At Autrey Kennels, we
understand as current and future dog owners, you are a vital part of the
training team - not apart from it. We encourage our clients to participate in
their dog's training experience in all aspects of their interests: from visits to standing at the
line. Like yourself, we'd want to know about our trainer and the training facilities.
We
extend our hospitality, as best we can on a web site, with a virtual
"open house". As you visit and leave our home, whether in the North,
South or on the web, we hope you take with you a sense
of satisfaction in knowing what we have to offer you and your companion.
Contact Mr. Autrey to discuss plans and courses offered by Autrey Kennels for your hunting
retriever or assist you in finding a puppy filled with the potential to be a
future Autrey retriever.
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News@Autrey Kennels | The Trainer | Training Program |
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Facilities | Transport
| Events | "A Tribute"
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The Trainer: Bill Autrey
Mr. Autrey brings out the finest in the dogs he trains. He's successfully trained and handled many dogs to the highest
levels hunting retrievers can attain. GRHRCH UH Missy's Cajun Dakota MH, owned
and trained by Mr. Autrey, continues to hold records in the field, including the
most passes (13) ever achieved in HRC.
What brought Mr. Autrey to his forte with hunting retrievers?
"In 1987, after a bout with throat
cancer, they removed my voice. My old dog would only look at me
funny when I tried to talk to him in my new whisper voice. In
1988, I watched Bob Region in a field working a dog with a whistle, and
decided I could do that routine. With a new pup, and some
help from the members of Central Louisiana Retriever Club, a new chapter
was opened in our lives....the life of a dog trainer.
Geri and I
owned a heating and air conditioning business, so my training was done
in the evenings. Missy was not a high bred dog, off of two hunting
dogs from Catahoula Lake. She ran her first Grand test in Dallas,
TX in 1990. We went out in the 2nd series on a water blind, but
the bug had bitten me.
Grand Hunting Retriever Champion Missy Hollowdale Autrey went on to pass 5 Grand tests, and I retired her at
9-1/2 years old as she had lost her hearing. Along the way to
passing 5 Grands, I had a lot of help. My first seminar was with
Danny Farmer and Judy Aycock in 1989. To this day, Danny still
laughs about the first time he heard me give a dog a BACK cast at 100
yards. I started training dogs for family and friends, taking up to
3 dogs at a time. This helped pay for the "fun" between Missy and
myself.
The first time I worked a dog with a collar was with Joel
Soprano, standing at my shoulder, and telling me what to do and when to do
it. After that when Missy developed a popping problem, Bob Willett
re-force trained and collar conditioned her for me. Bob said it was
the only dog that he ever conditioned with a force program that was
already a Grand Hunting Retriever Champion when he did the work. We
attended the Jim and Phyllis Dobbs seminar twice, watched all the tapes of
Michael Lardy, and worked with different people along the way. Ernie
Istre carried Grand Hunting Retriever Champion "Cody" Master Hunter
through a force program, Joel Soprano with GRHRCH "Hussy", and David
Ferguson with GRHRCH Jezebel. It wasn't until 1999, the year before
I retired, that I started performing the force work, since I now had ample
time to do so myself."
We know, from witness accounts of watching Mr. Autrey and his dogs over the course of the years, how the
story has progressed.
A devout combination of hard work and fidelity to these fine animals sets Bill Autrey apart from the
rest - in any hunting environment or venue of retriever testing. You can see in
performance: the desire and enthusiasm of an Autrey trained retriever.
Mr. Autrey's abilities, talents, and esteem have been captured and recognized by local, regional and national
media for many years:
Photo credit:
SearcySports Photography
Bill Autrey with GRHRCH UH Missy's Cajun Dakota
MH ("Roux")
Read the article about Mr. Autrey and Roux, penned by
Ronnie
Prudhomme and published Hunting Retriever Magazine: A Tribute
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Training Program
"Our training program has taken a little from each of these great trainers, and molded it into something that fits me.
We use the Rex Carr method of forcing, along with pieces of Soprano and
Willett, marking tactics from Mike Lardy, along with some ideals from Bob
Region and Barry Lyons system, to come up with our system. Our
program is designed to move forward as fast as the dog is capable.
On an average, a dog is training at the Grand and Master level at 2 years
of age." - The Trainer
Systematic routines are only part of the equation that builds a truly
desirable hunting and performance companion. It takes pride, discipline,
a respect for the retriever, and the ability to "read" the dog, knowing
how to proceed from lesson to lesson, day to day.
Autrey Kennels is
dedicated to bringing forth the best in performance from its retrievers.
From the cold northern flyway, to the everlasting swamps of Louisiana,
to the rice fields of the duck headquarters of the world - Stuttgart,
Arkansas - you will hear our name.
ESPN, The Outdoor Life Network, and
The Food Channel have all shared air time with our retrievers. The 2002
World Duck Dog Championship was held in Stuttgart, Arkansas at Mack's
Prairie Wings during the annual Wings Over the Prairie festival. Taking
top honors that year was 13x GRHRCH Missy's Cajun
Dakota MH, who also backed up the win from 2002 with a Silver
Medal 2nd place finish in the 2003 competition. The Super Retriever
Series is a qualifying stepping stone to the ESPN Great Outdoor Games.
In 2003, Cody finished 2nd place in the SRS held in Northfield,
Minnesota, qualifying him to compete in the 2003 GOG event which would
take place in Reno, Nevada later that year. Sustaining the humid
conditions, Cody put on a stellar performance in Reno, capturing the
Bronze Medal amongst a list of very tough competitors which included two
previous GOG Gold Medal winners and the 2003 Stuttgart winner.
We know, from witness accounts of watching Mr. Autrey and his dogs over the course of the years, how the
story has progressed.
A devote combination of hard work and fidelity to these fine animals sets Bill Autrey apart from the
rest - in any hunting environment or venue of retriever testing. You can see in
performance: the desire and enthusiasm of an Autrey trained retriever.
Visit our Retrievers area to learn
more about our dogs' accomplishments in the field and our Links area to learn more about
retriever related events available for enthusiasts.
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