Hillcrest Farm

Hillcrest Farm We breed and train family dogs that hunt. Our dogs have the temperment to become great family dogs, amazing hunters or taken in any direction you choose. Farm

We enjoy working with dogs and families to help them reach their goals and potential.

We're an AKC Bred with Heart breeder — and I get asked what that actually means all the time. So I wrote the post I wish...
09/03/2026

We're an AKC Bred with Heart breeder — and I get asked what that actually means all the time. So I wrote the post I wish existed when I was first starting out. 🐾

Bred with Heart isn't just a badge. It means health testing, it means hunting titles on our females (our girl Storm has an AKC Master Hunter title!), it means raising every litter through the Puppy Culture program, and it means standing behind every dog we place for life. Health guarantees. Lifetime support. A take-back policy so no Hillcrest dog ever ends up in a shelter.

If you're doing your research on breeders — or you just want to know more about what goes into the dogs we raise here — this post is for you. I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

👉 Read the full post: https://www.hillcrestfarmlabs.com/pupdates-tricks/what-does-bred-with-heart-mean

Fall season is closer than you think — and if your hunting dog has been on summer vacation, NOW is the time to start get...
08/28/2026

Fall season is closer than you think — and if your hunting dog has been on summer vacation, NOW is the time to start getting them ready. 🐾

I just published a practical guide to summer field training that covers everything: fitness check, refreshing core commands, reintroducing birds, marking drills, and how to keep your dog safe in the heat. There's even a simple weekly schedule you can follow to make it manageable.

Don't wait until September to figure out where your dog is at. A little consistent work over the next few weeks makes a BIG difference in the field. Give it a read and let me know if you have questions!

👉 Read the full post: https://www.hillcrestfarmlabs.com/pupdates-tricks/summer-field-training-get-ready-for-fall

Chewing your shoes. Barking at nothing. Pacing the house. Zooming at 11pm. Sound familiar? 😅 Your dog might just be BORE...
08/22/2026

Chewing your shoes. Barking at nothing. Pacing the house. Zooming at 11pm. Sound familiar? 😅 Your dog might just be BORED.

Labs are high-energy, high-intelligence dogs — and when they don't get enough mental and physical stimulation, they find their own entertainment (usually something you won't love). My new blog post digs into the signs of an under-stimulated dog and gives you practical, easy fixes to turn things around.

From Find It games to puzzle feeders to short training sessions, there's a lot you can do that doesn't require hours of your time. Read the full post and see what resonates!

👉 Check it out: https://www.hillcrestfarmlabs.com/pupdates-tricks/is-your-dog-bored

I know e-collars can be a hot topic, so I want to be real with you about how and why we use them here at Hillcrest Farm....
08/22/2026

I know e-collars can be a hot topic, so I want to be real with you about how and why we use them here at Hillcrest Farm. 🐾

We use a blended training method — positive reinforcement, clicker training, AND e-collar — and there's a lot of misunderstanding about what e-collars actually are and how responsible trainers use them. They are NOT a punishment tool. When used correctly, they're a communication tool that gives dogs clarity and freedom.

I wrote this post because I believe in being fully transparent about our training approach, and I want families to feel confident and informed. If you've ever had questions about e-collar training, this one is worth reading.

👉 Read the full post: https://www.hillcrestfarmlabs.com/pupdates-tricks/why-we-use-e-collars

People are always surprised when I tell them — not every lab is a natural water dog right out of the gate! Some of our p...
08/20/2026

People are always surprised when I tell them — not every lab is a natural water dog right out of the gate! Some of our pups need a little encouragement before they take that first leap. 🐶

We're lucky here at Hillcrest Farm to have a creek and ponds on the property, so I've seen exactly what works when it comes to building water confidence. My new blog post walks through the whole process — from puddles and shallow wading to full-on pond retrieves — and how to do it in a way that builds excitement, not anxiety.

Whether your lab is a puppy or an adult, it's never too late to work on this. Read the full post and let me know how your dog does with water!

👉 Read it here: https://www.hillcrestfarmlabs.com/pupdates-tricks/labs-and-water-building-confidence

Want to tire out your dog AND give them a job that actually makes them happy? Say hello to "Find It" — one of my absolut...
08/18/2026

Want to tire out your dog AND give them a job that actually makes them happy? Say hello to "Find It" — one of my absolute favorite commands to teach. 🐾

Labs have incredible noses and natural hunting instincts, and this command taps right into that. It's mentally stimulating (which wears them out faster than a run!), it builds focus, and it's the perfect bridge toward real field work. My new blog post walks you through it step by step — from a beginner indoor game all the way to outdoor hides.

If your dog has been bouncing off the walls, this might just be the answer. Give it a read!

👉 Read the full post: https://www.hillcrestfarmlabs.com/pupdates-tricks/find-it-command

Living out here on 200 acres, keeping dogs safe looks a little different than it does in the suburbs — and I get a LOT o...
07/29/2026

Living out here on 200 acres, keeping dogs safe looks a little different than it does in the suburbs — and I get a LOT of questions about it. So I put together a blog post on exactly that. 🐾

We're talking fencing options, GPS collars vs Apple AirTags (spoiler: AirTags fall really short in rural Minnesota), and why EVERY dog needs a microchip — no excuses. These are the things I wish every puppy family knew before something went wrong.

Whether your dog is a new pup or a seasoned family member, this one is worth a read. Head over and let me know what safety measures you're using at your place!

👉 Read it here: https://www.hillcrestfarmlabs.com/pupdates-tricks/keeping-your-dog-safe-at-home

I hope you never need this post — but I wrote it because I've seen firsthand how panicked and overwhelmed people get whe...
07/23/2026

I hope you never need this post — but I wrote it because I've seen firsthand how panicked and overwhelmed people get when their dog goes missing. And in those first hours, the steps you take really matter. ❤️

My latest blog covers exactly what to do if your dog goes missing — from how to search your area effectively, to alerting shelters and neighbors, posting on social media the right way, and why dawn and dusk are your best times to search. It's a step-by-step guide you can bookmark and share with every dog owner you know.

Nobody wants to be in that situation, but being prepared can make all the difference. 🐾

👉 Read the full guide: https://www.hillcrestfarmlabs.com/pupdates-tricks/my-dog-is-missing-now-what

One of the things I'm most passionate about here at Hillcrest Farm is what happens in those first few weeks of a puppy's...
07/17/2026

One of the things I'm most passionate about here at Hillcrest Farm is what happens in those first few weeks of a puppy's life — and it matters MORE than most people realize. 🐾

We follow the Puppy Culture program, which means our pups are introduced to all kinds of people, sounds, surfaces, and environments during that critical 3–16 week window. That foundation shapes everything — how confident, calm, and adaptable your dog will be for the rest of their life.

I just published a full blog post walking through exactly how we do puppy introductions to the world, and why it's a game-changer for families who want a dog that handles anything. If you're on our waiting list — or thinking about adding a lab to your family — this one's for you. 🐶

👉 Read the full post here: https://www.hillcrestfarmlabs.com/pupdates-tricks/puppy-introduction-to-the-world

As a family, we honor those who served and sacrificed for our freedom. This Memorial Day, we remember the heroes who gav...
05/25/2026

As a family, we honor those who served and sacrificed for our freedom. This Memorial Day, we remember the heroes who gave everything. Their legacy lives on in our hearts and in the freedom we cherish every day. 🇺🇸

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4101 157th Avenue NE
New London, MN
56273

Telephone

+13208945169

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