I was referred to Ben Garcia, owner of Hideaway Kennels, through a hunting guide from Rocky Mountain Roosters. I had purchased my first bird dog and was looking for someone to train the pup. I had interviewed a number of trainers, but didn’t feel comfortable with any of them. It seemed most of the trainers I talked with were only interested in the money they could charge me and couldn’t really detail their training methods for me. I was finding it difficult to find someone who understood that I wanted my dog to be trained to hunt and retrieve while still being a family pet.
When I met Ben, my negative opinion of dog trainers quickly changed. Ben and I spoke a number of times on the phone where he detailed his training methods and asked a number of questions about what I wanted to accomplish with Maverick, my English Springer pup. Ben asked that I bring the pup out for him to meet to first assess the dog to see if it was even worth trying to train him to hunt. He suggested leaving Maverick with him for one week. If he felt the dog wouldn’t become a hunting dog, he would know in a week.
During the next two and half months, Ben would call to give me updates on how Maverick was doing. Ben invited the family out after about a month to show us what Maverick had already learned. Maverick was a completely different dog. Intense, bold, and confident in just a month. A month later, I had the opportunity to hunt behind Maverick where he flushed and retrieved his first pheasant. It was so much fun watching Maverick work, but I think I enjoyed the satisfaction on Ben’s face when Maverick worked that first pheasant and flushed it out of deadfall more.
If you are looking for someone to train your dog, you’d do yourself and your dog a disservice if you didn’t work with Ben. He’s the only dog trainer that I’ve ever met that takes a sincere interest, not only in the dog, but in his client. Over the 7 months that I’ve known Ben, we’ve become friends. Every bird hunter I run into that
is considering buying a bird dog or has one that needs training, I encourage them to go to Ben. Ben has trained me as much as he has trained Maverick.
Ben is an expert at what he does. He knows and loves working with dogs. It is evident that dog training is more than a hobby for Ben. It is his passion. You will not run across a more honest, dependable, fair, or committed person. There is so much more I could say about Ben and his work. Instead, I encourage you to call me. I will be happy to answer any questions you might have. In the end, I believe that you’d be making a mistake if you didn’t work with Ben.
Cory Davern, CO,
My family and I were looking for a pointer puppy that would replace our family pet, as well as, be a hunting companion and field trial entry. We needed something calm enough to live full-time in our home with two small children but that had enough energy to hunt quail and pheasant all day long. Ben found us a perfect match. Jazz (Hideaway’s Southern Swing) is now twelve months old and sleeps every night in my eight year old daughter’s bed. She is progressing very nicely as a hunter and has excelled as a field trial dog including winning the American Pointer Club National Championships.
I was especially impressed that Ben didn’t try to sell me just any dog even though he had several for sell. He spent several weeks researching specific Sires/Dames with the traits we were looking for and decided what he felt was the perfect blend.
Greg Garner, CO,
“Just now found time to get you our address for the papers on Sue (now known as Mabel). She is loved by all – family as well as other family pets as you can tell by the attached photo.”
Bill and Marilyn Noone, KS ,
I was introduced to Ben three years ago by my father, who had a setter that Ben was training for him. After watching Ben work with both the dog and my Dad I said to myself this guy has something special. About 2 weeks later I went out to the kennels and told Ben I was interested in getting a dog of my own, but I did not have the slightest idea of what to look for, Ben responded by saying ” let me do some research,and I will get back with you”. Ben called the next day and gave me the name of a breeder that was going to have some Brittany puppies soon. I trusted Ben and his instincts were correct. Over the past years I have spent a lot of time out at the kennels, and realized that Ben is probably one of the most dedicated people I have ever met. Ben’s work ethic goes far beyond what I could have ever imagined, he is working with the dogs 7 days a week sun up to sun down. This past spring I got a setter out of Riley’s Runnin Hideaway and cross creek silky. This puppy is extremely intelligent and loveable. He was the perfect fit for our family (Thanks Ben and Amanda)! If you are looking for an honest trainer or breeder I would recommend giving Ben and Hideaway kennels a call.
