Training: We only train purebred retrievers for hunting.
Started Level: The dog must be at least six months of age and mature enough to do started level work. At this level of training the dog will be taught Basic Obedience such as: sit, heel and here, force fetch and collar conditioning. The dog will learn 50-70 yard marks on land and water. The dog will be trained for gunfire, decoys, platform, stand, hide-a-pooch and a ramp. This level will take a minimum of 3 months to complete.
Seasoned Level: The dog must have completed Started Level before Seasoned Level can be taught. This level will give you a great hunting dog. At this level, the dog will be able to perform double marks, simple blinds and will learn hand signals on land and water. Steadiness on the line, diversions and walk up birds will be taught at this level. This level will take a minimum of 5 to 6 months to complete.
Finished Level: The dog must have completed Seasoned Level before Finished Level can be taught. This level is for the supreme hunting dog. The dog will learn to do triple and quadruple marks, complicated – long blinds over all sorts of terrain/water and honor another working dog. This level will take a minimum of 6 months to complete.
Obedience Training: The dog must be at least six months of age and mature enough to do the work. The dog will be trained to sit, heel and here. The dog will be collar conditioned and socialized with other dogs and humans during this time. The training takes a minimum of one month.
Force Fetch: The dog must be obedience trained and collar conditioned before going through force fetch. This will teach the dog to hold without dropping, chewing, or mouthing the bird or bumper, deliver to hand at heel position and fetch from the ground upon command. The dog must be at least six months of age and mature enough to go through force fetch. Force fetch takes a minimum of one month. (Teething occurs between 4-6 months of age and force fetch will not be done during this time).
Pre-Season Tune-up: This is for dogs that have been trained only by Cahokia Creek Kennels and have achieved the seasoned or finished level of training, but needs some tune-up work before the hunting season begins. This is a minimum of one month.
How to become a client:
If you are interested in bringing your large breed dog to Cahokia Creek Kennels for training, please contact us by email, phone or Facebook. First thing we would like to do is set up a time to meet with you and your dog if you are having us train him/her for hunting. We do not need to meet with you if you are just having your dog trained for obedience.
During the first meeting:
*If you have a puppy, we evaluate at your puppy to see if he/she is mature enough to start obedience training.
*If you have a dog, we look to see what your dog already knows and decide from there what training he/she will need. Once this determination is complete we can set up a day and time for you to drop your puppy/dog off to start training.
When you bring your dog for training, we ask that you bring with you the following:
Obedience training:
*A copy of shot records from your vet showing your dog is current on Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, Bordatella and Rabies.
*Heartworm medicine for that month.
*Flea and tick medicine for that month.
(We do not allow topical heartworm, flea and tick medicine only pill form).
*A bag of food for the month.
*Check or cash in the amount for training.
Started Training:
*A copy of shot records from your vet showing your dog is current on Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptovirus, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, Lyme, Bordatella and Rabies.
*Heartworm medicine for 3 months.
*Flea and tick medicine for 3 months.
(We do not allow topical heartworm, flea and tick medicine anymore only pill form).
*At least 1 bag of food for the first month.
*Check or cash in the amount for the first month of training.
*A copy of your pups ACK registration certificate and/or 3 generation pedigree.
Seasoned/Finished Training:
*A copy of shot records from your vet showing your pup is current on Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptovirus, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, Lyme, Bordatella, Rabies and Proheart 6.
*We require the Proheart 6 shot for heartworms.
*Bravecto for flea and ticks (two doses).
*At least 1 bag of food for the first month.
*Check or cash in the amount for the first month of training.
We do not provide food for your dog. You can either provide your own or if your dog eats Purina Pro Plan you can buy it from us each month.
Days and Hours of Business:
We DO NOT have regular business days or hours. ALL APPOINTMENTS MUST BE SCHEDULED!
For boarding: We are available seven days a week by appointment only. All pick up and drop offs are by appointment only.
For Training: We train five days a week. The five days we train may very. All visits, pick ups, drop offs and training sessions are by appointments only.