Deep Fork Retrievers is Oklahoma’s oldest and largest hunting retriever kennel. For 40 years, our training and breeding programs have supplied waterfowl and upland hunters with eager, well-mannered Labrador Retrievers that are a pleasure to hunt with.
We’re Pros!
Owners John and Beth Ann Amico are nationally known gun dog trainers and breeders and members of the Professional Retriever Trainers Association (PRTA).
Deep Fork Retrievers is the premier hunting retriever training facility.
Our main emphasis is on training quality gun dogs. However, whether a dog is run in competition or used as a hunting companion, the basic training program is the same. We believe the key to successful training is to view it as a developmental process and our training style develops all of the skills necessary for your dog to become a top-notch hunting retriever.
Once your dog has completed the Deep Fork Retrievers Gun Dog Training Program, it is ready to hunt – marking competently, steady to wing and shot, and reliably delivering to hand. This level of training competence is typically achieved in four to six months, depending upon the dog’s ability and background.
Gun Dog Training Program
Our main emphasis at Deep Fork Retrievers is on training quality gun dogs. However, whether a dog is run in competition or used as a hunting companion, the basic training program is the same. We believe the key to successful training is to view it as a developmental process and our training curriculum develops all of the skills necessary for your dog to become a top-notch hunting retriever.
Once your dog has completed the Deep Fork Retrievers Gun Dog Training Program, it is ready to hunt – competently marking, steady to wing and shot, and reliably delivering to hand. This level of training competence is typically achieved in four to six months, depending upon the dog’s ability and background.
We know that the early experiences in a puppy’s life are very important to its future training. Our Deep Fork Retrievers’ Puppy Head Start Program is designed to help a puppy form a willing temperament, increase its memory, and build a bond with its owner that will become the foundation for future teamwork.
In this program, your hunting retriever puppy will learn verbal commands and whistle and hand signals. We also systematically introduce your puppy to swimming, birds, gunfire, decoys, boats, and marking, ensuring momentum, desire and trainability. Our developmental program produces a puppy that by the end of the curriculum is ready to be trained.
For over 40 years, we have selectively bred retriever dogs for waterfowl and upland hunters. Our success comes from pairing individuals with correct conformation, trainability and pedigree-proven genetics.
Petey and Flash are both 65 lb., OFA-certified dogs from titled working stock. They are athletic, easy to train, extremely birdy and their puppies will carry these same all-important heritable traits.
Deep Fork puppies are sold with age-appropriate shots and worming, dewclaws removed, a two year genetic health guarantee, socialized and most importantly, retrieving live birds at seven weeks of age. Enrollment in our Puppy Headstart Program is also included to make sure your new pup achieves its full potential.
Read more about our breeding results from our hunting clients on the Testimonials page.