The Northwest Source
&
Since 2003.

  Long Hollow Retrievers

Retriever Training in Washington
Labrador Retriever Puppies in Washington
Labrador Retriever Breeder in Washington
Professional Retriever Training
Professional Retriever Training in Washington
Bird Dog Training Retriever Training
Gun Dog Training Gun Dog Breeding 
Pointing Dog Training in Washington
Pointing Dog Training 
Northwest English Setters English Pointers

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Pacific Northwest Retriever Training & Pointing Dog Training.  From start to finish.  Bird Dogs, Companions, Master Hunters, Field Champions and more...

Hours of Operation

Monday - Saturday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.  We do not schedule pick up days, drop off days, or visits on Sundays.  All visits to the kennel must be by appointment only.  We train dogs 5-6 days a week depending on our Hunt Test and Field Trial Schedule throughout the spring and summer.  To get on our schedule please email Ryan Fortier at Lhretrievers@gmail.com

Long Hollow Retrievers LLP

We offer professional Retriever Training as well as Upland Bird Dog Training for all breeds of Retrievers, Flushers and Pointing Dogs.  We are centrally located in Washington state. Ellensburg is readily available to clients from all over the Pacific Northwest and beyond.  Whether you are looking for a Hunting Companion or an AKC Master Hunter you are welcome to join us for a training day.  We offer a free evaluation of your dog and we welcome all aspiring dog trainers, handlers and bird hunters alike.  Long Hollow Retrievers also produces some of the best field bred Labrador Retriever puppies and started dogs in the Northwest.


Please visit our Q&A page for answers to all your Questions!!!


4TA Photography by Ryan Fortier

Spotlight...

"Tito" Owned by Josh Wolff and handled by Ryan Fortier with 6 placements at the Northwest NSTRA Sagebrush Shootout.


Retriever Training and Upland Bird Dog Training Workshops with Ryan Fortier and Blake Gibson.

For all you Do it Yourselfers, Retriever Enthusiasts, Bird Dog Lovers, Waterfowl Hunters and Upland Chasers.

Call it a clinic or an open training day... Call it what you want.  After over 20 years as a Professional in AKC and APLA Master Hunt Tests, Master Nationals, NSTRA Field Trials and a lifetime in the field as a bird hunter, waterfowl hunter, father and coach.  Ryan Fortier is eager to pay it forward.  Ryan and Blake are hands on with each and every handler and their dog. Through plenty of Question and Answer followed by detailed training demonstrations we will answer every question thoroughly with a hands on approach for the best learning opportunity.

No matter the breed or level of your dog we welcome anybody and everybody with a passion to lean more about themselves, their dog, and bird dog and retriever training.

At our Workshops we generally have the grill smoking to provide lunch for everybody and a welcoming, social, environment to meet new people and create an opportunity have fun and get better.

If you would like to sign up for a day in the field with us please email Lhretrievers@gmail.com for more information and registration.




The Proof is in the Pudding...

Ryan Fortier / Head Trainer

Ryan Fortier grew up hunting Pheasants in the Palouse wheat fields of Eastern Washington, Chukar and Quail hunting along the canyons and orchards of the Northwest's vast rivers and eventually found himself drawn to the Waterfowl Hunting to be had all up and down the mighty Columbia River.   This time spent Duck hunting as a teenager is where his true appreciation for Retrievers began.  After a rough upbringing and finding inspiration in what not to do, he soon found himself training dogs in the off season and competing in AKC Hunt Tests and Field Trials.


After many years  perfecting his craft  Ryan began training gun dogs professionally in 2003.  During his time as a Pro Trainer and owner of Long Hollow Retrievers and Long Hollow Bird Dogs he has developed the passion, wisdom, understanding, and patience that it takes to train the great Retrievers and Bird Dogs that complete our teams as Waterfowl and Upland Bird Hunters.  His love for the process above all else, along with his competitive nature and desire to share has led him to the mentoring of other aspiring Dog Trainers and to the production of Long Hollow Outdoors TV.  Ryan Fortier has developed and trained many AKC Junior, Senior and Master Hunter Retrievers including Master National Qualifiers as well as dogs with NSTRA field trial points and APLA titles.  These days with Blake Gibson handling most of the Retriever Training and Kennel duties, Ryan stays very busy training and handling Pointing dogs, overseeing daily operations, editing and producing Long Hollow Outdoors TV, being a proud father, coach, bird hunter, photographer and more.  4TAphotography

