Long Hollow Retrievers

Long Hollow Retrievers offers comprehensive training programs for Upland Bird Dogs and Retrievers, structured in progressive phases.

Upland Bird Dog Training includes:
Head Start (1 month): Focuses on developing natural instincts with ample bird exposure, introducing water retrieves, here training, whistle training, crate training, gun breaking, and e-collar conditioning.
Basic Training (minimum 2 months): For dogs that completed Head Start or have hunting experience and are gun broke. This “breaking process” uses a realistic approach with many birds to ensure dogs hold point, quarter, handle in the field, and respond consistently to voice and whistle commands.
Advanced Training (minimum 3 months): Continues the “breaking process” for eligible dogs, ensuring they hold point broke to wing and shot, quarter, handle, respond to commands, and retrieve.

Retriever Training Program includes:
Basic Training (minimum 4 months, starting around 6 months of age): Builds a foundation for future training and AKC Junior Hunt Tests. Introduces dogs to birds, bumpers, land, water, gun fire, blinds, crates, dog trailers, kennels, e-collar conditioning, marking, lead steadiness, basic obedience, hold training, force fetch, and walking fetch.
Transition Training: Advances to more formal obedience, steadiness, and marking concepts. Includes yard drills like Force to Pile, 3 Hand Casting, Double T, No-No Drills, and Pattern Blinds, as well as advanced field marking drills.
Advanced Training (long-term commitment): Prepares dogs for AKC Field Trials and Master Hunt Tests, focusing on complex challenges in duck blinds and varied environments.

The business also outlines “5 General Steps” for developing a pointing dog: Picking a Puppy, Getting the Puppy home (8 weeks to 4-5 months, focusing on socialization, crate training, basic retrieves, and early exposure), Gun Breaking (4-5 months, establishing a positive relationship between gunshots and birds), The Flyway (5 months to 1 year, allowing the dog to run, hunt, and develop natural instincts, incorporating e-collar conditioning, here/whistle training, and light whoa training), and Formal Training or “Breaking” (teaching the dog to hold point through the flush and shot, or broke to wing and shot for field trials, using a silent method with real birds, a checkline, and a flusher/shooter).

Long Hollow Retrievers, also known as Long Hollow Bird Dogs, is a professional dog training and breeding business established in 2003. They specialize in Bird Dog Training, Retriever Training, and breeding American Field/UKC English Setters, Pointers, and AKC field-bred Labrador Retrievers. Ryan Fortier, the primary trainer, has 30 years of experience in the field.

Their training philosophy emphasizes a realistic environment with extensive bird exposure, aiming to develop natural instincts while retaining style and confidence in the dogs. They offer a free evaluation for prospective clients and strive to create a friendly, ego-free learning environment, focusing on making each owner and dog a successful team.

Long Hollow Retrievers is located in Ellensburg, Washington, serving clients throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond. They also offer puppies and started dogs from their breeding program.

Accomplishments

Long Hollow Retrievers was established in 2003. Ryan Fortier, the lead trainer, possesses 30 years of experience in the field. He has trained and campaigned numerous pointing breeds, guiding many American Field English Setters and Pointers to NSTRA field trial Championships and derby wins. Ryan has also trained and handled many AKC Master Hunter Retrievers, Master National Qualifiers, and some of the first APLA Grand Master Pointing Retrievers in the Pacific Northwest.

Over 25 years, their dogs have achieved significant success, including qualifying, competing, passing, and winning at the AKC Master National, AFTCA Horseback Field Trials, and NSTRA Field Trials. Notable dogs include RU CH Long Hollow’s Buckskin Denny, Runner Up Champion at the 2023 National Chukar Championship; Long Hollow’s Delta Gunner MNH, a 3-time AKC Master National Qualifier; and Long Hollow’s Obsidian Blue MNH, the first Long Hollow Retriever to pass the AKC Master National in 2011. Fireweed’s Rugged Rufus MH is noted as the only Chesapeake Bay Retriever to achieve an AKC Master Hunter title through their program.

How to Get Started!

Prospective clients are encouraged to schedule a visit or join a training day. The business offers a free evaluation of the dog to help set goals and explain the training process.