Description:

Champ is a ferocious 70# retriever sired by FC Bigwoods Hillbilly Hammer. This is a mostly Candlewood bloodline. 23 FC or AFC's in the 4 Gen Ped including: NFC Tanks Alot, NFC Super Tanker & NAFC Lean Mac on both sides.

Champ has been featured in waterfowl magazines several times and has been a professional guide dog the past three seasons. He is a beautiful athletic animal with months of pro training and over 120 guide days to his credit. He is formally CC, FF, hold, heal, sit, remote sit, single and double T, forced to pile, lining drills, started on pattern blinds and more. Champ has an impressive flying water entry. Several times he’s hunted in -20 weather and never hesitated to get in the water once. He comes back as hard as he goes out and is absolutely fearless. Short doubles and triples are not difficult for him, and he is experienced with multiple marks in moving currents. Champ is extremely fast and I've never seen him beat to a bird if allowed to race. He's retrieved over a 1000 live shot ducks in his career. He is steady to wing but has been released on the shot due to fast river currents we hunt. His entire body shivers with anticipation and his eyes constantly scan the sky for birds. This dog is impressive to watch work!

However, Champ is not for everyone and that is the reason for this sale. Champ’s incredibly intense nature lends to him whining in the duck blind, especially if hunting is slower. He loves ducks more than anything on this planet, and if I am not paying attention, he'll eat ducks that he's stolen off the pile in the blind. The whole duck....head, wings, feet, everything (talk about embarrassing to a guide). Champ absolutely refuses to sit still in a blind or in the boat. He needs to be corrected repeatedly during the day to remain seated (like 50 times/day kind of corrected). He has also struggled on the river at times because he naturally sees things in straight lines. He'll swim straight against the current for 30 minutes to retrieve a duck, rather than stepping on the bank and running the bird up in 30 seconds to the blind. That's right, I have the problem of wanting a dog that cheats water. Haha.... Training with Champ is difficult,.... If you give him and inch, he’ll take 10 miles. Corrections must be perfectly timed, very sharp and 100% consistent to be effective. He also has struggled with longer blinds and angled casts as we've worked through a Wagon Wheel. Champ believes in what he sees and smells, rather than what he is told to do and it is hard to break. That is probably related more to me than the dog, but this dog is INTENSE!! The Pro that had Champ for FF said, "Champ is a lot of dog!!" :) I hate to admit this, but he may be too much dog for me too.

Champ has only hunted pheasants once and he never quite figured out what we were doing. He winded birds from long distances, and tracked them on the ground well. If he was given the right introduction to a couple pen raised pheasants to start, I have no doubt Champ would become an excellent pheasant hunter. He is naturally very close working and has the same exceptional bird drive for pheasants as ducks. I think Champ would happily choose the freedom and "work hard" method of pheasant hunting, to the "mental" controlled environment of waterfowl hunting. Champ does not feel pain and will mow down brush like a road grader if he believes there is a bird in there.

Champ is a perfect candidate for a professional hunting lodge that specializes in pheasants and waterfowl with an extended season or shooting preserve. I'm just not busy enough to keep him satisfied. Champ would be an exceptional still water guide dog in ND, SD, AR, KS or Canada. Straight out, straight back, and lightning fast! He’s a neat kennel dog and NOT a house dog. He’s never been in a fight in his life and although he's tough, he does respond to firm collar correction. Champ just needs a full time job. More importantly, he needs a full time HANDLER.......Champ will easily overpower inexperienced handlers, become completely out of control, and for that reason he is not a good fit for 90% of the hunters out there. Champ will only be placed to the right situation, not simply sold to the first person who calls. Truthfully, Champ should have probably been on a Pro truck his whole life instead of my hunting home.

He is available anytime after January 16th 2018. (after this guide season ends)

Champ has been priced attractively for his ability, pro training, guiding experience and FC son pedigree. He is intact and would add serious horsepower to a softer female and stunning good looks to any breeding program! I have some flexibility on price for the perfect situation. If you think you might be a fit for this lovable high energy dog, please give me a call. 406.860.0293. I would be happy to send pics, videos and more information on Champ. Text is preferred.

$2000 + buyer pays shipping costs (crate, vet check, and airline ticket)

I will not offer refunds for Champ for any reason. I have been brutally honest about his abilities and his (and my own) shortcomings. I am also happy to tell you any other honest observations about Champ that you may want to know.