Rehberger’s Bird Dogs
Ranked #3 in Brainerd and #55 in Minnesota
Service area: Brainerd, Minnesota and throughout the central Midwest.
Service Overview
Types of Dog Training
- Family Dog
- Working Dog
Specialty Focus Areas
- Basic Obedience
- Puppy Training
- Recall
Training Formats Offered
- Private Lessons
- Private Facility
- Board and Train
Program Formats
- Sessions Package
- Ongoing Weekly
- Intensive Program
Types of Dogs
- Sporting
- Working
Age of Dogs Trained
- Puppy (<1 year)
- Adolescent (1-2 years)
- Adult (2-8 years)
Dog Training Methodology
Rehberger’s Bird Dogs provides obedience training for puppies and adult dogs, focusing on developing them into hunting companions and family pets. Their “Started Dogs” program trains dogs from the pup stage to perform commands such as Sit/Stay, Lay/Stay, Crate Trained, Gun Conditioned, Kennel on Command, Feather Conditioned, and Retrieve to Hand (water and land). They also offer a specialized “shed dog service” to train dogs for antler shed hunting. The training aims to prepare dogs for hunting upland game, waterfowl, and retrieving antler sheds, while also ensuring they are well-behaved companions.
Testimonials
“My wife and I had been contemplating getting another labrador for a long time, but we were worried about how our 12 year old lab would react to having to share the attention. We had been mulling the decision for a long time, until we ended up crossing paths with John. We went to meet Birdie and we fell in love instantly. The true test was to have our older dog (Bella) meet Birdie and see how things went. Upon letting Bella out of the truck, Birdie promptly ran over to an apple tree in the yard and grabbed an apple and dropped it at Bella’s feet (Bella’s favorite thing to eat in the entire world is Apples). They became immediate friends. We were hooked.
Birdie has been a wonderful addition to our family. She integrated quickly and learns very quickly. John worked with me on training techniques and worked with me as often as I wanted, to help me understand how to work with Birdie. The true test came when pheasant season opened. We made several trips to Iowa, South Dakota, and some game farms locally. Birdie’s natural instinct, combined with the training she had received from both John and I, quickly made it apparent that she was something special. I will never forget the feeling of shooting my first pheasant over her and having her bring it back to me. Her natural instinct surpassed what I could have even hoped for in a hunting partner.”
– Andy & Katy, Brainerd, MN
“Just a short note to let you know that Jimmy is working out great! He is already a good hunter and an outstanding, very aggressive, labrador retriever. He gets out a little far sometimes, but is now starting to respond well to coming back on a trill whistle. He is starting to deliver to hand now also. All-in-all, I am very happy with him. He has delivered four limits of roosters to me so far, and we are having lots of fun training taking a dead bird and hiding it out in the woods buried under the leaves. His average time to find is under a minute.”
– Bruce K. St. Cloud, MN
“I got my dog Rylie from Rehberger’s bird dogs nearly 5 years ago. She has been the perfect addition to my family. From camping, canoeing, hiking, hunting, swimming and cuddling she has been the perfect companion to spend my days with and I couldn’t be more happy.”
– N/A
About the Trainer
Rehberger’s Bird Dogs is a business specializing in breeding and training Fox Red and Yellow pointing Labradors. They focus on producing high-quality dogs that excel as both superior hunting companions and lifelong family pets. Their dogs are known for their versatility in the hunting fields, being bred to hunt, point, and retrieve.
The business emphasizes the impeccable genes of their Labradors, which are of Kellogg and Helm’s lineage, a bloodline known for its unique pointing traits and featured in Outdoor Life Magazine. All their dogs are OFA approved, certified, vaccinated, and EIC clear, with puppies coming with a two-year health guarantee.
Owner and trainer John Rehberger has extensive experience working with hunting dogs from an early age. He provides obedience training from puppyhood through adulthood, preparing dogs for various roles including upland game, waterfowl, and antler shed retrieval. They offer training for both their own bred dogs and clients’ existing dogs. In addition to training, Rehberger’s Bird Dogs provides stud dog services and sells puppies.
Accomplishments
John Rehberger, the owner and trainer, began working with hunting dogs at an early age, learning from an experienced trainer named Ray Klein, who recognized John as “the best bird boy he’d ever had.” John carefully selected and established his breeding lines with Kellogg and Helm’s Point Labradors, which are noted for their superior hunting abilities and unique pointing instincts. This lineage is recognized for its high quality, with some dogs featured in Outdoor Life Magazine. All their breeding dogs are OFA approved, and puppies are AKC qualified, EIC clear, and come with a two-year health guarantee. Parents and 3-4 generations of their dogs are available on-site for inspection.
How to Get Started!
To get started, prospective clients can contact Rehberger’s Bird Dogs by phone or by filling out a contact form on their website. They encourage inquiries for purchasing puppies, utilizing their training services (including general training, shed dog service, and started dogs), or inquiring about stud dog services. Visits to meet the dogs are available by appointment.
Contact Information
Associations
- AKC
Misc Features
- wheelchair accessible parking
Other Services Offered
- Dog breeder
- Kennel