About Black Water Creek Retrievers

Retriever training in Long Branch

Black Water Creek Retrievers is an East Texas retriever breeder and gun dog trainer in Long Branch. It specializes in breeding quality puppies and training gun dogs with exceptional pedigrees, and its dogs compete at the AKC or UKC Hunt Test level and in field trials. The kennel says it has trained dogs from all over the U.S. and offers started dogs, Lab studs and puppies, and adds that its dogs make exceptional pets too.

Training programs

Several levels of customized training are offered. Puppy Head Start promotes a puppy's retrieving desire and builds good habits. Obedience Training introduces a dog to basic commands. Basic Gun Dog training readies a dog for the field, and Advanced Gun Dog training pushes a dog to its maximum potential in the field. Hunt test results are posted on the site.

The owner

Owner Mike Hudman has been training for over 28 years and says he inherited his talent for training hunting dogs from his grandfather.

What to ask

Ask how long each program runs, whether dogs board at the kennel during training, how progress is shared with owners, and current rates.