Mentors
Sonny Piekarz
Sonny along with his wife Shannon own and operate Hay Creek Kennel in Gilman, WI. For more than 25 years Sonny has trained dogs for almost any purpose. From a high-level guide string of English Pointers to the house pet walking into the local feed store, the product remains the same; a dog that excels in any environment. From years of working with dogs all over the country Sonny has developed the ability to read a dog’s behavior and pass that on to the handler. Hay Creek has fostered an environment for any dog to thrive and bring both dog and owner together to work as one in the field and home.
Shannon brings to the table a structure that is second to none. Through twenty plus year of handling dogs at HCK she ensures that all dogs meet the standard set at the kennel, and that is to leave an obedient, well- mannered citizen.
Jordan Wells
Paul first met Jordan by attending one of his seminars. He was truly impressed by Jordan's dedication to dogs and his determination to modernize and evolve training methodologies. He admired how Jordan turned his passion into a successful career for himself and his family. The moto at J. Wells Kennels, "The definition of detail," was not just a motto, but a way of life for Jordan and his team. They took great care of the dogs and interacted with them in a manner that reflected their commitment to excellence.
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What stood out to Paul the most was Jordan's ability to transfer his knowledge and leadership to dog owners. It was not just about training the dogs, but also empowering the owners to understand and effectively communicate with their dogs. This approach made a lasting impact and set Jordan apart from other trainers Paul had encountered. This further solidified his belief in Jordan's expertise and the effectiveness of The Method Dog Training system created by Jordan Wells and Sonny Piekarz.
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Maine Point Kennels utilizes The Method Dog Training as its formal training format for teaching both the owners and dogs.
Neal Kauder
Paul began his relationship with Neal as a training client looking to provide his dog a good foundation for puppy development. Neal, a pro-trainer from Richmond, Virginia
uses training methods rooted heavily in the Huntsmith Silent Command System; additionally, he has assimilated more innovative methods from Sonny Piekarz and
Jordan Wells. He also integrates Steady-With-Style methods learned from Mo Lindley. Neal has melded all that he has learned into his Handler Capital (TM) training system.
Helping to transform a family business into a nationally recognized upland hunting brand, Neal has also spent a decade guiding and helping manage his family’s preserve, one of the busiest upland hunting venues in the country. Neal’s passion remains with dog training, and he has worked dogs from Kansas to Arizona and from Montana to Maine. The owner of NK9Training and Co-Owner of Punto
Blanco Gun Dogs, Neal now provides a curated line of started Llewellin Setters to a varied clientele of bird hunters and companion dog owners.
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Neal’s patience and recognition for Paul’s passion for dogs fostered a mentoring relationship where Paul helped teach seminars, classes, and private lessons. Neal is one of the great dog-men that took Paul under his wing to gain experience with gun dogs and companion dogs.