Basic Obedience
Clear communication at home and in the world. When the month wraps, we take the time for you to understand and use the same commands your dog knows—so the team holds when you leave the kennel.
Portsmouth, Ohio · Ohio River Valley
The best retriever for your family—and the blind.
Hurricane Ridge is a small kennel built on a bond between a boy and a dog. Ian trains your dog himself—so you always know who’s working them, and you always have a direct line when you need an update.
- One trainer: Ian
- Obedience → hunt tests
- Progress videos & real contact
Space is limited on purpose. Fewer dogs means more attention to the one that matters—yours.
Apply for training →About the kennel
Your dogs are family. We treat them that way.
Nestled in the hills of the Ohio River Valley—10 minutes east of Portsmouth, Ohio and 45 minutes southwest of Huntington, West Virginia—Hurricane Ridge exists to pass along the same bond that started it all.
The kennel is named after Ian’s first dog, Cane (registered Kelley’s Yellow Hurricane). Every road back to this place leads to a big yellow dog who fixed an itch for waterfowl and partnership.
We stay small on purpose. You won’t get a revolving door of trainers. You’ll get Ian—progress, roadblocks, and all—with a constant line of contact so you’re never guessing how your dog is doing.
About Ian
Nearly a decade of retrievers—amateur roots, pro results.
Ian Klingshirn owns and operates Hurricane Ridge Retrievers. He spent most of that decade as an amateur—training and handling his own dogs and dogs for close friends—before turning pro.
Professionally, he’s trained and handled for two of the most successful kennels in the hunt test world. He’s built, trained, and handled dogs successfully at every level of the game.
The spark started young: on a hunt around age ten, watching his uncle’s Labs, Kenzie and Jack, pick up a limit of geese. The shooting and decoys were cool—but the communication between dog and handler was the thing he couldn’t shake. He wanted a dog that worked with him at that level. Hurricane Ridge is that promise, handed forward.
Training services
From leash manners to Master-level marks
Whether you want a walk that doesn’t walk you—or a partner for the highest level of hunt tests—we build the path for both of you.
Basic Gundog
Build memories in the duck blind or goose pit instead of leaving your dog home—or worrying they’ll ruin a buddy’s hunt. Marked retrieves, fetch on command, and the first steps of blind retrieves.
Advanced Gundog
Sharper marking, land and water blinds beyond the basics, and polish on everything already learned. No fixed minimum—timeline matches how finished a hunting machine you want.
Competitive Gundog
Hunt tests under AKC (Junior / Senior / Master) and UKC (Started / Seasoned / Finished). Questions welcome. If you want us to handle your dog at events, a per-event handling fee applies.
Same standard for every dog
Obedience or hunt test—every dog under the Hurricane Ridge umbrella gets the same quality and professionalism. They’re treated like our own.
Reviews
Handlers who trust the work
“I dropped off my lab (Gunner) for six months of gun dog training. Ian was professional, easy to reach, sent lots of progress videos, and taught me how to run him too. He improved my dog’s skills—and mine as a handler.”
Austin MeltonGunner · 6-month gundog
“I dropped my lab off just shy of six months old. Ian kept me updated, answered questions, and welcomed me to train alongside him. I ran my first hunt tests—junior title and a senior pass. He builds dogs that love to hunt, cooperate, and obey. More important: he’s someone you can trust.”
Ryan CochenetJunior title · Senior pass
Owners come for titles and stay for the partnership—progress videos, honest updates, and a trainer who still cares about the person on the other end of the leash.
What owners tell usCommon thread across placements
Ian’s personal dogs
The ones who built the place
Cane
Kelley’s Yellow Hurricane
The scratch that fixed the itch. With guidance from mentor Tierra Sloan, Ian and Cane became a solid team in the field and hunt test arena. Despite early mistakes, Cane became a Master Hunter and veteran duck dog—passing tests and picking up waterfowl across a dozen states. All roads lead back to a big yellow dog named Cane.
Annie
“Alligator Annie”
Ian’s second personal dog—campaigning for Master National and HRC International Grand. The nickname is intensity: she never turns down work, same dog every day, one-track mind at turbo speed. An intense runner who defines consistency under pressure.
Application
Reserve a spot for your dog
Tell us about your dog and goals. Ian will follow up if there’s a fit and availability. Space stays limited so training quality doesn’t slip.
- Direct contact with Ian throughout training
- Progress updates and video when it matters
- Handler education so skills stick at home
(740) 352-4469
Ian@HRRetrievers.com
Portsmouth, Ohio area
Ohio River Valley