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National Shoot to Retrieve Association

About the trainer

    Chris Eckhoff first started training pointing breed dogs in 1979 and since 1986 has been doing just that professionally, full time.  He does no horseback dog training, no flushers, no retrievers. Chris has no assistant trainers to whom he assigns dog training, although he does employ a kennel worker.  Rather, from the time a client's dog arrives at Upland Kennel to the day the dog leaves Chris does ALL the work.

    When asked about the limitations of such an approach Chris will tell you, "I enjoy my work.  I don't want to share any aspect of the dog's care or training with anyone.  For me, I would much rather limit the number of dogs I work at any one time so as to be able to work them in the way I prefer.  When an owner asks me a question about their dog, I'm only comfortable knowing the complete answer, not having to check with an assistant before I can tell the owner what he needs to know.  Besides, I learn something new with every dog I train.  How can I ever be the best trainer I possibly can if I have someone else doing the work.  At the age of 50, I've learned to manage my time in such a way that I take on only as many dogs as I can give personal attention to each and every day they are with me."

TRAINING PROGRAMS  

UPLAND KENNEL OFFERS THREE TRAINING PROGRAMS

Puppy Program 

    At Upland Kennel we use a passive training method for dogs of this age.  What that means is, we give each pup an opportunity to perform at all aspects of being a finished bird dog.  If pup shows an inclination to perform at a particular task, we encourage these dogs with that task. If pup shows reluctance to an exposure, we back off and wait for more maturity to set in.  Certainly all pups brought in at this age are sent home pointing, relaxed with gun shots, working the fields with purpose, and comfortable with the rigors of training.  The retrieve is often dependent on the dogs natural abilities

YOUNG DOG TRAINING       

    This is a stage I could go on and on about.  So as not to get too technical and involved, I'll generalize my comments and suggest if you want more detail to call or e-mail me.

    Dogs age 12 months to 3 years are given the most rigorous training of their lives.  This stage of training is not taken on until the dog shows a maturity which assures me he can handle the work.  While I have a reputation as a 'soft trainer', it doesn't mean the dog can be given total latitude.  Certain behavior is expected from the dog and this must be instilled.  When a dog is finished with this foundation training he's at a level of performance enjoyed by most of my clients.  These dogs will listen to your directions in the field with complete reliability including whoaing on command both off lead and on, in any bird hunting situation.  They are checked to make sure they don't chase livestock or big and small game, they are staunch to the flush at minimum, and they hit the fields with a definite purpose, that of finding birds.  If the dog has even a fair sense of retrieve in his breeding, he will be doing this reliably.  Some absolutely need force retrieve training, but they are few in number.  I do, however, recommend force retrieving for all bird dogs at some point in their training.

    A good 75% of all the dogs I train are in this group.  The vast majority of my clients are bird hunters and want a dog they can count on to help in this pursuit.  They want a dog which will listen to them in the field without use of an electric collar, they want a dog who will hold point until the hunter can catch up and do his own flushing, they want the dog to retrieve the bird, and most of all, they want a dog who in addition to performing all the mechanics of being a well started dog also enjoys his work.  THIS IS MY STRONGEST SUIT, ENSURING THE DOG IS ENJOYING HIS WORK.  I take in a few dogs at one time so I don't have to pressure the dog during any session because I'm pressed for time.  If the dog is having a bad session, I can back off and try him a few hours later.  I don't have to say to myself, 'well, he's had his turn for today and since I've got 20 more dogs to do, he'll just have to wait till tomorrow'.  Because I have flexibility with my time, your dog may be worked 30 minutes or he may be worked 2 hours each day, it just depends.

ADULT TRAINING

    Perhaps a better term for this stage might be 'specialized training'.  Some owners have requirements for their dogs which go beyond the foundation training.  Certainly some want their dogs finished on point to the level of broke to wing, shot and fall.  This is especially true of the falconers whose dogs I've trained.

    I run dogs in, and train others dogs for the National Shoot to Retrieve Association (NSTRA) field trials.  These dogs require some nuances of performance unique to this format.  Having championed four of my own dogs, and having at least four others championed out of our breedings, being a judge, registered judging instructor, and having judged national as well as regional NSTRA field trials I have a very exact understanding of what is required to win in the NSTRA.

    Inquire about any specialized training you require for your pointing breed dog.

RATES

All phases of training are provided at the same rate:

$600.00/month (30 days)

This rate includes ALL costs except incidental vet bills.

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