Dog training

Overview

We would love to work with your bird dog and all pointing and flushing breeds are welcome to train with us. Our bird dog training format, known as the Silent Command System, has been developed through generations of the Smith dog trainers and taught to us by our mentors and friends Rick and Ronnie Smith. This training works for any dog, whether a pointing dog, flushing dog, gun dog, NAVDA, hunt testing or field trial prospect. Like any successful school curriculum, our training system begins with the fundamentals and builds skills based on that solid foundation.

We have ducks, pheasants, chukar, quail and pigeons to expose your dog or puppy to at this time. Training prices do no include the cost of birds.

If training assistance is needed to put a specific training thought or need in place, that can be discussed and worked with as well.

Our facility is licensed as a training facility, therefore all dogs staying with us will be worked with to gain a training benefit of some kind. We work mainly with bird dogs, but welcome all breeds except pit bulls.

Please bring an updated kennel agreement and vaccine records when you drop off. We maintain our kennels to the utmost of standards and ask that you please provide updated health records for your dog(s) and a signed liability release for our files. Please include any special instruction on the liability release.

Gallery

Handler's Clinic & Dog Training seminars

Handler’s Clinic – January 6 & 7, 2024

www.huntsmith.com

Foundation Seminar- April 20 & 21, 2024

Advanced Academy – April 22 & 23, 2024

Foundation Seminar – May 18 & 19, 2024

Advanced Academy – May 20 & 21, 2024

www.ronniesmithkennels.com

For details on these seminars, please contact us for more information.

Training & Boarding Programs

Obedience Training offered Monday – Friday as space allows ($35/day)

Development Class: (2 weeks – 1 month) – $35/day + bird fee

Build your dog’s inherent prey drive and prepare him for formal training on pigeons or quail at our facility. This class will bring your dog’s prey drive to a pinnacle. Your dog is guaranteed bird contact every outing.
We recommend dogs be at least 4 months old to attend this class. This is a great preparatory class for any dog going in to the Basic Formal Training Class (even if a mature dog).

Basic Formal Class Training – ($35/day + bird fee)

Steady your dog and develop the fundamental skills every bird dog should know. The Basic Class gets your dog started on the right path.
Generally dogs are mature enough for this class at around a year of age. (3 month class)

Tune Ups and Advanced Classes for Alumni ($35/day + bird fee)

Bring your dog’s performance to a peak and prepare him for a great hunting, hunt testing or trialing season
Dogs previously trained at Mason-Dixon Game Outfitters are eligible to return for annual tune ups. Starting in September – Sign up now to be sure there is room on our schedule to assist with this.

Dog Training Memberships

For: 2200 Channel Rd., Pylesville, MD and Buttermilk Rd., Pylesville, MD location

**ALL PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY AT ALL TIMES.

In order to use the dog training fields, you must have your own Retriever Training Permit. This permit comes from the Dept. of Natural Resources for $5.00/each. Address: MD Dept. of Natural Resources, Permits Coordinator Wildlife Division, 580 Taylor Ave., Annapolis, MD 21401. Or any DNR License Merchant, Or online. For full details on this permit see: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/retpermit.asp

The dog-training fields are set up separate from the regulated hunting preserve to allow for more flexible usage. The farm is 98 acres and the fields will be rotated to accommodate agricultural needs. There will be a mix of tall grasses, crop stubble, hedgerows, and hayfields. Corn and soybean fields are off limits until after harvest. 1 hour allotted in field schedule per visit and birds to be paid for at time of pick-up.

Membership dues: $300 annually (August Renewal). Additional walk-alongs – $20/person

Limit of ONE gunner while afield. Pheasant, Chukar and Quail will be available on site from Oct. 1^st through March 31^st. The cost of the birds will be the same as the hunting preserve prices. Dog training members are responsible for release of their own birds. Dog training assistance is available if requested in advance at $65/hour. Dog boarding available at $35/ day.

Please contact us in advance to reserve the field. Email for membership and for initial farm visit.

The Silent Command System Explained

Our training format helps to bring dogs’ inherent prey drive to a pinnacle and then begins to mold that natural instinct in to the desired behavior of a confident, mannerly bird dog. Through the development of conditioned responses and learned behavior we are able to produce dogs that are proficient in heeling off lead, handling on cue, and confidently steady on birds. We work in partnership with the dogs as we train, giving them leadership and relying on their natural abilities.

Before they can be ready for formal training as a bird dog, dogs need to be given the opportunity to develop their inherent prey drive through exposure to birds. Our Development Class ensures a dog’s prey drive is at a pinnacle and that he is prepared to begin formal training. During this class we focus on introducing dogs to birds and building their enthusiasm for finding birds. Once a young dog is excited about birds then we can properly introduce gun fire. There are no rules taught during this class, it is all about bringing out the natural ability in the dog in order to prepare them to be successful in their Formal Training Class.

Our basic training is three months long. This is the quickest we feel that dogs can confidently grasp all of the behaviors that are asked of them as a bird dog. At the end of the Basic Class these dogs have seen multiple birds and hunting scenarios every day of class and they are ready for the experience the world outside the classroom will give them. These are “green broke” dogs ready to begin a career!

The Foundation Level is taught during the first month of the Basic Formal Training Class. During this month dogs get to work birds every day, retrieve birds, and get used to being in the field. By using the mechanical cues of checkcords, whoa posts and command leads we are able to teach fundamental behaviors to the dogs. Through repetition we are able to develop conditioned responses. A dog has reached the level of conditioned responses when he will do a certain thing every time when cued, no matter what his distraction level is. This is the hub of our training format as everything builds upon the dog’s conditioned responses to these basic skills.

The Intermediate Level transitions a dog from mechanical cues to low level remote cues in the field and ultimately verbal commands are overlaid to the conditioned response. At this level dogs are becoming steady on game, learning to honor another dog’s point and quartering on cue. The intermediate level of training occurs during the second month of the class.

During the third month of the Basic Training Class dogs enter the Advanced Level. At this time dogs are at the cusp of learned behavior. They learn to work scent in adverse conditions, how to look for and recognize backing situations, mark and hunt dead, retrieve, and take direction and go with you in the field.