 Words
cannot express how grateful I am for all you taught us during your
seminar! I feel empowered with the knowledge and skills I learned
in those 4 days. However, it has made me hungry for more! I knew
the traditional correction only approach did not always work. From
personal experience I also learned that the clicker training
approach did not work in the presence of prey. Your melding of the
notify/correct and notify/reward is simply brilliant! It brings
together the best of both worlds. I now feel confident that I have
the tools to train my dogs to much higher standards. My older dogs
are being retrained and my young dog, Abe, is off to a great
start. It will be fun to let you know when we achieve those field
championships and NAVHDA Versatile Championships!
~Adele,
Lafayette, LA
Please
accept my apologies for a tardy thank you for your knowledge
and
hospitality at the recent seminar in Vinton, Ca. I enjoyed myself thoroughly over the four days and learned far more than I expected
to. I find your approach to training pointing dogs the most
progressive and comprehensive available; obtaining a conditioned
response through positive methods such as clicker training allows
us to shape behaviors with style and minimizes the need for
excessive correction and compulsion. The transition from early
foundation training to the finished product is complete in your
curriculum and I believe any amateur willing to listen, be
patient, and follow up with their notes and your video(s) can
finish their own bird dog.
~Joe Gower, Joe Gower
Gun Dogs
As
a life member in NSTRS, winner of many championships with
different dogs, and a pro trainer for 25 years, there's still room
for new ideas, and that's what George Hickox puts in his
seminars. After attending one of his four day seminars, I
came away with new ways of getting the results I wanted. I
have added these to my program, and it fits in great. I never thought I would use certain training
aids. Never Say Never. Thanks George. ~Jim
Smith, Purina Field Staff
I
didn't realize how much information I had absorbed from the Reno
seminar until at least two weeks had gone by. After watching
your new video, and thinking about what I had learned I was able
to get both of my dogs quite a bit further along in their
development. I hunted in Montana for a few days,
and although my shorthair is far from being finished, he is
showing definate signs of improvement. I am still in the
yard training phase with my pointer, and getting good results with
the clicker. Thanks again, you did a great job helping me become a
better trainer. ~Anthony
Barbash
Anyone
who is interested in having a dog that follows commands the
first time should attend George's 4 day training class. George
teaches you to get the dog's attention and respect so that you
will never have to say anything two or three times. As George
says, "Don't say it twice, twice."
I have been living in the dark ages when it comes to
training, Although I had read all the books, watched DVD’s and
all the gun mag trades , the one to one interaction with
George and the small group
setting really allowed me to soak
up his knowledge like a sponge. If you want to take
your training to the next level , time spent with George is a
must.
~John
Roswech
I
attended my first George Hickox
class in 2005. I was
amazed at how much I did not know about dogs and training them,
despite having had bird dogs for the past 25 years.
His training methods were the simplest and easiest to
understand, once you recognize how a dog learns.
After applying George Hickox’s methods I now have dogs
that have exceeded my expectations. I
was fortunate enough to have been invited to his advance hunt
class in Kansas this past fall.
Being from Florida all my life, the hunt was challenging
and a learning experience to both myself and my dogs.
I have booked the hunt again this year and hope that George
continues to offer this wonderful hunting experience.
~Trent
Marr
I
just wanted to drop you a quick note of thanks for the
time you shared this past weekend in Medina. I am very glad to
have had the fortune of learning your approach and can see the
results already in Roxy's behaviour.
As
I shared while there, we are first time dog owners and honestly
had a very incomplete understanding of not only how dogs learn but
also what is really expected of a good pointing gun dog.
I have hunted with many dogs but can only recall a few that
were well trained. None of those would meet the requirements that
I understand now is what a good pointer must command.
So
you've opened my eyes to what the possibilities are and what the
standard of success is. I
am also now more aware of my Brittany's abilities and my
responsibility in developing and revealing those latent talents.
Thanks
again for sharing your time and philosophy and tolerating my first
timer questions. May
you have a successful return trip to Montana.
~John
Rathborn
I
went to my first class at Quail Creek
Plantation and have attended several other classes and
consultations across the U.S. since my then. Before George helped
me get on the right track I had struggled with my training and
bringing my dogs to a higher standard. Each time I have come away
with more knowledge making me a better trainer and my dogs better
hunting partners. I realized that many of my problems were due to
a poor foundation during puppyhood.
I bought two level one dogs from George-one setter and one
lab. The difference
in the training and the development of these dogs has been
incredible. I now
know how important laying the proper foundation during the
imprinting stage is. The
dogs have been a dream to work with and I have ordered two more
dogs for the future. I then attended one of George’s advance hunting schools in
Kansas and was able to apply the knowledge that I learned from
George and expose my dogs to hundreds of wild bird contacts.
George has given me a program to develop my dogs into bird
finders that hunt in control. I highly recommend George’s
program and and will be in Kansas again this year to advance my
dogs’ skills on wild birds.
~Darrell Gunby
I
took the course over 10 years ago and thought that I
would take it again with my new 11 month old pup simply as
refresher course. Not only did I realized that I had
forgotten some of the basics, but much of what I had learned was
replaced by newer more effective techniques that made the training
much more simplistic and effective. Specifically, by
learning the clicker training as a positive reinforcer for
teaching new behaviors, the transition to the e-collar was much
more pleasant and easier for both the owner and dog due to the
positive reinforcements provided by clickers newly learned
behavior. It made me realize the importance of relying on a
full-time pro like George to evaluate and test new techniques for
his future students and teach the same techniques that he uses on
his very own dogs. It reinforces that his many decades of
knowledge is well worth the investment. All of the reading
and videos on training a gun dog cannot replace the
"hands-on" demonstrations and knowledge that George
provides to both the student and dog.
~Charlie
Conrad
Thank
you again for the class and the personal attention you gave to me
and my Vizsla. I appreciated the guidance and I learned so
many things that I would not have had even known to learn without your
class. Most of all, thanks for treating me like a
friend. I had a great time with the Conrad boys as well
(George and Charlie). All of the extra attention and extra
time has paid off for sure and it was the best money I ever spent.
I want to be able to repay the favor some day. I have passed
on info to some business colleagues with my suggestion to get in
early for 2010.
~James
Clark, Troy, MI
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