After spending a few years building the training service, Owensboro native Clay Owens recently announced that Cypress Creek Retrievers is now a full-time retriever training facility. Owens offers service ranging from simple obedience to hunting to competition training.
Owens said he started doing it part-time roughly 4 years ago just as a passion project while still working full-time. Back then he would train around 6 to 10 dogs a year, but now he’s able to take in more dogs since all his focus is on the training business.
His training programs are all residential and take at least 6 weeks until the dogs are fully trained with basic obedience. After that, they have a gundog program taking 4-6 months, and the advanced gundog training takes up to 9-12 months.
Beyond that, Cypress Creek offers competition-level training.
Owens currently has 18 dogs currently signed up in the various classes.
And while retriever is in the business name, Owens said he works with not just waterfowl hunting dogs but all dogs in need of basic obedience training.
“Whether it’s a basic obedience dog training all the way out to our highest level competitive dogs, they stay right here at our facility,” Owens said. “So the dogs are all under roof, all safe and secured — all the way down to having cameras.”
The facility is completely sheltered and has room to fit 25 dogs.
Owens said they work 6 days a week, going from sun up to down teaching dogs what they need to pass their training.
Owens said he has a deliberate attentiveness to each of the dogs he serves and cares for.
“I get to know these dogs. I have my hands on these dogs every day petting them, putting the collar on them,” Owens said. “So I know every spot on these dogs. I mean, if they get one little spot on them, I know it.”
To learn more about the services Cypress Creek provides, head to their Facebook Page.
