Cottonwood Retrievers

Cottonwood Retrievers operates a gun dog and obedience training program built around retriever work. Located on a 40-acre property in Caldwell with ponds, fields, and a climate-controlled kennel, they intentionally limit enrollment to 10 dogs per program to ensure individual attention.

Their flagship five-month board and train program is structured in phases:

• •Months 1-2: Foundation work on leash—healing, place training, walking singles, puppy marks, water introduction, and conditioned retrieve work with dumbbell to bumper to frozen bird.

• •Month 3: Introduction to e-collar conditioning and transitioning to enforced commands. Collar conditioning begins here.

• •Month 4: Field marks on land and water with birds, retrieving through decoys, ground blind work, and hunting scenarios. Difficulty and distance increase progressively.

• •Month 5: Owner training on command enforcement, maintaining your dog in the field, and leave-it/fetch drills. You meet with trainers and are invited to attend training days.

Dogs must have legitimate retriever drive to qualify. Pedigree evaluation available before enrollment.

Their two-month advanced off-leash board and train program is structured similarly:

• •Month 1: On-leash work covering heel, sit, place, and crate training across their pastures and pond areas.

• •Month 2: E-collar conditioning and enforcing taught commands off-leash. Testing with other dogs and farm distractions. Owner integration begins halfway through.

They also offer private lessons ($80/hour), group classes capped at five dogs ($40/class), and ongoing classes for graduates of their board and train programs.

• •Requirements: Current vaccinations (Bordetella and K9 Influenza required). Owner supplies food (they recommend working-dog-appropriate protein/fat levels). Owner supplies heartworm, flea, and tick medications.