Deep Fork Retrievers Inc

Deep Fork Retrievers offers two main programs: the 9-lesson Puppy Head Start Program, beginning at 10 weeks of age, which introduces verbal commands, whistle/hand signals, birds, water, gunfire, and marking; and the Gun Dog Training Program, a 4–6 month intensive program that develops competitive hunting skills including marking, steadiness to wing and shot, and reliable delivery to hand. Both programs are conducted at their facility with individualized scheduling to ensure mastery before progression.

Pricing Summary

Puppy Head Start Program: $50 per one-hour private lesson; puppies for sale priced at $1,500 with a two-year genetic health guarantee; training videos and equipment available for purchase at $12.50–$30.

Deep Fork Retrievers Inc is a premier hunting retriever training center in Choctaw, Oklahoma, founded and operated by nationally recognized gun dog trainers John and Beth Ann Amico. With over 40 years of experience, they specialize in developing high-performance Labrador Retrievers for waterfowl and upland hunting, offering two core training programs: the Puppy Head Start Program for puppies as young as 10 weeks and the comprehensive Gun Dog Training Program that prepares dogs for hunting in 4–6 months. Their facility-based training emphasizes developmental, structured lessons that build marking, steadiness to wing and shot, and reliable delivery to hand. The Amicos also breed and sell puppies with proven hunting genetics, health certifications, and early bird exposure, ensuring a strong foundation for future performance. They provide training videos and specialized equipment for sale, and their expertise is backed by membership in the Professional Retriever Trainers Association and pro staff roles with major outdoor brands.

They serve serious hunters across Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Kansas, with private, one-hour lessons scheduled individually to ensure mastery before progressing. Their approach is rooted in decades of field experience, competition exposure, and a deep understanding of retriever behavior and training science.

Accomplishments

John and Beth Ann Amico are members of the Professional Retriever Trainers Association (PRTA), have trained dogs for national figures including Governor Mike Huckabee and former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating, and serve as pro staff for Cabela’s, Prois, Dokken, and Limbsaver. John attended the second-ever hunt test in the U.S. and has been training professionally since 1980. Their breeding program has produced multiple Master National-level dogs and repeat customers across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

How to Get Started!

Prospective clients contact Deep Fork Retrievers to schedule individualized lessons for the Puppy Head Start or Gun Dog Training Program. Out-of-state clients can arrange intensive sessions with travel assistance. Puppies for sale require direct phone contact to reserve a pick.