their head. We will also need a small portion of your dogs current food (3 to 5 days ).We feed only Extreme dog fuel to all our long term client dogs

How can I participate in my dogs training

We want to encourage you to come as often as you wish after the first two months of training. The more you are exposed to your dogs training and handling the better you and your dog will be as a team. However we reserve the first two very important months and ask that you sustain from visiting to better acclimate your dog to our training regime. If you would like to come out we ask that you make an appointment 24 hrs. in advance.         (903)-268-2035

 What does your 6 month gun dog program for hunting dogs consist of?

Obedience and good manners always come first. Then the dog will be given marked retrieves, on land and water, first using dummies. He or she will progress to pigeons,
ducks, and pheasants and the retrieves will become longer, eventually out to
100-175 yards. At the right time, the dogs will be steadied to shot (will not go until given
a command). Force-fetch is taught during the 2nd or 3rd month. This eliminates hard mouth, dropping the bird on the return, etc. The final month emphasizes more difficult retrieves through brush, ditches, cattails, lily pads, and of course, decoy spreads. The foundation is laid for teaching blind retrieves (where the dog has not seen the bird fall).
At the end of 4 months, the dog will be ready for his first dove, duck, or pheasant hunt. Most DLR dogs are ready to compete for their AKC Junior Hunter/HRC Started title at
this point, if the owner so desires. We can also train the owner to handle the dog at this level of testing.

 How much acreage do you have for training and what are your hours?

Our kennel and yard work area consists of about 25 acres.  We have access to over 3,000 acres of training grounds that include 15 different types of water training areas. 
All of these different training areas will familiarize your dog with
multiple hunting scenarios.

 Our kennels are open

 Mon. thru Fri. 7:00A.M. to 7:00 P.M.

Sat.7:00 A.M. to 12:00 noon

Sun. Closed

 Where is Point, Texas?

Point, Texas is located in the heart of Rains County.  We are one hour east of  Dallas
and one hour west of Tyler.  We are conveniently located on US Hwy 69, which can be accessed from I-20 and I-30.  Please call ahead for directions from your location. 
(903) 268-2035

 Can anyone come out to train?

You do not have to be a client to train with us. There is no charge for day sessions. Just come prepared for weather, mud, high weeds, etc. You will shoot or throw birds, watch from the line, and work your dog into the rotation with the rest of the dogs.
 Call ahead and make an appointment and let us know that you are coming.

What are Hunt Tests?

Hunt Tests are events held for retrievers which attempt to simulate actual hunting conditions. They are non-competitive, i.e. pass/fail. Retrievers passing a Hunt Test
receive a "pass" or qualification toward their Hunt Test Title. This title
(Junior Hunter (JH)/Started (SHR), Senior Hunter (SH)/Seasoned (HR), or Master Hunter (MH)/Finished (HRCH) becomes an actual part of their AKC/UKC registered name, for example SHR “BBO’s Gunslinger Big Nose Kate JH”.

 What is a Junior/Started Hunter?

The Junior/Started stake is open to retrievers of any age, but primarily consists of young dogs. A dog must successfully complete 4 single marked retrieves, 2 on land and 2 on
water. A single marked retrieve means that a single bird was thrown for the dog, who "marks" the fall.  A dog who completes the 4 singles to the judge's satisfaction receives a passing score, which gives it 1 leg toward its JH/SHR. Passing scores in 4 Hunt Tests are required to earn a JH/SHR. Dogs which complete the 6month "basics" program at DLR should be able to earn a JH/SHR, if the owner so desires. We work with the owner's so
that they are able to handle their own dogs in the Junior/Started test, if they wish.

 What is a Senior/Seasoned Hunter?

A senior/seasoned stake consists of 2 sets of double marks with short blind retrieves.
The dog picks up the 2 marks and is then sent on a "blind" to a bird it has not seen fall.
The handler directs the dog with hand/whistle signals. A dog must pass 5 Senior Tests to get an SH or 4 Seasoned tests to get a HR. Again, we will work with the owner if they wish
to handle their dogs in the Senior/Seasoned.

 What is a Master/Finished Hunter?

The Master stake consists of three scenarios: a land triple or quad marks with a blind, a land/water triple or quad with a blind, and a water triple or quad with a blind. A Master
dog must pass 6 Master stakes to get a MH and/or pass 4 Finished tests to get a HRCH.
The dog will then carry these highly valued titles for the life of the dog. Five passes each year are required to qualify for the Master National Hunt Test/Grand Hunting Retriever Championship, held in a different part of the U.S. each year. Many Master/HRCH dogs continue to run Master/HRCH stakes each year in hopes of qualifying for that year's Master Nationals/Grand Hunt.

  When should my puppy come to you for formal training and
what should I be doing in the meantime?

Formal training usually starts around 6 months of age,
but an older dog can still be trained.

In the meantime, spend time with your puppy, in and out of the house.
Around 3-4 months of age, you can start heeling your pup on a leash and perhaps
teaching "sit". Try to get your puppy to come when called by offering treats. Use a long
rope to gently reel him in, if necessary. Be sure to encourage the pup by getting down on your knees and clap the whole time saying "here".

First retrieves are best started in a long, narrow area, closed off at one end, such as a hallway. This can be started around 12-14 weeks. 2 or 3 retrieves are plenty. Again, get down on your knees and get on the pup's level.  We use a feather-wrapped canvas puppy bumper for these early retrieves.

Again, 2-3 retrieves are enough. Stop while the puppy wants more. This ensures the
puppy will not get burn-out and think that retrieving is not fun.

Once your pup is retrieving nicely, you will need to enlist the help of an assistant ("bird boy"). The assistant can stand behind a bush or tree and throw from this location.
This will allow you to stretch the dog out past the point where most people can throw a dummy. Most retrieves should be in very low or no cover.

The 2 most common problems we see in young puppies are: (1) Never being walked on a leash, and (2) The pup will only go a short distance because the dummy was always hand-thrown by the handler. In short, the pup has learned to run 25-30 yards and set up a hunt.