Bourbon Trail Retrievers

01/03/2026

I got tired of fighting flimsy collars and buckles every time I get a dog off the truck and to the line.

When you’re training all day, that stuff slows you down fast.

These Hoss straps fixed me right up. Just pull to tighten and we get back to work.

They hold up, they’re easy to use, and with the adapter they fit my Garmin Pro 550 perfectly.

When you’re working dogs every day, having the right gear matters. Hoss Straps delivers.

12/24/2025

BTR added another nice dog to the kennel this week. Rue is here for our intro to duck dog and obedience program. Rue is owned by Heather and Jeremy Gruebbel.

12/19/2025

Getting updates like these make all the long training days worth it. HR Rye is taking full advantage of this thaw! Rye is owned by Seth Cordial

11/29/2025

Bourbon trail Retrievers added another young dog to the crew this weekend. Dennis is a 6 month old golden retriever that will be spending the winter with us. He is here for basic obedience, collar conditioning, and starting his basic gun dog training.

11/28/2025

HR Rye had an awesome morning at the tower shoot. This was his first tower shoot and quickly figured it out! I couldn’t be more proud of him. His owner ran him all morning while shooting. A good dog in the field is hard to beat!

11/08/2025

Bourbon Trail Retrievers had a great 2025 hunt test season. As dogs start to leave and go be with their families I am able to reflect on what a special year it was.

2026 is gearing up to be even better! BTR has a few spots left for 2026 whether you are wanting a gun dog or a dog that can run and compete in AKC and HRC hunt test. I’d love to talk more.

Email: [email protected]
Cell: 502-235-3021

11/05/2025

11/04/2025

I had a blast recording this podcast! A lot of good information in this one.

Build From Here · Episode

11/04/2025

Walking to the line at a hunt test can be the most stressful part of the test if your dog isn’t under control and understands the task at hand. It all starts with the basics no matter what level you and your dog are at.

11/02/2025

Having a dog that is steady at the line is a major key to success at Hunt test. It’s even more important at the highest level such as the HRC International Grand.

11/01/2025

Meet Blake Allen, founder of Bourbon Trail Retrievers.

I didn't grow up planning to train duck dogs. One day, I stumbled across a YouTube video of a dog running blinds and I thought, "That's the coolest thing I've ever seen."

Next thing I knew, I was hooked.

8 years later, I've spent everyday since learning, training, and doing everything I can to master this craft.

I've been lucky to have some incredible mentors along the way. These guys took the time to show me what handling should look like and what it takes to produce a dog that's ready for the line.

The ribbons may look nice, but to me it's about the moments when a dog and I are locked in, one and the same, and the retrieve is clean.

That's the feeling that never gets old.

This is Bourbon Trail Retrievers—where talented dogs become titled retrievers, and where I get to do what I love every single day.

Follow along as we train Kentucky's next generation of duck dogs. 🦆🥃