The World’s Best Dog Trainers are at National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic 2012
OutdoorHub 01.27.12
Pheasants Forever’s National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic is the nation’s leading event for bird dog owners and sporting dog enthusiasts. This year, you have the opportunity to meet with the best bird dog trainers and handlers in the entire world. Come to National Pheasant Fest at the Kansas City Convention Center this February 17, 18 and 19th and don’t miss on-the-hour seminars and open Q&A’s with these top dogs, presented by Purina and SportDOG.
Delmar Smith Kennels has been under family ownership since being established in 1945. Delmar honed his skills at teaching the public how to use their dogs to the fullest in his seminars. Smith dogs have performed in all 50 states and some foreign countries.
Starting with Rick Smith’s father, Delmar, the Smith family has been presenting bird dog seminars for nearly 40 years. That tradition continues with Rick and his cousin, Ronnie. Titles include three National Open Brittany Championships, seven U.S. Open Brittany Championships (a record), six International Brittany Championships, 25 Open Championships and more than 100 Open Brittany All-Age stakes.
Like dog trainers in previous generations of the Smith family, for Ronnie Smith, bird dogs are more than a business, they are a passion and a way of life. Ronnie has operated Ronnie Smith Kennels since 1982.
Tom Dokken, the inventor of the DeadFowl Trainer, has more than 30 years of training experience. He owns Dokken’s Oak Ridge Kennels, the largest gun dog training kennel in the upper half of the U.S., and Dokken Dog Supply. Dokken will also be presenting at National Pheasant Fest on the growing sport of shed antler hunting with dogs.
Bob West ran his first field trial in 1968 and was hooked, since handling dogs to a long list of titles. Now Purina’s Sporting Dog Group Director, he’s a longtime contributor to the Pheasants Forever Journal, Pheasants Forever Television, Cabela’s TV and Gun Dog Magazine
