Training
Rick McConico
Rick McConico is the trainer at Old Oak Retrievers. He has been training dogs for 22 years and has been a serious hunter all his life. He knows the skills demanded by the hunter for his dog. He has also been competing in hunt tests for nearly as long as he has been training dogs. He understands the demands put on a dog in these types of competitions. He has put Master Hunter titles on numerous dogs, one as young as 2 years old, along with numerous Senior Hunter and Junior Hunter titles.
He has apprenticed under a number of different professional trainers for many years in order to see and experience different manners and methods of training dogs. Through this approach he has developed the system he uses today. Rick's assorted training methods and techniques allow him to train as needed for each individual dog. This knowledge gives him the ability to train the softest dog to the hardest-going, overly energetic dog.
Training Techniques
Dogs at Old Oak Kennels are trained as individuals which means that we do not train them in an identical manner. ALL training is individualized to fit each dog's needs and temperament. It is important to us at Old Oak Retrievers to return to you the same dog you brought in. But now your dog will have manners.
EVERY dog starts its training with basic obedience. This is the foundation upon which everything else is built. If an owner's dog sits when told, comes when called and heels when requested it opens a whole world of potential for dog and owner.
We train all dogs "manually" until the dog knows and completely understands the commands. Once that is accomplished an electronic collar can be added as a tool to reinforce and tighten the already learned commands. Collar work reinforces the commands more quickly, however, when requested, we will not use an electric collar. Rick's ability to get the feel of each individual dog has made Rick the "go to guy" for training British and American retrievers in the Midwest.
Note: Ttime frames are for reference only. Each dog will determine the time necessary to master the skills requested by the owner.
Obedience: (4-6 weeks) The basics and foundation of any future training. The skills learned are: heeling - on and off leash, sit, come/here, swing into heel and collar conditioning.
Started dogs: (an additional 2-3 weeks after obedience) The skills learned here will be used by all retrievers for retrieving, holding and giving up their bird. The skills taught here are: hold and deliver to hand. Force fetch is introduced here if needed. Gun dogs are introduced to guns and upland hunting. Marking skills taught here are singles.
Finished dogs: Time varies (approximately 4-5 months) depending on the skills desired by the owner. At this level of training the dogs get more intense bird work and gun training. All commands are reinforced in the field. More force fetch work is done getting the dog to the point of simple handling on land and water. Single and double marked retrieves with steadiness to shot in the duck blind.
Hunt Test/Competition dogs: (6-12 months depending on level of competition) This takes the dog all the way from basic obedience through force fetch and to multiple marks and complex handling situations on both land and water. A dog should have the ability to run Senior hunt tests and on their way to Master.
Puppy Program: (2 weeks) Introduction to guns and birds. Introduction to water as weather or season permits. An option here is private puppy starter lessons for the owner who wants to do more hands on early puppy training.
Private Lessons: 5-6 weeks; dog and owner come in for private lessons once a week. Basic obedience is covered and introduction to the electronic collar and birds, if desired.
For those that desire to have their dog run in hunt tests, Rick is very successful with an extremely high pass rate on the dogs he has trained. This service is offered to owners of dogs he has trained or had in training long enough to know the dog.Fees
The fees are divided into training, boarding and birds.
Training: $640/month
Boarding: $60/month plus tax
Birds: Cost is per bird and differs with each type
The training fee is for the training. The boarding fee is for "room and board" which includes food.