Blackthorn Academy

practical, simple, logically built and interactive online gundog training school

we train retrievers to be champions

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featured courses

A free lesson for you to see what's in Academy!

do you have a problem to imagine how to teach your dog to mark, hunt, to be handled and be obedient when you read a book?

to avoid this problem we recorded videos with verbal instructions how to build up the different parts step by step - you can see the area, how the dog is behaving, what you have to take care of and how to avoid and correct mistakes

based on your feedback we will continuously enlarge the content with new material!

every courses include detailed instructions in e-books how you can teach your dog step by step the skills to be able to mark, to accept control and handling, to learn how to hunt and keep an area

in the training exercises part we provide you with descriptions how to build up the exercises, what is the right setup and how to avoid mistakes - or even correct faults

when you have already taught your dog the basic elements of retriever training you need different exercises to fix and polish your dog's knowledge and your handling skills

to inspire you how to set up training exercises and what to take care of, we continuously prepare and upload detailed training setups for marking, handling, hunting, waterwork - every pieces of the retriever work to improve yourself and your dog, from beginner up to champion level

the exercises are coming with e-book, video and sometimes PDF animations to show clearly the setup and how to avoid mistakes

we will hold regular live webinars on the basis of the feedback from our learners and including Questions and Answers session

we would appreciate very much your feedback on the content and also about what do you want to learn more and which problems would you like to solve with your dogs - if there is a big interest we will even insert a new course or section into the learning material

what you will get

video trainings

a lot of training videos for you and your dog

ebook trainings

all our knowledge based on more than 25 years of experience and success

tons of exercises

retriever training excercises as PDF files to download.
&
for each excercise an additional video explaining all the specific details

live webinars

regular live webinars covering different topics.
&
an additional Q&A session

on-site trainings

on-site training with our team of experienced trainers

- optional -

(book early !)

different courses

different courses about all aspects of retriever training.

from beginer to advanced up to open level.

different levels

fitting to your individual needs and goals

from beginners to advanced up to open level

certificates

proof your
knowledge and
reach your personal certification level

live books

put your individual notes, comments and remarks directly into your courses, videos and lessons to optimize your learning curve

tips & tricks

get access and mentorship
regarding all the tips & tricks we used to make a lot of our students extremly successfull

and always keep in mind - "we train retrievers to be champions"

Dr. Klaus Möller

working test & field trial handler

By recommendation of an Austrian veterinarian, I met Rita in 2012. During a visit at her kennel we had the chance to watch a training. We were very impressed and excited to see the dogs working.

So our decision was made quickly to ask Rita for a puppy, with the demand to train me to handle the dog properly.

The retriever virus infected me. Within 3 years I reached with my bitch “Pebbles” (Blackthorn Phaenna) the open class. In the meantime we participated in many events like Austrian Cup, Germany Cup, IWT and several other Working Tests and Field Trails quite successful. I never thought I could reach results like that with a dog in such a short time.

I appreciate Rita’s training methods: simple, understandable and effective with great respect for the dog and handler.

This year we got a second bitch and the youngster will be trained with the same approach and methods. I am convinced I will improve and learn a lot in the coming years with Rita’s guidance, advice and training.

Katalin Megyeri

working test & field trial handler

I have known Rita for 13 years.

My first dog was a show labrador, she was competing with success on an intermediate level. My second dog, Blackthorn Fair “Fibi” was also trained under the instructions of Rita. She won many times open class workingtests and was always among the top 5. Two times we got 3rd place in team on the International Workingtest.

My youngster, Blackthorn Xiara Kira, is running in Open class and won already one. She is working well also on shooting days.

Why I like to train with Rita? Even after 10 years she can still teach and advise me to be able not only to train, but also to handle better my dog. In her system the main principle is simplicity, that the dog can clearly understand what we want. The youngsters are not put into losing situations, training is “trial and success”, so the dogs are not burning out. My (and Rita’s) dogs are still working with pleasure even at an older (9-10 years) age and pick couple of dummies on the trainings or pick up in one or two drives.

Bernd Janich

working test & field trial handler

Since I first saw Rita at a WT in Germany in 2006 I was sure that I wanted a puppy from her breed.

I liked the way she treated her bitch all day long: not only while competing on different tests but also in the waiting zone:

very calm and relaxed, both of them, with no pressure.

I got Eyk (Blackthorn Enki) in November 2008 and trained a lot with Rita throughout the years.

I like her methods to find different ways to solve a problem, never without an answer to any trouble.

