About Stoney Brook Outfitters

What it is

Stoney Brook Outfitters is a bird dog training kennel at 8620 Oak Street in Wisconsin Rapids, run by Jeff and Ruth Martin with family members Liz, Daniel and Hannah. The site sums up the outlook: "At Stoney Brook Outfitters you will find dogs that are passionate about their jobs and people that are passionate about guiding the dogs to their greatest potential." Jeff "began training dogs for other people 35 years ago" and has worked with "the Smith family and the Silent Command System" since attending a Delmar Smith seminar.

Training programs

Puppy development, ideally for pups "8-20 weeks old," is "like pre-school for puppies" and introduces birds, cover, gunfire and basic obedience; it runs 2-4 weeks at "$250 per week." Formal upland training starts at 6 months and moves through Foundation, Intermediate and Wild Bird Camp phases, each lasting "on average 6 weeks" at $250 per week. Obedience training for any dog, "from your Boston Terrier to your Great Dane," can begin at 12 weeks, and one-on-one lessons are "$50 per hour."

Classes for owners

Owners who want to train their own bird dog can join a Puppy Development Seminar for pups 6 months and younger ("$150 per family"), an 8-week Foundation Class ("$1000 for the 8 week class") in which "we will teach you to train your dog," and a Tuesday-night open forum, April through September, for past clients and seminar attendees at "$20/night." Ask for the current season's dates when you call.

Wild Bird Camp

Dogs with foundation training spend late summer on prairie chickens: "On average, we spend 45 days between August 1st and the middle of September training dogs on Prairie Chickens." The family also breeds Ryman setters.