"With a desire to be constantly learning, evolving and thinking outside the box,  I like to think that my style and methods of teaching and training are unique.  But they are a culmination of countless hours in the field with many different types of people, bird dogs and retrievers.  I have had the opportunity to be exposed to the many great trainers before me.  Such as George Hickox, Bill Gibbons, John Greer, Larry Calvert and Mike Lardy just to name a few.  Training methods are passed down from generation to generation but all the best trainers have something of their own that can not be explained.  It is that which makes their program unique.   With a completely new perspective and the addition of Blake Gibson, his youthful  energy and unparalleled passion, the Sky is truly the Limit for our Long Hollow Retriever and Bird Dog Program...  We look forward to training with you and your new hunting buddy".  - Ryan Fortier

Blake Gibson / Retriever Trainer & Kennel Manager

Blake Gibson joined our team in 2018.  By 2019 he had turned in his amateur status to train Retrievers full time and take on 50% ownership of Long Hollow Retrievers.  Blake grew up fly fishing and chasing Ducks and Geese right here in the Kittitas Valley.  After he graduated high school and his life of Baseball and Basketball came to end, his passion for Waterfowl hunting and Retriever Training was undeniable.  He is a professional that holds himself accountable and we could not have asked for a better addition to our Long Hollow family.  In 2021 Blake and his dog Gunner Qualified and passed the AKC Master National Hunt Test.  He now handles all the day to day function of the kennel and he does an amazing job with all our Retrievers.  You will not find a more dedicated Waterfowl Hunter anywhere on the planet.  Blake is also a member of the Pacific Calls pro staff and you can follow some of his adventure on  Long Hollow Outdoors TV  .  

Ryker Fortier / Kennel Hand & Bird Boy

Ryker Fortier is a Senior in High School.  He is a 3 sport Athlete and he will be headed to play College Baseball next Fall.  With a bright future beyond the kennel we do not expect Ryker to be around long, but we will take what we can get.  Having grown up around the kennel some might say it was inevitable.  But with the addition of his very own dog "DUKE" he seems to have found his own unique passion for Retrievers and Waterfowl Hunting.  Ryker is a happy kid with the right attitude and we love having him around.  Plus he is really good at throwing Marks!!! 

Dog Training is not an exact science. 

Each one of your dogs is an individual as well as each of you handlers.  Contact us to set up a FREE consultation so that collectively we can decide what's best for you and your dog with regard to the training process.  We look forward to meeting you and your companion!

- Ryan Fortier
509-899-7465

 

The true reality of Waterfowl Hunting and Retriever Training in the Pacific Northwest. Sharing the sport of Retrievers and Capturing the way great dogs complete our team as Waterfowl Hunters. Passing on the pure traditions of Waterfowl Hunting and Retriever Training to the next generation. Bridging the gap between East and West. We are not chasing limits with an outfitter. We train our own dogs, we scout our own birds and we put out our own decoys.

The NORTHWEST'S source for LABRADOR RETRIEVERS and UPLAND BIRD DOG & RETRIEVER TRAINING

 

Professional Retriever Training

YouTube Spotlight

AKC Hunt Tests

- You’ve played ball with your Retriever about a million times in your backyard or at the park, but do his fetching abilities automatically mean he’d make a good hunting companion? Not necessarily. The only way to really know is to participate in a Retriever Hunting Test.

- Ever since the first AKC retriever hunting tests were held in 1985, the focus has been on how well your dog retrieves birds under all types of conditions. You don’t compete against other handlers and dogs; each dog is assessed based on his own merit (as opposed to competing in a Field Trial where a winner is chosen). There are three hunt test levels – Junior, Senior, Master, and titles can be earned at each level. Judges score dogs on their natural ability to mark and remember a fall, on their hunting style, perseverance or courage. They are also scored on learned abilities such as steadiness, control, response and delivery.

- This non-competitive environment creates a very warm and communal atmosphere where everyone encourages each other to succeed. Even though you have to remain quiet during the test, you should hear the round of applause afterward! It’s not to be missed.  LEARN MORE

Junior Hunters

Senior Hunters

Master Hunters

The Northwest Source for

Long Hollow Retrievers, Central Washington
Long Hollow Retrievers has produced some of the very best field bred Retrievers in the Pacific Northwest.  Always keeping high standards and continually raising the bar when it comes to health, looks, personality and performance.  All of our puppies are bird worked and evaluated prior to being placed in their respective new homes.  We expect that with the right development and leadership that each and every one of our pups can grow into a happy, enjoyable companion as well as an accomplished Gun Dog, Hunt Test Dog and/or Field Trial competitor. 

We are always aiming to broaden our horizons and see our program evolve.  We are very excited to have brought some new blood into our program via Big Cottonwood Retrievers in Lewellen Nebraska.  We are very excited about what Canon will add to our program...
 

Gun Dog Training and Breeding...