Southern Pines GSP's offers a unique program of training in which as I am helping train your dog I am also assisting in training the owner. Most people seem to enjoy this method because their dogs are also their companions. They feel it's more gratifying to see the progress in the training of their dog when they do it themselves, rather than sending their dogs away for an extended time and added cost. I offer a variety of training wether you are gearing up for the AKC hunt test , need help with retrieving in the field or in the water, or just would like to get your dog steady on point with style for hunting. Our location offers acres of open trees with cover under them, this makes for a truley Southern setting to train on. The property is bordered on three sides with a very secluded 100 acre lake. This makes it a great place to train your dog to swim . Our indoor and outdoor kennels are new and state of the art they are two seperate facilities. We have comfortable lake view rooms for the dogs owners accommodations. Come and relax while getting your dog trained. If you are interested in any other details feel free to contact us with any questions you may have about other ammenities.

Field Trialing
Flushing
Hunt Testing
Pointing
Retrieving

Jim Birdsall
9745 Oak View Drive
North, Virginia 23128
 
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We have known Jim and Julie Birdsall for many years and have had our German Shorthaired Pointers successfully train with them. We also have a young Golden Retriever who is beginning to compete in various field and obedience events.

This past spring, we travelled on several occasions to the Birdsall’s new South Pines GSP Bird Dog Training Resort near Gloucester, VA, for two separate intensive, two-day land and water retrieving sessions as well as obedience training to prepare our retriever for upcoming events.
Together, we identified our goals with Jim and what training we needed to focus on to reach them. During our sessions, Jim was constantly evaluating what our dog and Nancy needed in order to succeed, and his insights were invaluable. We averaged 30 land retrieves and 15 water retrieves per day with Nancy and our dog being trained as a team where they identified problems, made needed corrections, and fine-tuned their skills. Each morning over breakfast we spent spend time with Jim evaluating the previous day’s training and then planned our program for the day.

A week following our training, we were entered in back-to-back retriever Working Certificate tests. The result was that our Golden Retriever easily won his Working Certificate (WC title) on the first day and passed the WC test again with ease on the second day. Our Golden Retriever was also awarded four straight qualifying scores, achieving his Rally Novice title. We will be returning to South Pines later this summer to train for the Working Certificate Excellent (WCX) title as well as prepare for the AKC Retriever Hunt Tests. Ribbons and rosettes directly attributable to Jim’s training are shown in the photo of our Golden Retriever.

Our thanks to South Pines for their wonderful training and guidance as well as their gracious hospitality!

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Jim and Julie Birdsall are two of the nicest and most experienced professional people I have ever met. I started speaking with Jim in December 2011, after several phone discussions Luke and I arrived on Saturday morning Feb 4, 2012 and immediately I knew this place is the place to be. As an experienced hunter, I know how to hunt. But I have never hunted with a dog let alone my own dog. I am a novice with hunting dogs. Jim has this great demeanor in how he treats a dog and teaches you how to respond and encourage the dog and use your experience as a hunter. I smiled all the way back to Springfield VA replaying what a fantastic learning experience I had.

My daughter Ursula and I came back this past weekend Feb 25 to train with Jim and Luke. Once again the training we all received was just great. We are going to enter Luke in the upcoming AKC Hunt Test in March. It should be much fun. I believe Jim and Julie have made all the difference in my knowledge and Ursula's. We both look forward to many return trips to Southern Pines when needed.

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Luke on point at South Pines.

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In 2006, I was in the market for a German Shorthaired Pointer. Initially I wanted a quality-hunting dog for upland, but I soon realized that I would enjoy competing in AKC hunt test. I was fortunate to meet Jim Birdsall through Gun dog breeders site. I never imagined the amazing journey and perfect hunting dog/companion that would develop from this contact. In 2007, the litter was born and Jim Birdsall personally accompanied me and assisted with selecting the dog of a lifetime! This certainly wasn't expected and it clearly demonstrated Jim's loyalty and commitment. Shortly after taking my German Shorthaired Pointer (named Gunther) home, it wasn't long and Jim began to lay the groundwork for a training program. This program initiated with the handler, which I would soon become. I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to work this closely with a professional dog trainer. I was a first time dog owner and I feared of making a costly training error that would hinder my dog's performance forever. Jim assisted me with making valuable purchases for training aids, quail condos, and he even introduced me to his bird contact. Within a few weeks, I purchased my first quail condo, and I soon stocked it with a dozen bob white quail. Let me tell, I was ecstatic and ready to train. Waking up in the morning and hearing those bob white's call is a soothing and peaceful sound. And for Gunther he was that happiest German Shorthaired Pointer in the world. He couldn't wait to hit the yard and check on those quail. Gunther's drive to train immediately began to skyrocket. So Jim, Gunther and I began to meet on a weekly basis at a local dog-training site. We would often talk on the phone and discuss prior training, progress, concerns, and the next phases to the training program. This allowed us to develop an agenda prior to meeting, which enabled us to make valuable use of our time when in the field. Jim developed a way to simplify the training and make it fun!! He would break the training into phases. So while we were in the field, he would demonstrate the next phase. Then I would become the handler and Jim would critique me. We would go over this until I was comfortable and efficient. Our sessions would last about 45 minutes to and hour. And most importantly at the end, Gunther and I would go home together. Then throughout the week Gunther and I would train specifically on what we just learned. I was able to acquire some farmland for my training purposes. This one on one training with my companion was extremely effective in many ways. First and foremost it gave me the confidence to handle my dog in the field and at AKC events. Secondly, by training Gunther myself I began to know each and every once of his moves. This really worked to our advantage when competing. For example, I knew exactly when he was certain of his bird work, or what it would take to get him to honor another dogs point! Lastly and something I wouldn’t trade for anything in this world, is the relationship and bond that developed with Gunther and I. I now have a “best friend” who I can rely on no matter what. Gunther is the avid most competitive bird dog hunter that I dreamed of owning. He is a dream to handle, and we never come home empty handed!! As for AKC status, Gunther is unfortunately one leg shy of his Senior title. Due to some unforeseen personal events I had to step away from Gunther’s training program. We plan to get back on track in 2012!! So if you’re looking for a professional and one of a kind bird dog training experience look no further, contact Jim Birdsall and get ahead of the competition!

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I retired in 2004 and after much negotiating with my wife we decided to get a German Shorthaired Pointer.We picked her up in April of 2005 and knew right away we had our hands full. We named her Sadie. On one of my trips to the Vet he said I should contact Jim And Julie Birdsall to help with Sadie's training. I did. I started working with Jim on weekends at a DNR area in Maryland that has part of the land set aside for dog training. What a great time we had. I had never really thought about hunting Sadie and certainly had not thought entering her in any AKC events, but Jim was also the Hunt Test Chairman for the local GSP Club and said I really should consider it. Well Jim's tutoring was good for Sadie and me since his training methods were not harsh and always involved me and the dog. We entered the Junior hunt test in March of 2005 and she completed her Senior Level 2 Years later. I would highly recommend Jim and his training methods for any person that wants to be trained with their dog.
John Warren Secretary MDGSP Cub

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