A Client's Perspective: Training Spaniels at Craney Hill Kennel
- Todd Agnew
- Jul 27
- 3 min read
Putting in the Time
Great gun dogs and field trial dogs are never built by accident.
They are built one lesson at a time. One correction. One success. One quiet repetition after another.
Every polished retrieve, every flush, every confident cast into cover began in a field just like this—with a trainer, a dog, and an owner willing to invest the time.
Training isn’t just about teaching the dog. It’s about teaching the handler to read the dog, make good decisions, and become part of the partnership.
The best days in the field don’t come from shortcuts. They come from countless ordinary days spent practicing the fundamentals, even when no one is watching.
That’s where trust is built.
That’s where consistency is earned.
That’s where great bird dogs are made.
If you’re willing to put in the time, your dog will reward you for years to come.
Because in the end, the time you invest today becomes the dog you’ll hunt or field trial behind tomorrow.
— Craney Hill Kennel
Training Spaniels at Craney Hill Kennel :
A Client's Perspective
Another training weekend at Craney Hill Kennel is in the books, and what a great weekend it was. As always, Todd and Christina's hospitality went above and beyond. I even received an unexpected lesson about the Tour de France. Much like training spaniels, there are countless details that go unnoticed by the untrained eye, and it made for some enjoyable downtime while escaping the summer heat.
When it comes to training, I truly believe Craney Hill Kennel is one of the finest training programs in the country. Every session is thoughtfully planned, with drills designed not only for the dogs but for the handlers as well. Working multiple dogs with different personalities can be challenging, but the constant feedback I receive—both positive and corrective—continues to make me a better handler.
We started the weekend with retrieving drills, working both Fletch and Frasier at my side. Each dog requires something different, and I enjoy learning what motivates each of them. Whenever I'm unsure or create confusion, it becomes another learning opportunity. Those moments have helped me grow tremendously, not only as a handler but as someone with a much deeper appreciation for the training process itself.
Throughout the weekend we spent time in the field working on a variety of drills, with a strong focus on what Todd calls "elasticity." It's a term I've heard since I first started training with Craney Hill, but it's one that's difficult to fully understand until you actually see it in action.
Dog and handler are a team—each moving the other forward while also balancing one another through every situation. That became especially clear while watching Todd work with Rex. As they moved down the field together, everything seemed effortless. I don't think I heard a single whistle. It was simply a dog and handler completely in tune with one another, communicating through trust, timing, and understanding.
When it was my turn, and I found myself unsure or struggling through a situation, Todd was right there to explain what was happening and why. Those moments became some of the most valuable lessons of the weekend. Every challenge became another opportunity to learn—not just for the dogs, but for me as a handler.
The highlight of the weekend was the water work. Craney Hill dedicates an incredible amount of time to creating realistic training scenarios that challenge dogs of every age and experience level. As my confidence handling Fletch and Frasier continues to grow, watching them mark birds, solve problems, and complete retrieves in both water and on land is incredibly rewarding. Knowing when to step in—and when to let the dog work—is something I'm still learning, but the progress is becoming obvious.
One lesson becomes clearer every time I visit Craney Hill: there are no shortcuts to developing a great spaniel. There isn't a trick or quick fix that produces a polished hunting dog or field trial competitor. Success comes from time, consistency, thoughtful coaching, and a handler willing to learn alongside their dog.
Having coaches like Todd and Christina makes that journey enjoyable, educational, and incredibly rewarding. I'm already counting down the days until my next training weekend in August.
Thank you again, Todd and Christina.
See you soon, Jeff Keller
🎥 Continue the Lesson
Watch This Training Session and others in the Craney Hill Training Library
This article only scratches the surface.
Inside the Training Library you'll find the complete, unedited training sessions featuring:
Jeff working Fletch and Frasier
Lining pile drills
Water work progression
Todd's real-time coaching and problem solving
And so much more
See what happened before the photo was taken—and after the story was written.
→ Watch inside the Craney Hill Training Library
