Looking for a Trainer

[LastFrontierLabs]

Firedog...when Steve's dogs come to the line, they are happy and waggin' their tails. They are not afraid of him.
He doesn't use the cookie cutter approach and treat all dogs the same. I have used trainers like that before...
I'm sorry you had a bad experience, but I can't see Steve as the source of the problem....

[stumpjumper]

Firedog I dont get how you think he is hard on a dog. I have a dog that is soft to pressure and has lots of drive. He took her and got the whinning out at the line and the laying down on the whistle not by shock but by patience and time,so I dont know why you want to get on here and down somebody that you know nothing about. Have you ever been to his house and trained with him? If the answer is yes then you would see how he is. Im with Sherri on this one all his dogs come to the line happy wagging their tails.

[goosebruce]

dont know the particulars about your pooch man... but Ive trained with a lot of folks and Ive never seen anyone as good in ff as steve. I learned what i know about ff from steve (I can do it, but Im not slick by any means), and probably watched him ff 75 dogs over the years. Never seen anybody that can read a dog and know where that line is, and keep a dog as close to that line as possible. Never seen anybody that can take someone else's botched ff and fix it like steve (including one of mine he fixxed after I botched it). Im sorry things didnt work out for you and your pooch, but Im willing to bet he kept you aprised of what was going on the whole time, and you had an ideal way before the final outcome... seen him be brutally honest with people too many times to think otherwise. travis

[Firedog]

Sorry! I wrote down "labs" instead of "lab". The website is: http://www.outbacklab.com
Now check him out...
Well, all I have to say is that obviously you all already have your mind made up about Steve. I don't know why this is titled "finding a trainer" if you all are not open-minded to the fact that there is other trainers just as good. Maybe... just maybe now, different people have different preferences... I was not "bashing" Steve in the least, I am simply telling about his faults. Every trainer is not perfect... I would want to know stories from other people about my trainer now. I think it helps to know what they do with other people's dogs... OH, and by the way Stumpjumper, yes, I have seen him train at his house and that is where I saw him use the shock collar so much. I'm not pulling this out of my a** or heard it from someone, I saw it... I've seen "how he is".

[LastFrontierLabs]

Firedog, I'm just curious how long you had your dog with Steve? Did you tell him you were unhappy with his services? I can't imagine him not bending over backwards to make things right with you and your dog....
That's just not like him at all...

As for the person you recommended, I don't know the man, but I would never let anyone transport my dog in that contraption he has pictured on his website. It is terribly unsafe. I understand trainers who are just starting out not having a fancy truck/trailer, but the dogs would be much safer in crates in the back of a pickup.

[Bayou Beagle]

Firedog,

I am very interested in your experience with Steve. I've spoke with him on the phone and am interested in using him.

I also realize that all dogs are not created equal and there are different ways to handle things. You had a bad experience..so my question is at what point did Steve inform you that he was having problems?

Or did you pick up your dog and noticed the cowardness at the lines? If you would like to discuss it in private, please send me a PM and I'll call you at your convinence.

Man it's difficult to find a trainer because you put your heart into your pup!

I have spoken with a couple folks who enjoyed Steve, so I wanted another side of view.

Thanks,

Jeff

[Firedog]

Lastfrontierlabs, Freddy has alot of land where he trains the dogs... he carries the dogs in those crates around his land on the back of a four-wheeler. They go a whole 2 miles an hour... its not going to hurt the dogs in the least. Thanks for assuming but he would never transport them like that on the road.

[Duck Chaser]

well, the reason these folks seem to have their minds made up about steve, is because he trained their dogs, and because they've trained with him. as in long term, to finished level. its first hand too.. and didn't see anyone say there aren't other good trainers.

it is a discussion thread about finding a trainer. I've seen trainers that I wouldn't consider to be fair to the dogs, and know some notorious for running beat down pigs. fact is, its their living, and I'm not saying something in public that could effect it. not just to be PC, but have seen legal issues from similar situations. if I had strong feelings about a situation, I'd contact privately. and if I received such a contact, I'd sure look at the trend and do research before jumping to conclusions.

