Tom Dokken: Dedicated to the Dogs

Looking back on me last 40 years as a professional dog trainer, it feels like it was just yesterday. Although dog training's changed a heap over the years, the starting point stays the same. As a young high school kid, I remember the day that made me realise I'd have a retriever of me own. Me mate, his black lab, and I were hunkered down in grass as tall as us along a creek in Minnesota when three teal buzzed us, and to our amazement all three dropped to our guns. Massive excitement turned into the worry that the birds that fell in the head high grass would never be found, but our four-legged mate, Charlie, found all three quick smart, much to me amazement!

I was hooked and in a short time I would have a Labrador of my own. My first dog turned out, despite me, and went on to a successful field trial career. I started training field trial dogs and gun dogs, but finally settled on a career as a gun dog trainer. This allowed me to hunt all fall which the field trial route would not permit. Entertaining crowds at the biggest sports shows around the USA and hosting seminars filled the lean times in the early years, but that experience was invaluable. To this day meeting dog enthusiasts and sharing training tips still remains the most gratifying part of my job. There are many people to thank for helping me along the journey and I am grateful for all their support. If we cross paths at a show I hope you will stop by and have a yarn.

When you really love something it shows, and working with people who are passionate about their dogs and their mission to create the most innovative e-collars, I didn't need to look any further than SportDOG. To this day, I reckon if new innovation is where the future's at with e-collars, I don't need to look any further. It's ace to be part of a team so dedicated to their dogs and our sport.

About Tom

Tom Dokken is a SportDOG Senior ProStaffer and the owner of Dokken’s Oak Ridge Kennels, the largest gun dog training kennel in the upper half of the United States. He also owns Dokken Dog Supply and is the inventor of the Deadfowl Trainer. Tom has recently been instrumental in bringing shed hunting to popularity in the sporting dog world by founding the North American Shed Hunting Dog Association and hosting the World Championship at his kennel. Tom makes seminar appearances all across the United States as well as South America.