There’s an art to shaping a true bird dog, and Anthony Ferro has dedicated his life to mastering it. At his Fetching Feathers training program in Bennett, Anthony immerses both dogs and their handlers in authentic upland hunting scenarios. Through hands-on field sessions, he teaches everything from collar conditioning and gun introduction to flushing techniques and steady-to-wing drills–with precision, patience, and a deep respect for the hunting tradition. The outcome is more than a well-trained dog but a reliable, confident partner ready for every flush and every shot.
How it all began: “I’ve been a dog guy my whole life, but it wasn’t until college at Kansas State University that I saw my first gun dog work—and I was hooked. Thanks to a few older mentors, I fell into bird dog hunting as a hobby. After college, I had a successful career in sales until a devastating house fire in 2018 took my two hunting partners. That loss changed everything. I left sales and launched Fetching Feathers to dedicate my life to training gun dogs and their owners.”
Guiding philosophy: “We have a saying at the kennel: ‘train more, talk less.’ People tend to overhandle dogs, but letting their natural ability shine gets the best results. I believe in rewarding the right behaviors and applying just enough pressure to earn respect. Without that balance, a dog either shuts down or won’t work with you.”
Ideal age for training: “We like to start bird introduction at four months old with real birds, not gimmicks. At that age, pups can begin positive bird introduction. With consistent exposure and proper association, most are gun broke by six months. That early window is key for developing maturity, cognitive thinking, and downright grit.”
Replicating hunting environments: “Perfectly recreating a real hunt is nearly impossible— we use controlled setups. Our goal isn’t to mimic the wild, it’s to teach the dogs so that they’re mentally ready to perform come game day.”
Advice for owners: “Crate train from day one—it builds independence. Play fetch daily. Too many dogs have lost their natural retrieval skills. Let pups carry things around without always taking it away. And don’t wait until they’re a year old to start. Even at four months, you can find trainers to help lay that foundation.”
Timeline for dog readiness: “Our three-month program trains dogs six days a week for obedience and field work. Success depends on the dog’s background, age, and exposure, but more importantly, on the owner. A dog’s potential is fully tied to the handler’s understanding and confidence.”
Fetching the future: “We just franchised our first out-of-state kennel in Halifax, Virginia—proving our training program can succeed anywhere. In addition, our clothing line is growing.”
