A Few Words from Our Customers

Following are a few examples of the wonderful feedback we've received from our valued friends and customers about our dogs, our training and our professionalism.

John,

I just wanted to send you a quick note to Thank You again for all of your help with Max. When I picked him up from your kennel he was doing everything that I had asked you to train him to do, and he was doing it very well. As you know I hit a few bumps in the road after getting him home and letting him slide with some bad habits he developed during the past hunting season. I had started to think that I'd wasted your time and my money. Then after our conversation over the phone night before last I realized how little I knew about the trained retrieve.

 

You gave me step-by-step direction on how to correct the problems I had created with Max. Everything you told me would happen during this correction process happened, to the T, and everything that you told me to do worked just like you said it would.

 

Max and I are far from done, but we now have a great start, and I am a lot more clear on my role. I can't thank you enough for helping me through this. I now know without a doubt that my money was well spent. You are a true professional and I would highly recommend you to anyone looking for a trainer. Thanks Again!

- Bill Creason, Keytesville, MO

Hi John,

I just got back from hunting with my German shorthaired pointer: Wild Flush Hubert. I could not ask for a dog with better instincts, training, or breeding. "Hubey" is an intelligent dog and learns quickly in the home or field.

 

On today's hunt, my son, son-in-law, father, and I all had the privileged of hunting behind this dog. He is steady on point, and retrieved every bird as each of us shot our limits. His drive to hunt matches ours! Never before, have I seen this kind of performance in a one year old dog.

 

Hubey already has one hunt test ribbon and we have plans to earn more in the spring. My friends and I are looking forward to many successful hunts and seasons with him.

 

I cannot thank you enough for the training and breeding that you put into this, and all your dogs.

- Mark E. Hroncich, Brookfield, Illinois

After losing our dog of 13 years, our family knew that if and when we got a new dog it would be a bird dog. My wife and I had our hearts set on a German Shorthaired Pointer. I began my research on the Internet, watched bird hunting TV shows and started making phone calls. Person after person referred me to Wild Flush Kennels. My initial call to John was very informative. He took the time to educate me on what to look for in a good line of bird dogs. He asked me questions to find out specifically our needs. I really felt like he wanted to make sure we got the dog we were in search of and that would fit our needs; even if it was not one from his kennel.

 

We bought Tink from John at Wild Flush in October of 2010. Tink has become a part of our family and a great hunting companion. Being our first bird dog, I have had John do the training since I don't have the time or the expertise. He kept me updated as she progressed through her training. She has been to his kennel twice already for training and will go back again this summer. Between trips to John's for training, I have worked with her to reinforce the training she received from him. During that time of reinforcement, I was able to call John and ask questions. He was very patient and answered them.

 

This is Tink's first hunting season and I have had several compliments on how well she hunts and how well behaved she is for her age. I believe there are two reasons for how well she is doing - the bloodline that you get from Wild Flush Kennel and the training she received from John Prikosovich.

 

My next dog will be from John and I will solicit his help in training it. John has become a friend and someone I trust.

- Dave Johnson, Centerville, Ohio

I purchased a pup from Maverick and Payton's 2010 litter. I just wanted to drop a line and say that I could not be any more impressed. He's extremely well behaved and well mannered although energetic, but that’s not a bad thing at all.

 

In the field he's even better. He listens well and doesn't roam, has a nose that exceeds even my best expectations, and points staunchly without getting antsy. We had an excellent first season together filled with lots of birds. He's become my hunting partner and best friend. I would highly recommend John to anybody looking for one of the best breeders I have come across. Thanks!

- Ben Kiefer, Illinois

I just wanted to let you know how pleased I am with the job you did on Hank and Ruby. Being a trainer myself, it was hard for me to make the decision to send my dogs to someone else. Due to my time constraints and obligations, I decided to entrust in you; the task of putting AKC Master Hunter titles on two of my German Shorthaired Pointers. I now feel that was the best decision I ever could have made. You took my two dogs into your training facility and treated them like one of your own, much like family; I really appreciate the care and compassion you showed Hank and Ruby while they were with you. As with all gundog training, there were bumps in the road, but you took them square on and accomplished the mission in a very short time frame. I cannot tell you how pleased I am with how quickly you titled them and even kept expenses to a minimum, I truly feel I really got my money's worth by having you train Hank and Ruby. I have and will continue to recommend you to my customers and clients because of the tremendous job you do. You are truly the gundog trainer's trainer. Thank you!

- Chuck Fowler, Adventure Bound Gundogs Tower City, North Dakota

After failing two Master Hunter tests in Illinois, my running mate – a well-known professional dog trainer – advised me to speak with John Prikosovich about getting assistance in finishing my dog, Toby. Toby had all the natural talent one could hope for in a German Shorthaired Pointer. He had good blood lines, intelligence, a strong nose and a passion of birds. In Hunt Tests, he excelled in many of the disciplines required of a Master Hunter, but always fell short in one area or another. As a novice trainer, I finally realized that I had neither the time nor the experience to finish this dog.

