"The first time, 10 years ago, when
someone called our gun dog training kennel to ask if 'we had
any hunting dogs for rent?' I laughed out loud and told the guy,
'you've got to be kidding,'" Jim Keller recollects when
asked how he got into the "rent-a-gun- dog" business.
"By the second time some local guys called with the same
question about maybe leasing one of my German shorthair pointers
for the pheasant season or a Labrador retriever for some duck
hunting, I started to seriously consider the prospect of renting
dogs to responsible hunters," Keller admits.
Now days, Keller regularly leases out several of his personal
gun dogs to those qualified hunters who love good pointers for
upland game birds or well-trained retrievers for waterfowl. "Most
of our canine rental business comes from hunting preserves because
they're best able to take on the commitment and bear the expense
of long-term leases for use of fully trained hunting dogs,"
Keller says.
"Any pointer or retriever that goes from here to a hunting
preserve is paired up with an experienced guide there who will
handle that one dog for upland game bird hunt |
ing or for waterfowl," Keller emphasizes.
"I personally deliver the dog, then spend at least two to
three full days with the dog and his new handler to make certain
that they are compatible as a hunting team," Keller adds.
"We do rent dogs to individuals who demonstrate a basic
knowledge of pointers or retrievers established on actual past
experience with either breeds. We discourage novices with little
or no hands-on knowledge of gun dogs to go into a long term lease
unless that person wants to spend two weeks to a month learning
how to hunt with a well-trained dog," Keller says.
For anyone interested in renting one of Keller's gun dogs, Keller
has several suggestions.
"Do not rent one of our gun dogs to save money," Keller
warns all potential customers, "because a long term lease
will cost from $1,500 to $2,000. Do rent a dog rather to save
on the hassles and headaches that come from 'owning' and 'maintaining'
a personally owned pointer or retriever all year," Keller
explains. "Many hunters would like to have a gun dog but
don't have the time necessary to keep a dog between hunting seasons.
A short- |
term lease just for a single hunting season
can be the answer to this problem," Keller believes.
"With a 'rented' dog, you get a pointer or retriever that
is well trained, is in top physical condition, and is ready to
hunt. 'We,' not 'you,' will have spent the spring and summer
in the field or on the water in regular training sessions keeping
the dogs in tune and in shape," Keller points out.
"Do not expect to just come here, pick up a rental dog,
then leave for a hunt, even if you have previous experience with
a hunting dog," Keller cautions those interested in a leased
canine. "Do plan on spending at least two to three full
days of working with the 'rental dog' and 'me' to learn how to
handle your leased pointer or retriever," Keller emphasizes.
"With a pointer, we will go through all the basic commands
in the yard and in the field. Then we will spend plenty of time
in the field on pen-raised quail or pheasants. Likewise, with
retrievers to be used for waterfowl, we will do a full course
of water work that will include boats, decoys, blinds, and live
pigeons. Most of these dogs also have several seasons of hunting
experience behind them," Keller adds.
"Do not think you can call and order a German shorthair
for a quick afternoon pheasant hunt or a Labrador for just one
morning on ducks. These are hunting dogs, not rental cars,"
Keller points out. "Do expect all of this to be a learning
experience that will require real effort, long-term commitment,
and full responsibility... There is a legal contract to be signed,
liability insurance to be purchased, and an up-front financial
deposit to be made," Keller adds.
"What does the 'rental' dog get out of all this?" someone
once asked Keller. "A leased dog might get a |
