Training Service

Vom Kervinshof now offers a full service Gun Dog training facility. We specialize in the unique training the of all “Versatile Hunting Dog” (VHD) breeds which include but not limited to German Shorthairs, Weimareiners, Muensterlanders, Spinone, German Longhairs, Dachshunds and Puddel Pointers. Our training programs also include the flushing and retriever breeds. Training the VHD requires a different approach and a different set of training methods and techniques when compared to training specialty dog breeds such as English Pointers whose primary mission is finding and pointing upland game or the retriever breeds that excel in water work. The correctly trained VHD is a multi-task dog that must handle a variety of upland game, waterfowl and blood tracking duties, as well as pointing, tracking and retrieving on land, water, and woods. He must be cooperative, intelligent and have the emotional stability to learn, retain and perform many duties on command. In addition to his outstanding performance the VHD should be a companion, fit into the family and all other social activities. These goals cannot be achieved without proper training from an experienced trainer who understands how, what, when, and the why of dog behavior. We train for the following Competition Events:

North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association Tests

German Jagdgebrauchshund JGHV Performance Tests

AKC Hunt Tests

Shoot to Retrieve Tests and various other sporting dog events

Gun Dog Training: Designed for the sportsman who desires a well trained versatile hunting dog and is not concerned with competitive field trials.

There are “no shortcuts or crash training methods” that are successful in dog training. A dog is either “Trained or Not Trained”. Started dogs or some training is not a trained dog! It takes time, at least 3 to 4 days per week for several months, skill, experience, equipment, birds, helper/assistants, proper training grounds, travel and a working knowledge of dog behavior to develop a trained dog. Don’t forget the price of a “professional bred” puppy with “generations” of physical and emotionally stable ancestors with documented gun dog performance. A trainer cannot develop what is not genetically present in a dog. As a sportsman you have probably experienced ill-mannered, disobedient dogs along with their owners who spend the day blowing whistles and screaming commands which fall on deaf ears. Or those who advocate just exposing the dog to birds and let the natural ability “kick in” or put him with an older dog and let him learn how to hunt. Many owners comment on how well the dog did in the backyard but is hard headed and will not listen when we go hunting. Those are not trained dogs and the absence of a structured well managed training program is evident. We understand expense is always an issue for every sportsman but hunting and gun dogs are expensive regardless of what path you choose. There are several avenues in teaching dogs the correct behavior and accomplishing a task in the correct fashion. In most cases the owner is a novice or amateur to dog training and in particular to the versatile hunting dog arena. The options are simple:

 

  1. Train the dog yourself; do you have the skill, time and resources?
  2. Get advice from a friend, is he a certified dog trainer? The terms breeder and trainer are often tossed around without certifications.
  3. Read a book or watch a video
  4. Go to a seminar or training day and get some ideas (you are still responsible for the outcome) dogs are not trained at these events
  5. 5.     Pay a professional trainer and get a professional finished product (depending on the dog). There is frequently a lack of understanding by dog owners concerning the expenses incurred by a professional (not amateur) trainer. It takes “birds to make a bird dog” and we typically use 4 or 5 birds per training session. Pigeons, Chucker, Pheasants, and ducks cost money. Game birds range from $7.00 to $15.00 dollars per bird and they must be kept in large “Bird Pens” with adequate housing and daily feeding of quality grain and fresh water. Construction of “Johnny Houses” for wild bird training, bird launchers, multitude of training accessories and equipment, excellent training grounds, dog boxes, trailers, licenses, travel and you must have “Training Assistants” are only the basics requirements for the Professional Trainer.

Vom Kervinshof Training Programs:

  1. Level 1: Puppy Training Program: This program begins at 4 to 6 months of age and provides the correct basic foundation required for advanced training and includes the “CORRECT” introduction to the following categories.
    1. Basic Obedience: The foundation to all advanced training
    2. Introduction to Training Bumpers and Scent
    3. Proper Introduction to Game Birds, Steadiness and Pointing
    4. Basic Retrieving
    5. Gunfire
    6. E-collar Introduction
    7. Introduction field and water

 

  1. Level 2 Advanced Training Course
    1. Advanced Obedience: On and Off leash, Hand and Whistle commands
    2. Steady to Shot upland game and waterfowl blinds
    3. Steady to Wing and Gun Work
    4. Track and Retrieve land and water
    5. Multiple Retrieves
    6. Field and Water Searches
    7. Nose, Desire, Cooperation and emotional stability evaluations
    8. E-collar conditioned
    9.  
  2. Level 3 Finished Dog
    1. The Gentleman’s Gun Dog:

     4. Specialty Training:

a. Blood Tracking: On leash tracking of injured big game after the shot. Many hunters have lost big game after the shot when the animal was not dead on impact. This                      specialized training allows the dog to track blood particles not visible to eye that may be several hours old. It is the duty of the hunter to recover these animals.

b. Problem Behavior Modification: Focuses on dogs whose behavior is not acceptable at home or in the field (often caused by the owner) or can be inherited. 

If you are considering purchasing a pup or trained dog or placing your dog in a professional training program we will be glad to assist you in achieving your goals.     

Owners and Training:

 

When a dog enters a training program he brings with him a set of genetics and is a product of the environment/home setting in which he has lived. A training program can only bring out the traits and potential that any given dog has the ability to achieve. Training cannot make a dog progress past the level of his ability. There are many factors and variables that may influence the performance of your dog. Maturity, age, genetics, environmental/home background and other attempts at training. One of the continuing issues in dog training and performance is the owner/handler. Once a dog has completed one of our training programs he has been in a structured setting and has satisfactorily completed his training categories. Owners should take advantage of our handler/owner seminars where an orientation to the commands, observing the dogs performance, and recommendations on how to handle the dog at home and in the field are given. In most cases this provides the owner with the tools to handle his dog after the training is complete. In a few cases some owners do not follow our recommendations and allow unwanted behavior. A dog must be properly supervised and should be expected to respond to his training and corrected when the situation warrants correction. Our customers are provided a list of suggestions often over looked in the process of daily “dog management” that are inherent to being a happy owner.  Once the dog has satisfactorily completed training it is now the responsibility of the owner to properly manage the dog at home and in the field.