Russell MacLennan

Russell MacLennan is a respected bird dog breeder, trainer and upland hunting guide. He began his amateur training career in 1989 with a black lab named Buddy. Since then he has trained all breeds of sporting dogs and their owners for performance in the field and basic obedience in the home.

Russell is no stranger to competition, at age 14 he competed in the Colorado Pheasant Hunting Championships, hosted by Pheasants Forever. Along with the help of Sir Hershey of Surrey and Delery Guillory they won top honors. Since, Russell has trained for, and competed in a variety of competitions including:

  • National Bird Dog Challenge Association
  • A.K.C. hunt tests and horseback trials
  • A.P.L.A. qualifiers and many local hunting trials
  • Russell and his dog “Boo” own the record for the fastest time set in the Colorado Open Pheasant Hunting Championships. In 1997, Russell and “Boo” completed a six pheasant run in less than 5 minutes, posting one of the highest scores ever.

Russell was born with a gift to understand dogs and the patience to teach their owners.

Contact Russell at: russ@valhallahuntclub.com

Available by appointment only

Russell MacLennan - Dog Trainer at Valhalla Kennels and Gun Dogs

“A dog is man’s best friend! So why can parrots talk?”

No Gimmicks… Just Results.

At Valhalla our training program focuses on consistently turning out exceptional bird dogs. Obviously the natural talent of every dog varies but our trainers work to bring out the best in every client and the goal is to deliver a hunting companion that is confident in the field and is responsive to the handler.

How does Valhalla define a well-trained bird dog?

Over 40 years of combined training experience 20 years of a dedicated training program has put Valhalla’s program is a nationally recognized training program that has set the standard in consistently producing the ultimate upland bird dog. Our professional staff focuses on providing the ultimate experience for both dog and owner. Producing a bird dog that you can brag about at the end of the hunt.

Trainers take great pride in the level of training that dogs have upon leaving one of our programs and are passionate about providing results for every owner.

What makes a successful experience at Valhalla? Expectations and education.

First let’s start with an evaluation. Gauge exactly where your dog’s skill set is and give a realistic set of expectations for the program.

Education – you’ve invested in your dog’s education now it’s time to learn how to handle. Training the dog is only half the battle. Becoming proficient in your handling and correction of the dog in the field/home is the other half of the equation. When these two things come together in the field it makes for that quintessential hunting experience.

Trust, Expectations, and Education

These three fundamentals have been the foundation of our training program for the past 20 years.

We recognize that you are entrusting us with more than a dog. Our clients consider their dogs to be members of their family and want the best care and training available. At Valhalla we have a staff of dedicated kennel professionals take that trust seriously and are passionate about making sure every dog is safe, happy, and healthy. Our full time training staff take pride in every dog that leaves the program and have the highest of standards in the dogs they graduate.

For the best results in any of our training programs it’s essential to have well communicated and realistic expectations. An evaluation prior to starting a training program ensures that everyone knows the goals and the approximate timeframe. What you expect out of your bird dog and determining your dog’s existing skill set are the first steps at Valhalla.

The trainers have worked hard at developing your dog into a hunting machine. Now it’s your turn. Take advantage of over 40 years of combined training knowledge and learn the art of handling a bird dog. Confidently controlling, correcting, and trusting your dog in all situations is the ultimate goal of the Valhalla Gun Dog School of Excellence Program.