What Owners Have to Say
For anyone requiring help with a hunting or trial dog, I would highly recommend Tom Gingher. Tom started my setter pup on basic fieldwork with pigeons and over several months broke the dog with a firm but gentle hand. Perhaps equally beneficial, Tom admitted my dog into his wild bird program which has only served to enhance my time in the field hunting over him. Tom is as honest as the day is long, and with no trial string of his own to work he can devote lots of personal attention to each dog as necessary. Give Tom a call, I’m glad I did.
— Dennis M., Sparta, NJ
I’ve owned bird dogs for 40+ years and have worked with a number of trainers. Tom is as good as you’ll find! His wild bird program is a unique and extremely valuable service. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Tom to anyone who wants a complete field training program or just a little help with a particular problem.
— Don S., Sunbury, PA
I am writing this as my show of respect and thanks for my friend, Tom. I don’t quite have enough time or the words to describe what I witnessed these past few days so I’ll summarize. I spent the last 3.5 days in Potter / Tioga County chasing grouse and woodcock with my cousin and our dogs. My 6 yr old Gracie went 100% on woodcock encountered and pointed every bird she found and I managed to scratch 1 down over her point on Monday.
But prior to gracie’s woodcock, I got to witness and handle what I think is a heck of dog. I say this not because it is mine but because a truly talented man whittled this dog into what it has become in just 2 short years. My Teddy handled and held nearly 75% of the grouse he encountered, having 4 broke finds. I’m talking about a dog slamming on point at first hint of scent and not moving. I am even more excited to see how things progress this season as this was Teddy’s first hunt. It was something to behold. I wish I could have knocked one down but we only were able to actually see 2 birds. Furthermore, I wish Tom was hunting with us to see his work.
I ended the trip with 13 grouse flushes and 10 woodcock with 1 woodcock bagged over a solid point.
To anyone looking for a highly talented dog trainer, seriously consider sending your dog to Knob Mountain Kennels in Bloomsburg, PA. Well worth it!
To conclude I offer my indebted gratitude to Tom Gingher at Knob Mountain Kennels for his genius in training dogs, for his friendship over the years and for the strength he exhibited at this time last year.
From the bottom of my heart, Thank you Tom!
— Eric M., Stowe, PA
Please allow me to add my thanks to Tom Gingher. I just came back from a week of hunting upland birds in Montana. My setter Lilly, a pupil of Tom Gingher, did a fantastic job. She pointed birds in fine style and held on running birds allowing me to keep up for the shot. I went 7 for 7 the first two days, thanks in part to my dog. I had serious worries about this dog at one point but after a few months with Tom, she is becoming a fine bird dog. Humbly Tom says the only thing different between he and I is a couple hundred dogs. I think it’s a little more than that.
— Lynn A., Bloomsburg, PA
Tom at Knob Mtn. Kennel. A guy couldn’t ask for a finer trainer. period.
I’m going to elaborate on that a little. Tom has spent months with my GSP, Molly. A few things that have pleased me to no end are….. Tom is honest. He isn’t going to tell you a whole bunch of sweet nothings that send you home thinking you’ve got PA’s ultimate brag dog. He is going to tell you the good, and work to maximize those things. But, he isn’t going to sugar coat the bad. He is going to tell you like it is. But, he will give all his effort to correcting the bad, if doable. Another thing, he has decades of training bird dogs professionally. He didn’t get into the business yesterday and come up with a few bogus ideas and theories to distinguish himself from the other pros. His decades in the world of birds, bird dogs, fellow trainers, trials, and dog owners, have formed the ideas and methods he stands by. Anything Tom says, he can back with countless stories of successes. True stories. Tom is also a hunter. Not all bird dog trainers are. In my opinion, you cant know bird dogs if you don’t have a very in depth knowledge of the birds you are molding those dogs to handle.
While my dog spends time at Knob Mountain, I call or email weekly to check in on my dog. I have always gotten a prompt and detailed response. I don’t always like the updates I get, (I would love to think that my dog doesn’t dig its heels in and try to buck Tom), but I always appreciate the fact that he has a game plan to work out the issue my dog is having. AND, above all else, I get results. I see measurable progress when my dog has been with Tom. Knob Mountain has seen train cars full of GSPs come through there. I wouldn’t think twice about calling up to Tom, and seeing what he has to say.
— Chris, Scranton, PA