Always responding to each dog with his own mannerisms.

I found out while watching her training other dogs.

As you might know Eyk was a very successful dog (a retired worker now)

I am still training with Rita whenever I got the chance; now with my successful younger dog Vin

(Blackthorn Vinwood, 4 years old).

DReams og my liv

Michaela Kussmann

working test & field trial handlers

I was lucky to get my first working Lab 2009 from Ritas kennel, she really helped and supported me all the time. Due to her trainings and advices I really could improve my handling and soon we were successful on Workingtests and Dummy Trials.

To train my dog up to the highest level and even participate on the IWT and Field Trials was more than I expected with my first dog.

Thank you so much.

Stefan Kussmann

working test & field trial handler

I train my dogs with Rita since 2010. The first years I had to learn myself how to handle a working dog, since my first dog was a show Labrador and Rita's trainings and advices helped me a lot to become a better handler.

I didn't run Indy on to many tests but managed to become Guns choice on a Field Trial in Italy, and he's my perfect hunting companion for rough shoot-ing days.

With my young dog Zonic I have been following the same way under the instructions of Bogdan, and till now we have been quite successful on Workingtests and Dummytrials. I'm always enjoying the trainings as I'm still improving my handling and learn how to bring my young dog forward.

Krisztian Sosztarich

working test & field trial handler

I met Rita 9 years ago and I got into the retriever world by her. I recognized her as a single-minded, consequent trainer whose well-built system helped my bitch, Lili, to become a fantastic competition dog. She won the Austrian WT Cup and has been extremely successful on workingtests and mock-trials. She also won a field trial.

We participated together with Rita on many team competitions, and I will always be in her team any time with pleasure, because she is a top team member and a great friend.

The knowledge which I gained from her I apply myself now as a professional trainer.

interactive learning & training leads to more fun & more success

learning & training is demanding. stay focused, increase your desire and improve your learning & training efficiency.

interactive videos

Interact and play with the examples!

For the first time, the learners can pause the video and interact with the content on the spot. They can test their knowledge with quizzes and be informed through relevant articles inside the video!

live book

Read actively, take notes, participate!

Learners can navigate easily through the book, take notes, highlight important text, discuss with others, take quizzes, read fresh relevant news for each chapter and a lot more.

questionnaires & cetrifications

Quizzes, assignments and certificates!

Test learners’ knowledge, create separate tests and certifications or present questions inside the video or your ebooks. An integrated workflow for open-ended assignments. You can even create polls!

Blackthorn Academy

featured courses

A free lesson for you to see what's in Academy!

video trainings

ebook trainings

excercises

regular webinar & interactivity

become today a vital member of the
Blackthorn Academy family!

we train handlers & dogs in more than 25 countries

the number speaks for itselve

subscribe to our newsletter.

find out about our academy, training, news and more ...

what you will get

our customers & handlers believe in us ...

interactive learning & training leads to more fun & more success

learning & training is demanding. stay focused, increase your desire and improve your learning & training efficiency.

interactive videos

Interact and play with the examples!

live book

Read actively, take notes, participate!

questionnaires & cetrifications

Quizzes, assignments and certificates!

no matter where you’re from or who you are,

we will welcome you with open arms.

Click "Edit Contents" and start uploading your learning material.

Select a course first to display its contents.

No available contents for

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Blackthorn Academy

featured courses

A free lesson for you to see what's in Academy!

video trainings

ebook trainings

excercises

regular webinar & interactivity

become today a vital member of theBlackthorn Academy family!

we train handlers & dogs in more than 25 countries

the number speaks for itselve

subscribe to our newsletter.

find out about our academy, training, news and more ...

what you will get

our customers & handlers believe in us ...

interactive learning & training leads to more fun & more success

learning & training is demanding. stay focused, increase your desire and improve your learning & training efficiency.

interactive videos

Interact and play with the examples!

live book

Read actively, take notes, participate!

questionnaires & cetrifications

Quizzes, assignments and certificates!

no matter where you’re from or who you are,

we will welcome you with open arms.

Click "Edit Contents" and start uploading your learning material.

Select a course first to display its contents.

No available contents for

Registro y Pago

Registro

Producto

There are no free, paid or coming soon courses in your school yet.Why don't you create one?

Oops, your school's owner is working hard preparing the courses for you.

Oops, you haven't created any courses yet.

No blog posts found in your blog. Why don't you create one?

become today a vital member of the
Blackthorn Academy family!

There are no free, paid or coming soon courses in your school yet.
Why don't you create one?