Jim Drager (and Julie Cairns) Overview

Experience with Golden Retrievers
I've been involved with Golden Retrievers for over 18 years as an owner, trainer, competitor, hunt test and field trial judge and recently hunt test seminars (with partner in crime, Julie Cairns).  My first dog came when I was a senior in college and it was through him, that I became hopelessly hooked on Goldens forever. I became involved with "Shamus" (J.P. Shamus, UD,SH (4 MH legs), WCX,**) in obedience, working certificates, hunt tests and field trials. Shamus's legacy continues today through his son Maverick- Pine Run's Top Gun CD, MH,***, and generations beyond. My current dogs are Maverick, a 1995 Master National Finalist and the 1999 #7 (tied) Open field trial golden, and his young son "Rage"- Webshire's Neversink's Courageous.

Along the way, I was able to spend a few years with FC/AFC Backachers Son of a Witch, a lab, and train him for hunt tests. "Wizard" belonged to a friend, Ross Stokes, and we had him well on his way to his MH, until he succomed to Cancer. While I loved Wiz to tears, I am a confirmed Golden person.

I am also the proud co-owner of Pine Run's Raggedy Andi, MH,**, with Mary Schlachter. Andi is my third generation of titled hunt test and field trial dogs, and is the mother of a number of promising offspring, some of which are have started their own successful careers.

Do you provide instruction on WC, WCX and JH trial preparation? Yes. Both Julie and I are experienced in training, and judging for both working certificate, and Hunt test activities. 

Training issues specific to working with Goldens Golden Retrievers are a different dog then the other retrieving breeds. I classify a Golden as a marking/thinking dog, versus a marking/lining dog, which Lab's tend to be. Golden's question lots of things that we ask them to do in field work. I believe the roots of this stem from the foundation stock used to develop Goldens. Goldens have a heavy "Spaniel" influence in the development of the breed. Spaniels are designed to check out each bush, all of the terrain, to make a bird flush.  

Labs on the other hand, as a breed are developed from water/draft dogs. Their ancestors purpose was to swim to ships,(go straight) and tow a rope to them. They are a different dog. My personal belief, is that a Lab is a less complex animal to train to meet the requirements of many of the field events we have today, especially field trials.

Today's field trials reward sparkling, flawless performances. Labs dominate trials today, and have for many years. They comprise approx. 90% of the entries, and therefore it stands to reason that most training methods are developed for the less complex Labrador.

So, when using the popular and effective training methods that exist today, the trainer of a Golden needs to know that he must be a teacher/mentor/and authority figure to the dog all at the same time.The trainer of a Golden has a responsibility to teach the dog the answers to the questions that the DOG will continually ask throughout his field career, and at the same time, reinforce the standards that have been taught and set for the dog.

In summary, it's a more complex, but not necessarily difficult task, to train a Golden then the other retrieving breeds. Once the complexities are understood and mastered, the trainer is then able to modify the training needed to allow a Golden to flurish, and excel in field training and competition. If successful, you can have a Golden with a  highly effective combination of a marking/thinking/lining abilities who is tough to beat, plus the beauty, intelligence, and personality that make a Golden the unique breed it is.

Training philosophy:  See above

When is an e-collar appropriate? An e-collar is not only appropriate, but a great tool (among other training tools) when all of  the following conditions are met. 1) the trainer is fully versed in proper, humane methods of using an e-collar, and other manual training methods. 2) the trainer has a demonstrated concern and care for the dog, and is not looking for a short cut. 3)The trainer is fully in control of his/her emotions, even under duress. 4)There is a demonstrated, understood, and articulateable need for the collar. As an example, you wish to teach long, 300 yard water blinds, and need a tool to reinforce your commands at that distance. If you only wish to teach a dog to come to heel, you may not need a collar to do that.

What else would you like to add? Trainers of any dog, and participants in field work, are stewards of their dogs, and our activities. We only get these dogs for too few years. If you embark to train a retriever, we must put the best interest of the dog, and the sport above our own. There are not short cuts, or hasty pudding in this sport. We reap what we sow, and therefore need to remember our stewardship role first.

Return to Hunting Links