Going pro…

The decision to focus fully on the dogs smoldered for years and years. Should a man settle for what’s comfortable and secure or take the risk of pursuing a passion? As crazy as our life has been since we made the plunge, the decision was easy to make. Our goals are based on setting an example for the generation to follow: take risks, do not fear failure, do not ignore what provides inspiration. Our clients are some of the best folks under the sun. Sara and I are beside ourselves with the support and encouragement we’ve received!

5.1.2024

There’s only one first

3/29/2024

My first son, Asher, was born nine years back. At that time I was working as a ranch manager in the Texas Hillcountry. It was the PERFECT venue to begin a child’s life: vast expanses of land filled with wildlife, the East Fork of the Frio ran through our back yard, and times with dad almost always involved firearms or fly rods.

Asher received his first shotgun for his ninth birthday, a 28ga Beretta BL4 with a 12” LOP and 24” barrels- such a cool little gun. I thought of this gift throughout his entire life, as the same with all my children,and did my best to prepare him for it by taking advantage of, and seeking out, teachable moments in light of one day shooting over a dog. Eyes, ears, safety, range/field etiquette, gun mount, instinctive shooting, situational awareness, concentrated focus on the target… I told him once, when he was helping me with chores, that all the annoyances of having a kennel melt away when you experience a dog working with you.

Seeing the smile on his face as he approached the truck with his first pheasant in-hand is something I’ll never forget. He crushed it on the first shot, and then followed up with another hit. As soon as he handed me his gun, he ran to the truck and grabbed Matilda. He walked her halfway to the fall, took off the lead and cast her off. She found the bird quickly and I tried to remember what that was like as I watched him take the bird from her.

If he was ever more filled up, I cant remember when. That night as we were settling in, Asher thanked me for that experience…followed by a request to help me tomorrow.

The Birddog lifestyle

10/4/2023

At twenty-one years old, I decided that whatever I did to earn a living must revolve around something I love. In this season, the most important experiences were centered around fly rods and bird dogs. I took a job at Wynfield Plantation in Albany, GA, where I learned dog handling, dog training, wingshooting instruction, and how perform and teach all things fly fishing. In 2007, a pattern began that would remain constant throughout my college years: guiding quail hunts all day, and taking evening classes funded by cash tips in the evenings. Come spring, I would head to Vermejo Park Ranch to guide fly fisherman during the summertime.

As a young adult I experienced the roller coaster of self discovery, big changes, and growing up (debatable). I remember fondly those hard days that ended while I sat in the kennels, absorbing every ounce of their grateful, affectionate, and selfless charm that dogs so consistently provide. To this day, the magic of a spaniel is more valuable than ever. I’m thankful to have exposed my family to what inspires me most, and to witness their own discovery of an instinctive and ancient part of life.

Since my first day at that plantation, bird dogs have been a huge part of life. As a trainer, the pursuit of excellence haunts me daily. These dogs have done so much for me on a personal level, that I feel deeply obligated to serve them to the best of my ability in terms of husbandry, development tactics, and breeding that we feel is improving the breed overall. To those who know me well, thanks for your patience with my incessant questions and picking of your brains. I’m compelled to learn and understand the inner-workings of a spaniel’s mind. I yearn to grow and not only produce a more soundly-trained dog, but also equip our clients to walk away from each session a better dog person than before.

We all want the same thing- a happy dog who loves their job. Its our job to protect their confidence, mental balance, and above all else-the relationship to the handler.