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.
Breeding Announcement – Now Taking Deposits – Puppies due October 21, 2023
Deep Fork Retrievers has a 45 year track record of supplying quality retrievers to the hunting public with many repeat customers. Our success comes from selectively pairing dogs with correct conformation, trainability and pedigree-proven genetics to produce outstanding hunting companions and field test competitors.
Deep Fork’s Hot Flash is a cross of our Deep Fork blood with a line of dogs that worked for the famous Stanfield Waterfowl Guide Service, picking up thousands of geese and ducks in the Texas panhandle. Just like her name, Flash is fast, has an extreme love of water and exceptional endurance. She is OFA-certified, CNM and EIC clear and weighs 65 pounds. This will be Flash’s second litter. Her first puppies breezed through the basics and at less than a year old are doing multiple retrieves and running blinds with gusto.
HRCH Big N Chocolate Factory “Willy” is a solid 75 pounds with an exceptional pedigree. Many FC, AFC, GMPR and GHRCH titles fill his pedigree. Willy is quiet on the line and has explosive drive when it’s time for him to work. He is the perfect duck dog in the blind. Willy also participates in hunt tests and is working towards his MH title. He is proudly owned and trained by Three Rivers Hunting Retriever Club President, Larry Naas.
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.
Read more about our breeding results from our hunting clients on the Testimonials page.
