Retriever Ridge Kennels

08/31/2026

I’m truly honored and humbled to have my story and the story of Retriever Ridge Kennels featured in this year’s Greenhead magazine in the article, “Fine-Tuning Man’s Best Friend.”

What began as a young boy watching his dad work bird dogs and falling in love with duck hunting eventually became a life and career I never could have imagined. I’ve been incredibly blessed to spend these years doing something I love, working with some remarkable dogs and meeting even better people along the way.

Although my name is on the article, the story represents far more than just me. It represents my family and their support, the friends and mentors who helped me along the way, and every client who trusted me with a dog that was an important part of their family. It also represents the many dogs that have taught me every bit as much as I have taught them.

Thank you to Brent Birch for believing my story was worth sharing, to Carlton Butler for writing it so well. I’m also especially grateful to my friend Bobby Martin for the kind words he shared. They meant more to me than he probably realizes.

Most of all, I thank God for allowing me to build a life around dogs, duck hunting, and the people who share that same passion. I don’t take any of it for granted.

To everyone who has been part of this journey—thank you. I am sincerely grateful.

If you don’t subscribe to Greenhead, you should take a look. It’s a great magazine and well done.

https://share.google/5QCzXcvwbO5SRIc2C

08/29/2026

Do for the ducks! Heck, buy 4!

Brent Birch Cason Short The Standard Sportsman Podcast

08/15/2026

🎓 Graduation Day for Lottie! 🐾

Today, Lottie officially graduated from our Obedience & E-Collar Conditioning Program at Retriever Ridge Kennels!

It’s always rewarding to watch a dog grow in confidence, understanding, and self-control—and Lottie has made tremendous progress during her time with us.

At pickup today, the Argo family drove from Indiana this morning and told us they were “blown away” by her progress and that she is “a totally different dog.” That’s the kind of feedback that makes all the time, repetition, and consistency worth it.

Great job, Lottie! Now it’s time to head home, enjoy your family, and put all that training to work. 👏🐾

Thank you all for trusting us with her. GO LOTTIE!!

GoodDog LabradorRetriever

07/14/2026

We work with little Blue, a five-month-old puppy, to build her retrieving drive using a paint roller as a fun bumper. We focus on making it enjoyable, rewarding sits, and leaving her wanting more to evaluate her growing drive.

06/22/2026

06/22/2026

06/16/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions about force fetch is that more pressure equals better results. In reality, the goal isn’t to overwhelm a dog—it’s to create clarity.

In this video, I’m working with a dog nearing the end of the force fetch process and discussing why it’s so important to use only the amount of pressure necessary for that individual dog. If a dog becomes so stressed that they can’t think their way through the lesson, we’ve missed the purpose of the exercise altogether.

Force fetch isn’t about punishment, dominance, or proving who’s tougher. It’s a structured teaching process designed to help a dog understand how to turn pressure off by making the correct decision. The end result should be a confident, reliable retriever that understands its job and performs it willingly.

Every dog is different. The best trainers learn to read the dog in front of them and adjust accordingly.

Whether you’re training for the duck blind, hunt tests, or simply building a more dependable retriever, fairness and consistency should always guide the process.

Have questions about force fetch? Drop them in the comments below.

05/15/2026

Congratulations to Ralph Bartley and our man, QAA2 “SMOKE” on placing 2nd in the Sooner Retriever Club Qual giving Smoke his QAA2 Title!

Congratulations to both Ralph and Smoke!