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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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| How long will my dog need to
stay at Fry-Line Kennels for basic retriever training? |
We accept a dog for a minimum of three months
for retriever training (obedience training only is 4-6 weeks). If we find
that the dog needs to gain some maturity before continuing with the program, we
will send him home for a month or so and then take him back when he has
matured--it is less expensive for him to mature at your house than here at the
kennel. |
| At what age should my dog start training? |
Normally, the optimal time for training to
begin is at six months of age, unless the dog is reaching maturity a little
slower--if that is the case, he will probably be mature enough at 7 or 8 months
of age. |
| Can I visit my dog while he is in training? |
You are welcome to visit your dog during most
stages of training--when you call to request a visit, we can let you know if
your dog is at a stage of training where a visit would not be conducive. |
| What should I do about my dog's monthly
heartworm treatment? |
You can either send your dog's heartworm pills
with him to be administered at the first of each month, or we can provide them
and bill you. |
| What do I need to do before my dog comes in
for training? |
Your dog must be current on all shots (please
bring a copy of his shot record when you bring him. He will also need a
kennel cough treatment from your vet--we have never had kennel cough, but we
always take this preventative measure. |
| What are hunt tests and how can my dog
compete? |
The American Kennel Club (AKC) and the United
Kennel Club (UKC) conduct hunt tests which measure a dog's level of training.
These tests are not dog against dog competitions, but the dogs are measured
against a standard set by the organization. The AKC has Junior Hunter,
Senior Hunter, and Master Hunter levels, as well as the annual Master National.
The UKC has Started Retriever, Seasoned Retriever, and Finished Retriever levels, and also has an
annual Grand hunt test. We primarily run AKC tests, but have also run UKC
tests in the past. The AKC requires four passes
at the Junior and Senior levels, and five passes at the Master level. The
UKC operates on a points system to achieve titled status. For each test passed, your dog will receive a ribbon and, depending
on the club sponsoring the test, a duck or goose band as well. Once a
certain level is obtained, your dog will receive a certificate by mail from the
organization. To learn more about hunt tests, visit the following:
American Kennel Club
United Kennel Club
We run hunt tests during the spring and fall each year, and
travel to many states to participate. If you are interested in
having your dog entered in hunt tests, just let us know.
Entry fees for hunt tests range from about $50 - $65 per test.
There are usually two Junior, two Senior, and one Master test at each hunt test
(there is occasionally a double Master). We charge a handling fee for each
test run. |
| What if my dog does not progress in training
as expected? |
Every dog is not going to be successful in
hunt tests or as a gun dog. If we find that the dog is not progressing in
the training program, we will contact you about sending him home. We do
not keep a dog that is not going to be successful in training, and will let you
know at the earliest possible time. We usually know within the first 1-2
months whether a dog is going to be successful. |
| What can I do to prepare my dog for training? |
Socialization is very important for puppies,
so it is crucial to spend some one-on-one time with your pup each day. You
can throw some bumpers for him to retrieve (or a ball or sock with a knot in
it--never a stick). Always stop before your pup gets tired or loses
interest--usually two or three bumpers is plenty.
If at all possible, do not house your pup in a kennel with an older dog.
Many people believe the other dog will keep the pup company, but this situation
can result in a submissive pup, and we want him to be bold and confident very
early on.
Throw bumpers for your pup on short grass--he can already
use his nose, but we want to teach him how to use his eyes. We also want
him to be successful and gain confidence by coming up with the bumper.
Don't play tug of war or keep-away--if possible, limit the
pup's means of escape around you; for young pups, a hallway is ideal as there is
really nowhere to go except back to you. Be sure to praise him as you take
the bumper from his mouth.
If the weather is warm, you can try to get your pup started
swimming. You may have to wade into the water or throw a bumper in for him
to retrieve. A pond with shallow edges is best, as he can go in gradually.
Don't ever force your pup into the water. An older dog can be helpful with
this, as the pup will often follow the older dog in. |
| How will I know the commands and signals to
give to my dog? |
At the end of your dog's training, plan to
spend an hour or so here at the kennel. Trapper will show you what your
dog has learned and teach you how to enforce the commands. We encourage
owners to participate in training as often as possible. If you come out to
train, you will likely run an older dog as you learn so that your young dog does
not get confused if you forget or mess up a command. Just let us know when
you would like to come and train with us. |
| What are shot flyers? |
Shot flyers are live birds that we raise
specifically for training. A hunting situation is set up during training,
and a live flyer is shot for the dog. This will teach him how to deal with
cripples and let him get accustomed to retrieving fresh birds. |
| What is a typical training day like for my
dog? |
The day begins with cleaning kennels and
loading the dogs onto the transport trailer. Force-fetch, obedience, and
drills are done here at the kennel in the morning hours. At about noon, we
head out to one of several training areas and set up tests. We try to run
two or three series of tests each afternoon; if weather permits, we try to have
at least one water series. Each series consists of two or three marks for
each dog, depending on his level of training. When we return to the
kennel, we finish up any drills or obedience that was not completed that
morning. Between 5 and 6 p.m., we unload the dogs, air, feed, and
clean kennels again. If temperatures are very low, the dogs are put back
on the trailer for the night. Otherwise, they stay in their kennels and
dog houses until morning. |
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If you can't find
the answer to your question here, please feel free to give us a call. It's
easiest to catch us after dark due to kennel duties in the evenings. The
number is (864) 473-2374--we look forward to hearing from you!
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