Training Days

  • 2025 Training Days at Cobb Lake will be on the following Saturdays: March 29th, April 26th, May 17th, June 28th, and July 26th.
  • Jackson Creek Kennels NA mock test/training days will be announced later.
  • Surefire Kennels is offering Drop-In Training Nights, a Trained Retrieve program, and a Steadiness program; if you are interested in attending those trainings, register towards the bottom of their training page.

You must be a paid RMC-NAVHDA and NAVHDA International member to register and attend training days. Please register for membership first so that you get the training day registration emails.

Please read through the guidelines outlined. It is important that we stay safe as we train in large groups.

Things to know:

  • For all sessions, we require all puppies to have received all of their puppy vaccinations (recommended 4+ months of age) before attending a training event.
  • Youth cannot attend the Surefire Kennel or Jackson Creek Kennel training events. Youth can attend the Saturday trainings at Cobb SWA, but they must stay with their parent the whole day; children can not remain unsupervised in the parking lot.
    • Team Elevate will host structured events for youth at the Cobb Lake training days. Please note youth participants in your registration.
  • Surefire and Jackson Creek Kennels trainings are conducted in a clinic-style format.
  • Our goal is to educate handlers so they can work on these components in their individual training and understand how to address issues and challenges the dog presents them with. All dogs will be asked to remain in vehicles until we are ready for them. Please bring adequate means to contain and keep your dog cool (crate, fan, open window ventilation, water, etc.).
  • Saturday Training Days at Cobb will be open for all levels of dogs and handlers.

In 2024, we introduced checklists for handlers to track stations and progress and to record approval to run in the live-fire field. Learn more and download your checklists.

If your dog is not steady in the live-fire field, gunners have been instructed to not shoot. If that occurs, they will discuss with you options for the next bird contact.

For more information, please contact the Training Committee (regarding training) or Sara Heesacker (regarding Team Elevate).

What to bring:

Training days are held rain or shine, so come prepared with appropriate clothing, bug spray, sunscreen, drinks, snacks, etc. The fields can be wet, so consider bringing waterproof boots and rain gear. Folding chairs and a tarp or pop-up shelter are good additions to provide shade for you and your dog.

Bring plenty of water for your dog, along with whatever training gear you use. You’ll need a leash, check cord, e-collar, whistle, bird bag, and a bird crate (if you want/need to bring birds home). The Chapter has some equipment available, like retrieving bumpers, a training table, blinds and decoys, heeling stakes, duck wingers, and bird launchers. A crate or stake-out is recommended to keep your dog quiet and comfortable while waiting for its turn in the field. Check out the Hunting Dog Essentials guide to help you find or recognize the items you need for training your dog.

For more information, please contact the Training Committee.

Click on the map below for directions to Cobb Lake SWA:

View Larger Map

How to Register

Registration for training events will only be available for 1 week. We will email all members with a link to the registration on the Wednesday of the week prior to the training day. Registration closes at 8:00 pm on the Wednesday immediately preceding the training day. For example, if the event is on Feb. 10th, registration will open on Wednesday, 1/31 and will close on Wednesday, 2/7 8:00 pm. Please do not show up without registering first.

If you sign up for an event that requires payment for birds and you do not show up, there will be no refund. Significant time and energy are spent preparing for these events, and last-minute no-shows are considered a donation to the chapter. The spot you registered for could have gone to a chapter member who could come, so please be considerate.