The Epps family has been training dogs for over 60 years now.
Walter started his life-long dream of training dogs with a wonderful
German Shorthaired Pointer named Meister Schau Speiler that he
showed and trained. For the first forty years of the Epps
family professional careers, the kennel was named Schau Speiler
Kennels. Walter started training Gundogs professionally and naturally
progressed into AKC and American Field Trials. Walter’s first two field
trial dogs were German Shorthair Pointers named Ranger and Bo-Boy.
In his first field trial, Ranger placed 4th in his first AKC Limited
All Age stake and All Age stake, qualifying him for the AKC
National. Bo-Boy was Walter's first entry in the AKC National Futurity
and captured 2nd place.
I Meister Schau Speiler I Bo-Boy I Flash Von Stauffenberg I
Walter got a dog in training named Flash Von Stauffenberg. He had been worked by at least 3 other professional trainers that couldn’t break him. In 1960, Walter was able to break Flash and finish him as AKC Field Champion. Lou Prentice, Flash’s owner, had this wonderful plaque created for Walter’s effort and skill in doing what others said couldn’t be done. Taking in dogs that others said couldn't be trained soon became a challenge and a success he would repeat again and again.
Walter's first professional kennel was named "Schau Speiler Kennels" and established near Pittsburg California. Walter and his very patient wife, Mona, began raising 3 sons, Steve, Paul and Bruce and running the kennel full time. The boys were indoctrinated into the world of raising, training and competing dogs from an early age.
I Walter with his 3 sons and AKC NFC Moesgaard's Angel I Steve and Schau at a Field Trial I
In 1963, Walter achieved another major milestone in his training career, by winning the AKC National with Moesgaard’s Angel. Angel was inducted into the GSPCA Hall of Fame in 1987.
As Walter finished more and more AKC Field Champions, he also reached out to help the Pittsburg Police force with their German Shepherds. He gave them force retrieving, enhanced obedience, and trained them to track missing children.
During the late 60’s, Walter and family moved to Grizzly Island, CA. They trained gundogs, ran major AKC Field Trail circuits and ran a large Pheasant and Duck club. Here, the kennel was expanded and Steve, the oldest son, began training and handling professionally. Throughout the 60’s, Walter continued to finish more Field Champions, place in the AKC Nationals and expand the number of States where actively competed.
I Grizzly Island Kennel I Walter & AKC National Futurity winner Judy Von SchnellbergI
In 1968, Walter hit another major milestone by winning the AKC National Futurity with Judy Von Schnellberg.
Soon, Walter and family moved to Elk Grove, California where the kennel grew and they focused 100% on training gundogs and competing in Field Trials across the nation. Here, Steve was training, handling and scouting a full string of field trial dogs and Paul learned to give obedience, retrieving and general gundog work as well as scouting for Walter and Steve in field trials.
While in Elk Grove, Steve finished his first AKC Field Champion, Teena of Heidelberg. Helen Case, Teena’s owner, ran a full page in the German Shorthaired Pointer News that read:
A BOY & A DOG – A MAN & A FIELD CHAMPION
……Steve and Teena started out together when he was in High School and she was a puppy. Four years later, a young professional finished his first Field Champion… They did it one step at a time – Puppy, Derby, Open – each gaining confidence, experience, and the respect of judges and fellow trailers, Pro, and amateur, as they progressed.
……She finished with a 5-point Major in Limited All Age at Big Sky GSPC Trial in April 1974, just past her fourth birthday, her other win in open was five-points in Open Gun Dog at Bay area Weimaraner Club Trial in 1973 – So with Puppy & Derby Points, she earned 14 Championship Points, real proof of First-Class Handling and performance. ……I don’t know of whom I’m most proud – Steve or Teena – but as long as a hard-working dedicated boy and a beautiful, eager, young bitch can take on all comers and make it to the top, the sport of Field Trialing is on the right track.
……Thank you Steve and Teena
Helen B. Case
As Walter and Steve placed many more dogs in the AKC Nationals, AKC Futurity’s, American Field and finished more Field Champions, their Field Trial strings and the number of Trials they competed in continued to grow significantly. They campaigned coast to coast and border to border in AKC and American Field Trials. In order to keep up with the expanding number of dogs and the extended trips, they had a 5th wheel trailer custom built that held 2 horses, tack, up to 48 dogs and living quarters for Walter and Steve to live in and compete from.
The gundog training was also expanding. Walter and sons were training all breeds of hunting dogs including Brittanys, Setters, Shorthairs, Pointers, Wirehairs, Weimaraners, Vizslas, Labrador and Golden retrievers. As the business expanded, gundogs and Field Trial dogs began to come in from Mexico and Europe.
Walter and Paul began expanding into AKC Retriever Field Trials, which led to construction of a lake and further development of the 10 acre training grounds in Elk Grove.
In just a few years, all 3 sons began training full time and it was once again time to expand the size of the kennel and the training facilities. Walter and family moved about 22 miles North of Reno, Nevada, just off Hwy 395 in Long Valley, California, where they live and train today. The property was chosen for its terrain, tranquility, location and access to almost limitless training grounds in California and Nevada.
The kennel and training facility was designed to provide the ultimate Gundog and Competition training environment for pointers and retrievers.
To date, the Epps family has trained and finished 2 AKC National Champions, 2 AKC Dual Champions, American Field Champions, over 40 AKC Field Champions, and more than 3,900 placements in registered AKC Field Trials.
Top: Mikio Tochioka & Family with FC
Biff's Mark Von Schau Speiler I Dual Champion Schatzi's Eric Von Greif
Bottom: Steve & Silverado Sam at an American Field Trial
I Dual Champion Big Island Sass-A-Frass
As time progressed, Walter and Steve eventually transitioned from the extensive travel and horse-back handling on the AKC Field Trial circuit to training competitive dogs for Amateur handlers in both AKC and the National Bird Dog Circuit (BDC) events. Keeping up with changing times they decided to rename the kennel from Schau Speiler Kennels to Epps Kennels.
Take a look at our Client Photo Gallery to see their many outstanding accomplishments!
Walt and Steve live on site and are open 7 days a week by appointment, except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Walter and Steve take reservations for training, generally no more than 10 Gundogs each at any one time. This limit ensures they can spend quality time and bring out the maximum potential in your dog.
When training is done for the day, Walt and Steve work on
their
strategic breeding program based on over 60 years studying
bloodlines and genetics. They study pedigrees, collaborate
with others, and track AKC, American Field and BDC results to
understand the results of other breeding programs, always
working towards the next great litter of pups!
If you have any questions or comments, please give us a call anytime!
Steve: 775.354.3996