About Epps Kennels
Epps Kennels is located about 22 miles North of Reno, Nevada,
just off Hwy 395 in Long Valley, California and is run by Walter and Steve Epps.
Since 1951, we've bred, raised, trained and campaigned pointers
and retrievers from coast to coast. To date, we have trained and finished 2
AKC National Champions, 2 AKC Dual Champions, over 40 AKC
Field Champions, and approximately 3,900 placements in registered AKC Field Trials.
Unfortunately, we never tracked the number of gundogs we trained
over the years, but a conservative estimate is over 2,000.
Epps Kennels is dedicated to training and breeding pointers and retrievers for the future. For over 60 years we've established a foundation of training standards, methodologies, and processes built upon extensive experience. We've collaborated with, and competed against, the very best professional Bird Dog trainers in North America. We have studied and documented the behavioral patterns in dogs, including psychology, physiology, instinct, intelligence, temperament, desire, conformation, genetic characteristics, ability to smell, ability to wind birds, style and overall natural ability to hunt. Collectively, we have built a significant "tool box" to reach into to ensure the right method and approach is used to bring out the most in each and every dog.
The kennel and training facility was many years in the planning and was carefully designed to provide the ultimate Gundog and Competition training environment for pointers and retrievers.
The Training Kennel:
- The kennel was designed with 30 indoor/outdoor runs
- 10 outdoor exercise pens that range from 20’x20’ to 40’x40
- Has forced air heating in the winter and is naturally cool at 5,000 feet elevation in the summer
- The sound system plays music with a beat of about 60 beats per minute to help new dogs adapt to the environment and helps to keep all of the dogs calm and more relaxed
- The kennel was specifically located on a hillside so that the dogs in training would have a vantage point to watch others dogs perform their field and water work
- There are solid walls between each kennel to ensure no aggression between dogs can occur. The front of each kennel is open with a view of the training facility
The Training Facility:
- Two custom lakes were built for Retriever Field Trial work and advanced Gundog training, with a bridge, two channels, a point and a full keyed dam
- Both lakes have managed tulles, willows and other habitat
- Cover is planted and designed for natural hunting conditions
- The bottom land between the lakes is planted Orchard Grass, Clover and Great Basin Wild Rye with full irrigation
- Natural and planted hunting objectives, including sage hedge rows, sage and Great Basin Wild Rye patches, planted and maintained in gullies, ridge tops and flats
- We used heavy equipment to contour rolling hills and gully’s to provide stages and setups for honoring, handling the wind, running birds, blind retrieves and other key training objectives
- California Valley Quail are prevalent in the valley and Chukar in the ridges that surround the facility
- Bob White Quail and Chukar pens are designed to allow coveys to home and therefore they can be used over and over again, providing more covey experiences for the dogs.
Walt and Steve
Walt and Steve live on site and kennel is open 7 days a week by appointment, except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Walter and Steve take reservations for training, generally no more than 10 Gun dogs 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!
We're always available to take your calls and help any way they can.
We appreciate your interest in Epps Kennels
and encourage you to contact us with any questions you might
have.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Steve: (775) 354-3996
