Wilde Acres can help train your dog for a life as a hunting companion or competitive gun dog. Our immersive bird dog training program makes the most of that special window in time to formulate good behaviors from a young age. After your dog completes our bird dog training program, expect a solid, well-mannered pup and a gun dog with incredible drive.
The upland game dog training program offers 8 weeks of total training for dogs over 6 months old. This is not a classroom program; dogs will be introduced to working in the field, gunfire, and live birds throughout their stay.
While we can get you on the schedule in advance, training is best when your puppy is at least 6 months old.
Your dog attends our immersive 8-week-long upland game dog training at Wilde Acres and learns dog training fundamentals as we also work on developing specific upland game dog training skills.
When you pick up your dog from training, learn more about handling in the field using live birds, tables for teaching the finer skills of pointing and retrieving, and more.
Attend up to 6 weekly handler classes to work with your dog on standard obedience training and to solidify new training habits.
If you’re seeking training for your puppy on more standard commands, check out our puppy training program instead.
Can't say enough good things about this place! I've enrolled my six month old pointer in their upland program and she is doing great with Cam's help. But even if you're not interested in the upland program, this is a really great place to train and/or board your dog. My puppy loves going back there. The staff are all clearly dog lovers. All around good vibes, a beautiful setting, and nice people. Worth it.
I had my 6 month old GSP Oakley go through the Upland Game Hunting Dog program at Wilde Acres with Cam. The amount of effort & hard work that he puts into the dogs he touches is unique. He has a great technique, really connects with the dog & in 8 weeks, she looks and performs at the highest of quality. The passion shows! He also incorporates basic obedience & general manners into his program which is a really nice touch. He really puts the emphasis on the family sporting dog and cared for her like she was his own.
Our bird dog training program is proven to get results. Your dog will get a total of eight weeks of immersive training onsite at Wilde Acres
When you book, we’ll require a $600 deposit to hold your reservation. This is refundable within 7 days of your start date if you choose to cancel. The remaining balance will be due upon drop-off for the training retreat.
Upon picking up from each retreat, you’ll receive an extensive training lesson with our upland game dog team. As a follow up, you will receive one additional private training lesson. Weekly post-retreat handler classes are included with any Upland Game Dog Retreat but will focus on standard obedience behaviors vs hunting practice. Additional private lessons for hunting-specific behaviors can be scheduled at additional cost.
Every training retreat at Wilde Acres includes six follow-up sessions called Post Retreat Handler Classes. After a dog has completed a training retreat, both owner and dog are eligible to attend the weekly handler classes.
Handler classes are designed to help dog owners handle their dogs the way the Wilde Acres staff did, thus getting better behaviors. These classes will help owners feel completely confident in their dog and their skills. Wilde Acres staff recommends attending at least three handler classes.