I've trained with steve. I'd say he's very fair to the dogs, and his dogs run with style and confidence, always.

[Troy Williams]

Agreed. Steve trained my dog as a youngster and gained all titles, SHR, HR and HRCH at 19 months with only 3 failures. Those failuers came in Finished and one was for a break. So no timidness there and that was about 5 years ago. He, like any trainer worth his salt, has only gotten better since then. I train with Steve regularly. That same dog and another that I bought from him that he did the Basics on thru FF both run Field Trials and currently we have always still been playin on Sunday's.

Online Labs is not to be discounted by any stretch.

Troy Williams
HRCH Cody Qaa
HRCH Onlines Lucky Chance "Stone" MH (Hopefully Qaa after this weekend )

[LastFrontierLabs]

Firedog...just checked out the website you listed and that is what I saw... There was nothing else pictured on the site that might lead me to think otherwise. As I said, I don't know the man and wouldn't say anything negative about him..

Did you ever stop to consider that your dog may have been the problem? I am not trying to be ugly and will tell you about my experience... The first dog I sent to Steve was a crackerjack of a dog. As Steve would say "the smartest dog I've known". The dog is an exceptional marker and could run straight as an arrow blinds. This same dog is an HR dog and that is all he will ever be... The dog stresses out mentally at tests and ends up not delivering one of the birds (usually the last bird). The dog is fine hunting (excellent as a matter of fact), but can't run tests successfully.
It is not Steve's fault the dog can't perform. There is a problem with the dog.... Not all labs are able to do what we would like them too. Just the same as people, not all are perfect.
Bottom line is that I didn't give up on a top notch trainer just because that dog didn't work out. I have flown other dogs down to train with him and they have excelled in his care.

[Faithful Retrievers]

One factor that I believe is often forgotten about, is the quality of dog that these guys get. I see more walmart parking lot specials that are good dogs, but they don't have that IT factor that a good dog brings to the table. Man he will sit, shake, rollover, and you ought to see him get a tennis ball. I am gone send this baby to school and then is disappointed by the outcome from the trainer.
[Here is the part where this disclaimer needs to be: Yes I still have my first dog that does not belong to any outstanding pedigree and would not take anything in the world for him.]
I am not stating that is the case with anyones particular dog, that is a general situation that I personally have run into. I am just stating that your intial puppy purchase is the most important and I am not stating that you buy for the pedigree the dog automatically will turn out, but I believe that your odds are better.
I just wanted to bring up the issue that these guys aren't miracle workers the dog does have to some capabilities naturally born into it. Electric Shock Therapy is a key and some dogs just don't respond well. I doubt many people say I don't care how many months you keep him just be easy on the collar.

[Bayou Beagle]

I am strongly considering using Steve. I've spoke with him on the phone and another person who used him.

I have some questions that I would like to ask someone other than Steve. Call me cautious, but that is my business.

My phone number is 479-462-3266 is someone who has used Steve would not mind calling me so I can talk about the training and your impressions. I've read the board, but sometimes one on one conversation is more enlightening.

Thanks for your help.
Jeff Huntington

[dukdawgn]

I know both trainers very well. I've judged both trainers more times than I can count, in more states that most will travel to for a hunt test. One thing I'm sure each will agree on, the dog makes up more than half the ingredients.

[goosebruce]

firedog, can i suggest you give steve a call? I spoke to him this morning, and he was kinda surprised. And without your name or the dogs name I didnt know who to tell him, and he couldnt figger it out. And don't think folks are ganging up on you in this thread, theres just a lot of folks really surprised to hear someone say that.

Jeff, I'd be more than willing to talk to you if your intrested. Admittedly, Im biased as he's one of my very best friends and my training partner I travel with year after year. 901-412-2392, if I dont answer leave a message and I'll call you back. travis

[Marty N.]

Jeff
Steve is an excellent trainer and a all round great guy, if I were in the market for a pro. to start a dog I would problable give him a call.
Marty