1. How much time do you spend with each dog? Steve trains 12 months of the year. Although he is one of the most experienced wingshooters in Texas, he has greatly reduced his hunting days in recent years. Typically, Steve does obedience and drill work with all the young dogs 6 mornings a week. Afternoons are devoted to field work with all 16 dogs. It is important to note that Steve doesn't run a hunting guide service, doesn't have another job, doesn't take an extended vacation, doesn't have a deer lease, and doesn't spend weekends at outdoor shows looking for business. What he does do is train - 52 weeks a year.

2. How many dogs do you train? Steve takes a MAXIMUM OF 16 DOGS and does all the training on every dog. There are no assistants or apprentice trainers. At many kennels, you will see 30, 40, even 50 dogs. Since even the best trainers can't handle more than 16-18 dogs, kennels with more than this cannot devote enough time per dog. In many cases, these extra dogs get very little work or are trained by an apprentice trainer who is learning on the job.

3. Can I observe/participate in training my dog? We encourage and welcome you to come out and observe/train with us anytime, including weekends! Please call the night before you wish to come out.

4. Do I need to bring anything when I drop the dog off? Please make sure all shots are current and your dog is free of worms. Bring his/her Heartworm medication (such as Heart Guard Plus). Put a nylon, metal buckle collar on your pup - one that fits tight. A collar that can be pulled over the head is too loose. A brass nameplate riveted to the collar is also a good idea.

5. What does your 4-month gun dog program for hunting dogs consist of? Obedience and good manners always come first. Then the dog will be given marked retrieves, on land and water, first using dummies. He or she will progress to pigeons, ducks, and pheasants and the retrieves will become longer, eventually out to 100-175 yards. At the right time, the dogs will be steadied (will not go until given a command). Force-fetch is taught during the 2nd or 3rd month. This eliminates hard mouth, dropping the bird on the return, etc. The final month emphasizes more difficult retrieves through brush, ditches, cattails, lily pads, and of course, decoy spreads. The foundation is laid for teaching blind retrieves (where the dog has not seen the bird fall). At the end of 4 months, the dog will be ready for his first dove, duck, or pheasant hunt. Most SRK dogs are ready to compete for their AKC Junior Hunter title at this point, if the owner so desires. Steve trains the owner to handle the dog in the Junior.

6. How much acreage do you have for training? Sulphur River Kennels consists of 60 acres, with another 200 acres of city lakes property directly across the road. Steve was born and raised in Wolfe City and has access to approx. 25 ranches in the area. He trains on a different property every day. This is very important, since no single property can duplicate the terrain of South Texas, the Panhandle, or Kansas all in one place. Your dog needs to see a wide variety of terrain scenarios in order to be successful.

7. Where is Wolfe City? Wolfe City is only 1 hour northeast of Dallas along the Hunt-Fannin County line, roughly between Greenville and Bonham. It is easily reached from DFW via Interstate 30 to Greenville or through McKinney, up 121 North to 11 East. Call, (903) 496-2835, for exact directions from your location.

8. Can anyone come out to train? You do not have to be a client to train with us. There is no charge for day sessions. Just come prepared for weather, mud, high weeds, etc. You will shoot or throw birds some, watch from the line some, and work your dog into the rotation with the rest of the dogs. Steve will observe your handling and the dog's performance and make suggestions. Call at night, a day or two prior to the training day, to make an appointment.

9. What are Hunt Tests? Hunt Tests are events held for retrievers which attempt to simulate actual hunting conditions. They are non-competitive, i.e. pass/fail. Retrievers passing a Hunt Test receive a "leg" or qualification toward their Hunt Test Title. This title (Junior Hunter (JH), Senior Hunter (SH), or Master Hunter (MH)) becomes an actual part of their AKC registered name, i.e. Trumarc's Hot Streak, M.H.

10. What is a Junior Hunter? The Junior stake is open to retrievers of any age, but primarily consists of young dogs. A dog must successfully complete 4 single marked retrieves, 2 on land and 2 on water. A single marked retrieve means that a single bird was thrown for the dog, who "marks" the fall. A dog who completes the 4 singles to the judge's satisfaction receives a passing score, which gives it 1 leg toward its JH. Passing scores in 4 Hunt Tests are required to earn a JH. Dogs which complete the 4 month "basics" program at Sulphur River Kennel should be able to earn a JH, if the owner so desires. Steve works with the owner's so that they are able to handle their own dogs in the Junior.

