Upland Bird Dog: Jerry Lewis

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Professional bird dog trainer, Jerry Lewis, owns and operates Horizon Kennels in Sedan, Kansas. Jerry became interested in bird dogs when he saw his first field trial in 1955. The trial was held in Firebaugh, CA. He was an avid field trial amateur and was instrumental in forming the West Coast Shooting Dog Championship initially hosted by the Central Coast Bird Dog Club. He was also president of AFTCA Region 11 for two years. He spent five summers in Youngstown, Alberta in Canada with both Richie and Richard Roberston before turning professional in 1990. Jerry also visited and worked with Bill West in Arnett, Ok. He has learned how to train and handle bird dogs from some of the best trainers in the country.

Jerry knows both sides of the bird dog business; as an amateur and as a professional trainer. He knows what clients want in their bird dogs, be it field trials or bird hunting. In 1992, Jerry moved to Sudan, Kansas where his Horizon Kennel is situated in prime bird habitat. Jerry currently works both field trial dogs and hunting dogs. Horizon Kennels can house 40 dogs comfortable. From his kennel, Jerry can ride on horse back or walk to run field trial or hunting dogs on 2,500 acres of prime upland game country. The training ground is composed of prairie grass, tree lines, creeks and cattle ponds. Bird dogs are exposed to wild birds and on good flying Johnny House quail. It doesn't take long before dogs are running through the country and into the water to cool off, especially during the summer months.

Jerry is the president of the Sunflower Shooting Dog Field Trial Association. The club host the Sunflower Open Shooting Dog Championship, along with several other stakes. The Sunflower is one of the major shooting dog trials in the Midwest where it is not unusual to have 60 dogs or more competing.

Currently, Jerry is to judge the 2002 US Chicken Championship in Solon Spring, Wisconsin, the All-American Shooting Dog Championship in North Dakota and the Region 11 Amateur All Age Championship.

Jerry has won numerous American Field Championships. His first champion was Cherokee Express Jim, a Pointer. Others include, Champion See Johnny Run, 7 X Champion On The Horizon, Champion Out of Touch, Champion Horizon Abbey Crockett, Champion Juk Box Junkie, 3 X Champion Crockett New Horizon, as well as others. For more information regarding Horizon Kennels and Jerry Lewis, please call (620) 725-Dogs.