Briarwoods GunDogs

Training is an intensive, 3–4 month program focused on building foundational hunting skills in puppies and young dogs aged 4–7 months. Dogs are exposed daily to live game, gunfire, water retrieves, blood tracking, obedience, and various terrains. Training is tailored to the dog’s natural abilities, with no use of marketing jargon like “puppy head start.” Chris evaluates each dog’s potential and will notify clients if the dog is unlikely to succeed as a hunting dog. Training is conducted at their facility in Goldsboro, NC.

Pricing Summary

Training costs $1,000 per month, which includes all dog food and live game (quail, pheasants, ducks, rabbits). Training typically lasts 3–4 months. No pricing details are listed for puppies for sale.

Policies

Chris will not continue training a dog that lacks the natural drive or potential to become a working hunting dog, and he will contact the owner immediately if this is determined. Clients are encouraged to commit to a 3-month program for best results. No cancellation or rescheduling policies are explicitly stated.

Briarwoods GunDogs is a family-owned dog training and breeding business based in Goldsboro, North Carolina, specializing in versatile European hunting breeds like the German Wirehair, German Shorthair, and German Hunting Terrier (Jagdterrier). They train dogs for all aspects of hunting, including retrieving, pointing, flushing, blood tracking, obedience, and exposure to live game and gunfire. Their training emphasizes early exposure to diverse terrain and game types to build on natural instincts, with most clients opting for a 3-month intensive program. Chris Phillips, the owner, has decades of experience training and breeding hunting dogs, having competed and trained in both the U.S. and Europe. He is a member of NAVHDA and European breed clubs, and he prioritizes honesty—letting clients know upfront if a dog lacks the drive or potential for advanced hunting work. Training includes all dog food and live game (quail, pheasants, ducks, rabbits) at a flat rate of $1,000 per month.

In addition to training, they breed and sell puppies from European-imported bloodlines, registered through NAVHDA or FCI, and assist with U.S. registration via NKC. Their dogs are bred for high drive, versatility, and trainability across upland birds, waterfowl, small game, and big game like wild boar and mountain lion. They do not offer pet or family dog training; their focus is strictly on high-performance hunting dogs.

Clients can follow daily progress via their active Facebook and Instagram pages, and Chris is known for being highly accessible by phone and email, offering ongoing support even after training ends.

Accomplishments

Chris Phillips has trained and competed with dogs in both U.S. and European hunting clubs for decades. Dogs from Briarwoods have been placed across North America and South America, including Alaska, Argentina, and Uruguay. All breeding stock is either direct European imports or descended from them. Dogs are registered through NAVHDA and FCI, and the business is a member of NAVHDA and the Delta Waterfowl Foundation.

How to Get Started!

Prospective clients are encouraged to call or email to discuss their dog’s needs. An evaluation is implied before training begins, and Chris will assess whether the dog has the potential to become a working hunting dog. Appointments are required to visit the facility.