Timber Ridge Kennel was established in 1989 and is dedicated to the development of the finest quality bird dogs. A small string of dogs insures each dog receives the attention of their personal trainer and care taker, Ray Thomas.

Ray Thomas has been training bird dogs for his personal use in the hunting field and walking field trials since 1974.  Since turning professional in 1989, Ray has trained more than 475 bird dogs for numerous customers. Many satisfied customers have entrusted Ray with several of their dogs over the years.  He has experience in training three generations of dogs from the same owners.

Every dog is worked twice daily, five to six days each week. The intention is that each dog will have a minimum of ten training sessions per week.

The initial phase of training involves yard work and basic obedience.  When a dog is proficient in the yard, it progresses to the field on a check rope and starts bird work. Dogs are check corded into single and multiple finds until they are staunch on point and steady to wing and shot. Dogs will point one or two birds each time they are in the field.  As soon as the dog is steady, the rope is removed and the dog works independently. Training also includes backing and handling, an essential talent for a great bird dog.

The final phase of training is retrieving. We use the "Delmar Smith Method" using the retrieving table. This method has been very succesful for us over the years.

Typically,a dog requires three or four months of training. Dogs being dogs, don't always respond to training the way we would like. Since our policy is not to waste the owner's money or our time, dogs that don't adapt themselves to life at Timber Ridge are returned to the owner as quickly as possible, usually at the end of the first month. Be assured that your dog, like the hundreds before him, will get an honest and thorough evaluation before the decision is made to send him home.

While we do not specifically train for field trials, our dogs have been successful in both horseback and walking stakes. Dogs trained at Timber Ridge Kennel and entered in the AKC hunting test program have performed very well.

Timber Ridge Kennel is not breed specific, breeds successfully trained include: English Pointer, English Setter, Brittany, German Shorthair, German Wirehair, Red Setter, Weimereiner, Vizsla, Gordon Setter and Drathaar.

An experienced veterinarian is located minutes away.  If necessary, the Virginia Tech Virginia/Maryland Veterinary College is only an hour from the kennel.