The Retriever Academy

I wouldn’t send my dogs anywhere unless they were recieving the best training, care and love from their trainer. That is a simple way of describing The Retriever Academy. Derek and Melinda have built one of the best facilities I have seen to care for the dogs that they train. I currently have 5 dogs training with the Retriever Academy and will continue to send my dogs to them. One of my dogs is a 6 time Master National qualifier and in the AKC Master National Hall of fame. This would not be possible without a trainer like Derek and his team.

I moved here from Louisiana and was needing a dog trainer because I had a chocolate lab trained by a trainer in Louisiana and once I picked up the dog in Louisiana, the trainer informed me the dog wouldn't get in the water. The dog had a bad experience with the trainer while working in the water. I contacted Derek, bought the dog out and he was honest by stating that as of now the dog probably will never get back in the water. I took his opinion as a I would with any professional, and he was right. We have since sent another dog to be trained by Derek and staff and we are way beyond happy with the results. The Retriever Academy is a first class operation. This is noticed as soon as you drive on the property.

The Retriever Academy is amazing! We took our less than 1 year old lab there to be trained. About two weeks in, Derek called. He said the lab wasn't really interested in retrieving. He didn't want to just take our money if we really wanted him to retrieve. He gave us the option to collar train him if we wanted it. So we took that option. The lab left us as an unruly, hard to control pup and was returned to us as an obedient, well-trained much bigger pup! Once we got him home, we tried to make retrieving a game for him. We only throw the bumper 3-4 times and stop. He loves it! Before long we plan on calling Derek and sending the pup back to him to finish out. The kindness and care they show the dogs is awesome. They truly treat them like their own. I would highly recommend The Retriever Academy to anyone wanting a well trained, easy to work with dog. They do an excellent job and well worth the money spent. Lendall and Veronica Wilson