Tom Gingher has lived in central Pennsylvania, in the same house for all his life. He’s had hunting dogs for most off his life. As a kid his Dad had beagles and they hunted rabbits. Tom’s uncle had English Pointers and the bird dogs always interested Tom. In 1959 when Tom was 13, he hunted grouse with a friend whose father had a Brittany. It was a thrill for Tom and did they find birds. A short time later Tom had the chance to hunt pheasants with a setter and found himself instantly loving that dog. Two years later in 1961 Tom had his own and he’s never been without since.
In 1970 Tom graduated from Bloomsburg University with a BA in English Literature, a pre-requisite he says, for all bird dog trainers. Over the next ten years Tom ran a family TV and Appliance business and after seven of those began working for Joe Cannon, a noted bird dog trainer of the day. Over the next three years Tom turned pro as he began making money training and winning trials. By this time in 1980 with the appliance business driving Tom crazy, Cannon convinced him into turning pro and Tom never looked back.
Tom was running dogs in Grouse trials and walking shooting dog trials and in ’83 or ’84 to around 1990 was secretary of the Pennsylvania Grouse Trial Club and the Pennsylvania Grouse Championship. In 2000, Tom ran two dogs again that earned Seminatore points, one Sweet Hollow Daisy for Phil Gould, and also did the early development on Sweet Hollow Babe. She went on to win, the Fruchey Classic for Scott Chaffee.
In 2001 Tom retired but in 2004 rebuilt Knob Mountain Kennel and started training again and in the spring of 2011 ran some puppies and is considering running one or two all age dogs this fall. Tom says, We’ll see about that.