If you’re seeking the perfect hunting dog training in Minnesota you’re in the right place.
We’ve assembled this list to help you do just that.
Keep reading to find:
- 13 top Minnesota hunting dog training programs
- Trainers for upland, pond, and field dog hunting
- What we liked most about each trainer during our research
…And much more.
You’re sure to find a trainer that gets your dog ready to help put dinner on the table given the number of qualified hunting dog programs in Minnesota.
1. West Country Kennels
West Country Kennels is owned by dog trainer Brian Roushar.
They are located in Lester Prairie, Minnesota, and serve the Minneapolis and St. Paul area.
This dog trainer offers a Puppy Program, Intermediate Hunting Program, and Advanced Hunting Program.
They also provide private lessons and basic obedience training for all dog breeds.
They offer short- and long-term dog boarding in a seventy-run climate-controlled kennel, as well as Labrador Retriever puppies and started hunting dogs for sale.
Owner trainer Brian Roushar has been training dogs for over thirty years.
He has trained and competed in multiple hunting tournaments and AKC Hunt Tests nationwide.
Alongside assistant trainers Shawn Murray and Julie Olinger, he conducts training on sixty acres with six ponds, trails, and wooded and open land.
Learn more about West Country Kennels’ gun dog training programs.
2. Over the Top Retrievers
Over the Top Retrievers is owned by gun dog trainer Scott Ward.
They are located in Monticello, Minnesota, and serve the Minneapolis and St. Paul area.
They offer basic gun dog training, upland bird dog training, and a pre-hunting season refresher/conditioning program.
In addition, they have a basic obedience training program for mid to large dog breeds.
Their forty-acre property features an upland training field and a pond.
Their Winter Camp training program allows hunting training to continue year-round.
Training is conducted at their property in East Texas.
The program is open to dogs seven months and up, and space is limited.
Owner trainer Scott Ward is a breeder of high-quality Labrador Retrievers and offers AKC-registered puppies for sale.
You can reach Over the Top Retrievers by phone at 763-244-0819.
3. JK Pine Creek Kennels
JK Pine Creek Kennels is owned by hunting dog trainer Jake Kline.
They are located in Montgomery, Minnesota, and serve the Minneapolis and St. Paul area.
This dog trainer offers gun dog training and basic obedience training.
Each training program is customized to fit your dog’s needs, and they receive one-on-one attention. All breeds are allowed in their training programs.
Their Introduction to Bird & Gun Program is a two-week course for puppies in which they are taught to positively associate with birds and guns.
This is followed by an Intermediate and Advanced Gun Dog Program, where hunting skills and obedience skills are taught.
Owner trainer Jake Kline has been professionally training dogs for over fourteen years.
He has trained and raised multiple champion dogs throughout his career.
Training at JK Pine Creek Kennels is conducted on varied terrain, including upland hunting terrain and ponds for waterfowl hunting.
Dog boarding is also available on-site.
You can reach JK Pine Creek Kennels by phone at 952-688-1206.
4. Stevenson Gun Dog & Obedience
Stevenson Gun Dog & Obedience is owned by dog trainer Jeff Stevenson.
They are located in Ramsey, Minnesota, and serve the Minneapolis and St. Paul area.
This dog trainer specializes in gun dog training and obedience training.
They conduct training on their property along with over one hundred fifty acres of nearby land that is ideal for both waterfowl training and upland hunting training.
Their gun dog programs include a Trained Retrieve Program, which does not include field training, and a Basic Field Training Program, which is specific to either waterfowl hunting or upland game hunting.
They also provide obedience dog training ranging from basic skills like sit, heel, and down to more advanced off-leash obedience training.
Owner trainer Jeff Stevenson has over thirty-seven years of experience training dogs.
He limits the number of dogs at his facility to ten dogs at a time, which allows him to give personalized treatment to each one.
Learn more about Stevenson Gun Dog & Obedience’s gun dog training programs.