11. What is a Senior Hunter? A senior stake consists of 2 sets of double marks with short blind retrieves. The dog picks up the 2 marks and is then sent on a "blind" to a bird it has not seen fall. The handler directs the dog with hand/whistle signals. A dog must pass 5 Senior Tests to get an SH. Again, Steve will work with the owner if they wish to handle their dogs in the Senior.

12. What is a Master Hunter? The Master stake consists of three scenarios: a land triple or quad marks with a blind, a land/water triple or quad with a blind, and a water triple or quad with a blind. A Master dog must pass 6 Master stakes to get a MH. The dog will then carry this highly valued title for the life of the dog. Five passes each year are required to qualify for the Master National Hunt Test, held in a different part of the U.S. each year. Many Master dogs continue to run Master stakes each year in hopes of qualifying for that year's Master National.

13. How are you able to train in Texas in the summer? We have trained in Texas every summer for over 20 years and have never had a single dog go down. Steve's dogs are in excellent physical condition from daily work. When it's very hot, we always park in the shade and have at least one swim in the test. Our truck box is well insulated and has large breezeways and power ventilation. Very often, the dogs find it so comfortable that they sleep between tests.

14. Do you offer heated/air conditioned kennels? Keeping working retrievers in climate-controlled kennels is not a good idea. Our dogs are being trained to work in conditions ranging from broiling hot September dove hunts to below-freezing January duck hunts. In the summer, dogs shed their heavy winter coat in order to acclimate to the heat. In winter, they develop a thick, slightly oily undercoat. Inside dogs change to a lesser degree, which makes it that much harder to handle severe hunting conditions. We recently heard of a trainer losing 19 dogs when the air conditioning in his kennel failed while he was gone.

15. What should I look for in a puppy? The ideal hunting retriever has desire, trainability, and intelligence, coupled with a friendly, easy-going personality that fits in well with the family. Look for a puppy sired by a Field Champion (FC)- these are the best retrievers in the world. The litter's dam should also have FC bloodlines, up close. It doesn't do the puppy much good to have FC ancestors more than 3 generations back. Lets face it, the parents (50%) and grand parents (25%) are the ones contributing significantly to your puppy's genetics. Never buy a puppy from a breeder unless it has a written hip and eye guarantee and has had the dew claws removed. All reputable breeders do this. We offer a FREE puppy location service. Since we only have a few litters a year, you may or may not want to wait on our next one. If we don't have puppies available, we can find what you want in short order. Just give us a call. Note: please call after 7 pm.

16. Does the order of the pick in the litter really matter? NO. There is an old saying among knowledgeable professionals: "I'd rather have the last pick in a good litter than the first pick in a bad litter." Think about it. Could you go to the hospital and pick the smartest baby from the nursery?

17. When should my puppy come to you for formal training and what should I be doing in the meantime? Formal training usually starts around 6 months of age, but an older dog can still be trained. In the meantime, spend time with your puppy, in and out of the house. Around 3-4 months if age, you can start heeling your pup on a leash and perhaps teaching "sit". Try to get your puppy to come when called by offering treats. Use a long rope to gently reel him in, if necessary. Be sure to encourage the pup by getting down on your knees and clap the whole time saying "here". First retrieves are best started in a long, narrow area, closed off at one end, such as a hallway. This can be started around 12-14 weeks. 2 or 3 retrieves are plenty. Again, get down on your knees and get on the pup's level. Older pups can use a narrow yard between houses or similar area. Again, 2-3 retrieves are enough. Stop while the puppy wants more. This ensures the puppy will not get burn-out and think that retrieving is not fun. Once your pup is retrieving nicely, you will need to enlist the help of an assistant ("bird boy"). The assistant can stand behind a bush or tree and throw from this location. This will allow you to stretch the dog out past the point where most people can throw a dummy. Most retrieves should be in very light or no cover. The 2 most common problems we see in young puppies are: (1) Never being walked on a leash, and (2) The pup will only go a short distance because the dummy was always hand-thrown by the handler. In short, the pup has learned to run 25-30 yards and set up a hunt.

18. I'm confused by all the various titles in the pedigrees of advertised litters. How do I know what I'm getting? You should choose a puppy from a litter sired by an AKC Field Champion (FC) or, at least, an AKC Master Hunter (MH). These titles are earned at AKC Field Trials and AKC Hunt Tests, respectively. Lesser titles, or those awarded by other organizations, are easier to obtain and often indicate a dog with less talent and/or training. Call Steve to discuss this very important decision in depth.