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Bird Dog Training for Hunt Tests & Field Trials

Private and group training to help you and your dog prepare for NAVHDA, AKC, and real hunting situations. Located in central North Carolina.

What I Offer

Private Training

One-on-one, hands-on training tailored to your dog and your timeline. If you have a young dog, start off on the right foot with proper bird introduction and gun acclimation. If you need help getting your dog steadied or retrieve trained, we can do that, too.

Group bird dog training in North Carolina

Group Training

Structured group sessions that allow you to learn alongside others in a supportive environment. It’s always helpful to watch others train and see how they handle different situations.

Virtual Coaching

Can’t train in person? I offer virtual coaching sessions tailored for pointing breed dog owners, designed to help you excel in hunt tests and field trials. We’ll identify where to start, set achievable goals, and navigate your training with support.

My Story

Zara is my 12-year-old Hungarian vizsla. When we first got Zara as a puppy, my husband and I had no intention of training her for hunting. When Zara was two years old, I entered her in a Junior Hunter Test at her breeder’s encouragement. With little training, she did exceptionally well and I found myself amazed watching her natural ability. Soon after, I decided that I wanted to train her to a more advanced level and that began a long journey that has taken me places I never imagined. Thanks to her, I’ve become passionate about all things related to performance dogs, hunting, and dog sports.

I found it really difficult in the beginning to find good resources.  My goal is help people new to the hunt test/field trial world figure out the best way forward with their dog so you can be successful and enjoy seeing your dog do what it was bred for.

Terry Ann and Zara after hunting

Client Reviews

Posted on Google Google
ray summerville profile picture
ray summerville
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We discussed my needs and put together a strategic plan for my vizsla as I just wanted to focus on hunting/pointing. Terry Ann put together a great plan that we followed to help my 7month old puppy. As I've never had a pointer she trained me as well ha ha to plenty of additional advice on collars the breed personalities - just priceless information to a Lab owner. The sessions we run very well with my puppy(and I) absorbing the material each time. Terry Ann would then follow up with videos and an email detailing what was covered per session. So now I have a log of her development process again invaluable data to reference if needed. Highly recommend her as a trainer. Well worth the price - really she should charge more for what she provides. I signed up for the 3 session plan - highly recommend that as a starting ping for new pointer owners.
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Ginger R profile picture
Ginger R
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I highly recommend Terry Ann highly for anyone looking to have fun with your bird dog. There is so much to learn when entering this sport but thanks to Terry Ann there are now many ways to get help – from her podcasts, to books, to calls, to her website – and her group or one-on-one training sessions - all are great! She is very supportive and has an open-minded approach so that she can figure out where each dog and handler is in their development and training style, so it is comfortable and fun! Thanks to Terry Ann’s encouragement I have had a blast preparing for and competing in hunt tests and field trials. I am grateful that she is NC!
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Graham Rountree profile picture
Graham Rountree
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I worked with Accidental Bird Dog (Terry Ann) on introduction to both gunfire and birds with my ESS. While her focus is on pointing breeds a lot of the same fundamentals apply to my flushing dog at this stage and I really needed to see how he would take to both. Over the course of 3 lessons she slowly ensured my dog was comfortable with loud gunfire and helped build drive with pigeons and quail. By the final session we were locating and flushing quail, and retrieving after being shot. Throughout the process she took time to explain her methods, she took videos for me and provided detailed notes to recap each session. Both my dog and I learned a great deal!
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Michelle Nolan profile picture
Michelle Nolan
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Terry Ann is an incredible coach! She is thoughtful in her approach and clearly explains her training methods. I have benefitted from her knowledge as a new bird dog enthusiast! I highly recommend her for your bird dog training needs!
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Wilma Baker profile picture
Wilma Baker
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Terry Ann has been a huge help with assisting me train my Vizsla, Gunner, for hunt tests, initially with coaching calls, then adding a customized remote weekly training plan with scheduled step by step training exercises which helped to keep me on track with training. We also did an intensive 3 day in-person steadiness training on birds with Terry Ann which was a huge success in achieving the desired results. She is very personable, easy to work with, and I'm looking forward to continued training with Terry Ann.
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Kelsea Peace profile picture
Kelsea Peace
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I’ve been working with Terry Ann for almost 3 years now and I can’t recommend her services enough! I have a 3 year old GSP (Elsa) and through virtual coaching, group classes and private lessons we went from complete beginners to recently placing 1st in an AKC Open Gun Dog field trial. During that time Elsa also made her way through the NAVHDA Natural Ability test, the AKC Junior Hunter Test and puppy/derby level field trials. Terry Ann has been an incredible resource and I’m looking forward to continuing to work with her on more advanced skills in the coming year!
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Staci Banks profile picture
Staci Banks
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Terry Ann really helps in a calming and supportive way. I had a lot of training points I needed for my Brittany and Terry Ann has been helpful and supportive throughout the entire way. She regularly offers tips and training advice without overstepping into someone’s training methods and provides a lot of clear insight into hunting with your dog and testing with your dog.
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