5. Wings & Whistles Dog Training & Boarding Facility
Wings & Whistles Dog Training & Boarding Facility is owned by professional dog trainer Mike Schulenberg.
They are located in Watertown, Minnesota, and serve the Minneapolis and St. Paul area.
This dog trainer is open year-round. They offer basic obedience training for all dog breeds, sporting or not, as well as dog boarding in their climate-controlled facility.
Their Bird and Gun Intro Course is for puppies six months and older.
The next step in their training program is the Fast Start Training Course, which includes obedience training and field conditioning.
The next step up is their Advanced Gun Dog Training Course, which is customized to fit the needs of the dog and owner.
Owner trainer Mike Schulenberg has been training dogs for over thirty years.
He works with all dog breeds and sizes. His daughter, Rachael Schulenberg, also works at Wings & Whistles Dog Training and does basic obedience training.
Learn more about Wings & Whistles Dog Training & Boarding Facility’s hunting dog training programs.
You’ll enjoy this picture of a dog in training at Wings & Whistles Dog Training & Boarding Facility.
6. Autumn Breeze Kennel
Autumn Breeze Kennels is owned by professional hunting dog trainer Ed Erickson.
They are located in Isle, Minnesota, and serve the Duluth and Minneapolis/St. Paul areas.
This dog trainer specializes in upland bird dog training for flushing and pointing hunting dog breeds.
Their hunting dog training programs are customized to fit each dog. These programs include:
- Hunting Dog Puppy Program
- Hunting Dog Basic Obedience Training
- Started Hunting Dog Enhanced Training
- Advanced Hunting Dog Training
They also offer private hunting dog training sessions that allow the owner to be involved in the training process.
All training occurs on their eighty-acre property which is full of woods, grasslands, and ponds.
They are proud breeders of German Shorthaired Pointers and offer puppies and finished hunting dogs for sale.
Autumn Breeze Kennel also offers guided upland bird hunting.
Owner trainer Ed Erickson has over thirty years of experience training hunting dogs.
He is an active member of the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association.
He has trained several Hunt Test and Field Trial champion dogs over the years.
Check out Autumn Breeze Kennel’s gun dog training programs.
7. Willow Creek Kennels
Willow Creek Kennels is owned by professional dog trainer Chad Hines.
They are located near Little Falls, Minnesota, and serve Central Minnesota.
They specialize in a positive-reinforcement-based method of hunting dog training.
They offer specific training programs for pointing breeds, flushing breeds, and retrieving/waterfowl hunting breeds.
Owner trainer Chad Hines has been training hunting dogs professionally for over twenty years.
He is a dedicated German Shorthaired Pointer dog breeder. He offers puppies, started, and finished hunting dogs for sale.
Hunting dog training at Willow Creek Kennels is conducted on two hundred sixty acres of ruffled grouse and pheasant habitat.
Learn more about Willow Creek Kennels’ retriever training programs.
Check out this picture of an adorable litter of German Shorthaired Pointer puppies at Willow Creek Kennels.
Pine Creek Kennels is owned by dog trainer Dale Meier.
They are located in Foley, Minnesota, and serve the Minneapolis and St. Paul area.
Their bird dog training program is personalized to fit the needs of each dog.
Therefore, the length of the training program varies depending on the goals of the owner.
All training programs include basic obedience training, introduction to live birds and gunfire, and other hunting skills.
Owners are encouraged to be involved in the training process.
Owner trainer Dale Meier works with clients to learn what they are looking for in a hunting dog and customizes the training program for their dog accordingly.
He generally accepts dogs into his training program between five and eight months of age.
Learn more about Pine Creek Kennels’ hunting dog training program.
9. Holzinger Kennels
Holzinger Kennels is owned by hunting dog trainer Terry Holzinger who began training hunting dogs in 1982.
They are located in Prior Lake, Minnesota, and serve the Minneapolis and St. Paul area.
They offer hunting dog training programs for all dog breeds, including retrievers, pointers, and flushers.
Their gun dog training program is split up into four sections: Kindergarten, Grade School, Junior School, and High School.
