The Retriever Resource

The Retriever Resource offers several board and train programs. The Two-Week All Breed Board & Train Program focuses on walking at ‘Heel’ on a leash and the ‘Sit’ command to solve leash-pulling problems and ensure on-leash control. The Six-Week All Breed Obedience Training Program includes an E-Collar and teaches ‘Here’, ‘Heel’, ‘Sit’ (Sit/Stay), ‘Kennel’, and/or ‘Load-Up’ commands, for both on and off-leash obedience.

Gun Dog Training is available for Retriever breeds, with a minimum four-month commitment. This program progresses through Obedience Training (first 4-6 weeks, covering basic commands and E-Collar conditioning), Basic Gun Dog Training (four-month program, includes force fetch, steadiness to shot, retrieving dead/crippled birds in various scenarios, working off a dog stand, swimming through decoys, exposure to gunfire, and picking up single/simple double marks), and Advanced Gun Dog Training (additional four to six months, focusing on whistle stops, hand signals, running blinds up to 100 yards, and picking up difficult single/double marks on land and water with extensive exposure to hunting scenarios).

The Puppy Program is for retriever puppies 12-20 weeks old, introducing them to gunfire, clipped-winged pigeons, other dogs, water, decoys, and simple leash training. Tune-Up Training is offered for preseason refreshers or basic obedience, with durations of one week for obedience and at least two weeks for gun dog tune-ups.

Pricing Summary

The Two-Week All Breed Board & Train Program costs $850. The Six-Week All Breed Obedience Training Program is priced at $2450, which includes an E-Collar. Gun Dog Training is $1250 per month, with a minimum commitment of four months. This cost covers food, birds, wear and tear on training equipment, basic care, and travel to and from training grounds.

The Puppy Program for retriever puppies (12-20 weeks) is $850 per month. Tune-Up Training is offered at $300 per week; an Obedience Refresher typically takes one week, while a Gun Dog Tune-Up should be at least two weeks. Boarding services are available for $35 per day for dogs that have completed their Advanced Obedience and Gun Dog Program. Owners are responsible for any medication and vet bills incurred while their dog is at the facility.

Policies

Owners are responsible for any vet bills for their dog while at The Retriever Resource. All dogs taken in for training must be up to date on Rabies and Vaccination Shots and have the Kennel Cough Vaccine. The business cannot guarantee results, but guarantees to do everything possible to train the dog to the highest level and be honest about progress and abilities. Timeframes for training are estimates and depend on the individual dog.

The Retriever Resource is a full-service dog training facility specializing in training Labrador Retrievers for waterfowl hunting, owned and operated by Travis Wright in Edom, Texas. They also offer all-breed obedience training for many medium and large dog breeds.

Their training philosophy focuses on building momentum, instilling discipline, and developing precision, utilizing the Force Method of training and electronic collars to reinforce commands. They emphasize individualized training plans rather than a “cookie cutter” approach, recognizing that each dog is unique.

The facility is located with their home on 23 acres of rolling coastal hay meadows and three ponds, providing ample training grounds. The owner lives on the property, ensuring high priority care for the dogs. They maintain a clean, safe, and secure kennel facility with Priefert Kennel Panels on a metal-roofed concrete slab with lights and fans.

Beyond training, The Retriever Resource offers boarding services for dogs that have completed their Advanced Obedience and Gun Dog programs. They can also assist clients in locating well-bred retriever puppies and occasionally have started dogs available for purchase.

Accomplishments

Travis Wright, the owner and operator, has been involved with retrievers for over two decades and has trained several hundred hunting retrievers. He trained his own dog, HRCH Gauge, to the Finished Level and was awarded a Hunting Retriever Championship Title through the Hunting Retriever Club. The Retriever Resource focuses solely on Gun Dog Training and does not run Hunt Tests or Field Trials with client dogs due to Travis’s personal schedule, but he encourages clients to run their own dogs and provides support.

How to Get Started!

Prospective clients are encouraged to contact The Retriever Resource for their dog training needs. For dogs in the Six-Week All Breed Obedience Training Program, client visits every couple of weeks are recommended. For Gun Dog Training, it is very important for owners to come out and train with their dog to learn handling in different situations, and the business will work to schedule these times. They also advise scheduling Gun Dog Training in advance as they are often booked months out.