About Platte Valley Retrievers

Obedience and gun dog training in Kearney

Platte Valley Retrievers & Kennels is a board-and-train obedience and gun dog program based on a 13 acre home acreage at 29235 145th Rd near Kearney. The trainer's journey began in the early 1990s working in a father's large breeding kennel, and in 2015 the business began offering training to friends and family before growing by word of mouth. The building was constructed in 2023, is fully climate controlled and is certified by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture; training grounds include a pond, timber, restored tallgrass prairie and hay meadows.

Obedience programs

General Obedience ($1,500, two months) teaches Here/Come, Heel, Sit, Place and No through repetition, reward and light pressure based methods, and works on jumping, biting and excessive barking. General Obedience With E-Collar ($1,500, two months, the most popular option) adds e-collar conditioning for off-leash reinforcement. Owners are invited for one-on-one training at the end, and One-on-One Owner Lessons ($200 per lesson) suit owners who want to do the training themselves.

Gun dog programs

Beginner Gundog Training ($750/month, 4 months) builds the foundation for the field or duck blind. Intermediate Gundog Training ($750/month, 6 months) works up to blind retrieves of 200 yards on land and water. Boarding is $30/dog/night.

What to ask

Ask about program start dates and current openings.