Customized advanced training beyond the High School program is also available upon request.
In addition to bird dog training, Holzinger Kennels offers Labrador Retriever puppies and stud dog services.
Owner trainer Terry Holzinger has been training hunting dogs professionally since 1982.
Over the years, he has developed an award-winning training program that is customized to each dog.
Check out Holzinger Kennel’s gun dog training programs.
10. Agland Retrievers Professional Dog Training
Agland Retrievers Professional Dog Training is owned by hunting dog trainer Adam Tubman. Adam competes in field dog trials every year with his own two labradors.
They are located in Cottonwood, Minnesota, and serve the Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Southwest Minnesota areas.
This dog trainer offers two hunting dog programs.
The first is their Gun Dog Program, in which your dog will learn collar conditioning and obedience training, and be introduced to live birds.
The next is the Advanced Training Program.
This three-month program teaches more advanced retrieving skills like whistle commands, three-handed casting, and more.
Owner trainer Adam Tubman founded Agland Retrievers in 2020.
He has experience working with clients to prepare dogs for Hunt Tests and Field Trials and competes with his own dogs as well.
Learn more about Agland Retrievers Professional Dog Training’s hunting dog training programs.
11. Gun Dog Kennels
Gun Dog Kennels is owned by bird dog trainer Carl Altenbernd. They are located in Sabin, Minnesota, and serve the Fargo, North Dakota area.
They offer an eight-week long hunting dog training program.
Your dog will be introduced to birds and guns and will learn to heel, deliver, and hold. Weekly owner participation is required.
This dog trainer also offers private training sessions for obedience training and all other personalized dog training needs.
Owner trainer Carl Altenbernd has over forty years of experience training, raising, and hunting with Black Labrador Retrievers.
He offers puppies for sale, as well as trained hunting dogs for sale.
You can reach Gun Dog Kennels by phone at 218-789-7128.
12. Granite Ledge Kennels
Granite Ledge Kennels is owned by professional dog trainer Chris Wilson.
They are located near Milaca, Minnesota, and serve the Minneapolis and St. Paul area.
This dog trainer offers a number of hunting and obedience training programs, including:
- Retriever Training
- Upland Bird Training
- Versatile Dog Training
- Shed Dog Training
- Obedience Training
- Puppy Training
Granite Ledge Kennels occasionally has Pudelpointer and Labrador Retriever puppies for sale and trained hunting dogs for sale. They also provide stud dog services.
They conduct training on one hundred eighty acres of property that features ponds for waterfowl hunting training.
Owner trainer Chris Wilson is an avid hunter and is passionate about training dogs that are well-behaved in the field and at home.
He has trained several Master Hunter dogs over the years.
Learn more about Granite Ledge Kennels’ retriever training programs.
13. Fox Run Kennels
Fox Run Kennels is owned by bird dog trainer Matt Eder.
They are located in Brook Park, Minnesota, and serve the Duluth and Minneapolis/St. Paul areas.
This dog trainer specializes in training pointing and flushing dog breeds.
They offer training in different states depending on the time of year.
In the Spring, an Introductory Gun Dog Puppy Training course is run in Minnesota.
They then move to North Dakota in the summer for Gun Dog Training Camp, where your dog will have access to hundreds of live birds.
Finally, each winter a Gun Dog Training Camp is also conducted in South Texas.
Fox Run Kennels offers dog boarding for all breeds and occasionally has puppies and started hunting dogs for sale. They are also highly involved in Field Trial competitions.
Owner trainer Matt Eder has been training bird dogs for more than twenty years.
He trains on a two hundred eighty-acre property in Minnesota that has forty-eight kennels and a forty-acre puppy pen full of birds.
Learn more about Fox Run Kennels’ gun dog training programs.
Hunting Dog Trainers in Minnesota Summary
As you can see, there are many high quality hunting dog training programs in Minnesota that offer bird hunting training, field dog training, and more.
We hope this article helps you find a trainer who fits your needs and helps your dog meet their potential as a hunting dog.