 

After failing two Master Hunter tests in Illinois, my running mate – a well-known professional dog trainer – advised me to speak with John Prikosovich about getting assistance in finishing my dog, Toby. Toby had all the natural talent one could hope for in a German Shorthaired Pointer. He had good blood lines, intelligence, a strong nose and a passion of birds. In Hunt Tests, he excelled in many of the disciplines required of a Master Hunter, but always fell short in one area or another. As a novice trainer, I finally realized that I had neither the time nor the experience to finish this dog.

 

From our first conversation I was impressed by John’s low key and straightforward manner. In the field, I had already noticed his calm, yet authoritative demeanor as his dogs chalked up additional legs toward their Master Hunter titles. My first visit to Wild Flush Kennel in South Bend, Indiana, further reinforced my positive impression of John’s competence and professionalism. His kennel was immaculate, clean and well-ordered. Furthermore, it was occupied by a diverse group of German Shorthairs, all titled dogs with lots of experience hunting in Iowa and the Dakotas, and all testimony to John’s competence as a trainer.

 

In his first tests, Toby had his ups and down, as John had to undo bad habits and establish new foundations for success. Finally, it all   came together in the Fall of 2009 as John trained and handled Toby to his Master Hunter title. I will never forget the weekend of his best performances, culminating in a day when the Head Judge explicitly praised John Prikosovich for the way he had handled and trained Toby.

 

Throughout the training experience, John communicated regularly about Toby’s progress. During visits, it was clear that the dog was well-adjusted to the training environment created at Wild Flush Kennel. John always billed fairly and with absolute transparency. Moreover, he sought to minimize expenses wherever he could.

 

If you are a German Shorthair owner who is having trouble finishing your dog, I can wholeheartedly recommend John Prikosovich as a professional who will train your GSP to be a first-rate gundog.

- Ken Bremer, Crystal Lake, Illinois

In today’s world most people are looking for a person that will do what they say they are going to do. John is that man. I have taken 2 of my dogs to him. Duke, my German shorthair, came back with the exact skills that John said he would have. In my book that is great, I got exactly what I wanted. As for my English Pointer Lucy, that’s not the case. Lucy was a four year old that I had taken out with me and started her training and somewhere along the line she became extremely gun shy. Most of the trainers that I talked to told me there is no hope for her and she will never be more than just a pet. When I was picking Duke up I was telling John about her and he asked if I would be willing to let him "See what he can do". I said sure. What did I have to lose? A couple of weeks without a dog that wouldn't hunt during hunting season...Why not?

 

Several weeks passed and John asked me to come and pick her up. I thought that he had come to the same conclusion that everyone else had. That was not the case. When I showed up Lucy was outside and John asked me to follow him. He called Lucy and she came running out and started over to the training field and went on point. John flushed the bird, shot it, and Lucy was still there. He had made a hunter out of a dog that everyone else said would not hunt.

 

Will he be able to do that for you....I don't know, but I know that I will not be taking my dogs to another trainer. John IS the best.

- Darrell Rains, Plymouth, Indiana

Last September when I first brought Fritz to Wild Flush Kennel in South Bend, Indiana, he just wasn’t interested in pointing birds. Somehow despite two years of previous training in Minnesota, Fritz had lost his initial excitement and was so-so in both hunting and retrieving in the field. However, after only one month’s time under John’s care and methods, Fritz regained his interest in birds! He was like a different dog and in the fall performed very well on our annual pheasant hunting excursions. Both my wife and I were both extremely impressed with the cleanliness and quality of the kennel and the attention given to Fritz and the other dogs. We plan to bring Fritz back for next steps in training this coming year.

- Dave and Tianyi Bremer, Edina, Minnesota

As Secretary of the GSPCI Hunting Tests Committee I have known John Prikosovich for several years. John is a regular participant in our hunting tests and has a solid reputation as a handler and trainer. John brings a quiet and confident approach to handling his dogs in AKC hunting tests. It is apparent that his dogs are well prepared for the events and it is unusual when one of his dogs does not qualify. As a trainer John exhibits patience and a thorough understanding for bringing out a dog’s potential.

 

Whether looking for a Master Hunter or a solid hunting companion, I would not hesitate recommending John to bring out the best in your dog.

- Perry Dlugie, Deerfield, IL

When it came to training for my first bird dog, Heidi, a 6 month old German Shorthair, I knew that I did not have the time and resources to put into adequate training. After some online research and referrals, I picked John Prikosovich & Wild Flush Kennels for her 3 month initial bird hunting training. I was very impressed with the facilities as well as the variety of training and care that was put into her time there. She returned not only a consistent, dedicated bird dog, but as a well-trained overall pet. I had regular updates from John regarding her progress and he geared her training toward the type of hunting companion that I was looking for.

 

Two years have passed and Heidi continues to impress in the field and at home. John continues to be genuinely interested in her success and hunting accomplishments. Her time at Wild Flush was the main foundation in hopefully a long hunting career and life with my family and I look forward to getting more Shorthairs in the future that I will no doubt send to John at Wild Flush.

- Timothy Nida, Vermilion, Ohio