Testimonials

Soggy Bottom Retrievers

Over the years I've had the pleasure of working with several fine gun dog
trainers.  I have learned from them all and appreciate their talent.  
Through that process and experience I have taken a little form each one
to blend my own style.  Simply stated, it is an evolving ideology that our
working gun dogs are best prepared to excel in the field with the correct
balance of breeding, training, nutrition, experience and care.

Eric Sutton of Soggy Bottom Retrievers embodies that philosophy and is
exactly what I look for in a professional trainer.  I have found that Eric’s
experience and knowledge as a retriever trainer are tremendously
complemented by: his willingness to listen to his client’s expectations, an
understanding of the situation from a hunter’s perspective and his
commitment to presenting an objective, realistic and honest assessment.  
Eric’s success is rooted in his ability to communicate effectively with both
the dogs and with their owners and is enhanced by his approachable
nature, level headed personality and businesslike manner.

Ian Carnegie
Austin, TX

Dear Eric,

I've had the pleasure of growing up with dogs in my life for as long as I
can remember.  But I have to tell you that after having Sugar under your
training supervision I must say, I’m overwhelmed.  The expertise and
knowledge you bring to the table when it comes to training has left my
family and I with the deepest regard for what you do.  The time you spent
to not only get Sugar trained to the level we hoped for but to also insure
we were properly prepared to take our pet home as a well behaved
member of the family was more than we could have dreamed of.  I
believe that in a field of great dog trainers, what you do and how you do
it places you in a small group of what I would consider experts.  

My family and I cannot thank you enough for what you have done for us
and Sugar.  Not to mention what I've see you do with other dogs at your
facility.  Truly awesome to say the least.

All the best,

Brad Marshall
Pflugerville, TX

Our goal was to have a well-trained family dog that was proficient with
bird hunting.  Eric did a great job of teaching and making learning fun for
our lab.  Now we have a great family member that obeys us, as well as
enjoys hunting.

Doug & Judy Moss
Austin, TX

My wife and I just wanted you to know how happy we were with the work
you did with our dog Lily.  The quality of training she received was
excellent and we have been very impressed with the results.  I also
appreciated the fact that she completed her training in less time than we
originally expected.  This saved us money and confirmed to us that we
made the right choice in a trainer we can trust.  I have enjoyed many
hunts with Lily and thoroughly enjoyed watching her skills in the field.  My
wife is pleased that she can still have her sweet house dog.  Lily makes
the transformation from house pet to great hunting companion and back
with ease.

Thanks again for your great work with Lily.  I will happily recommend your
training to my friends.  Please feel free to use us as a reference.

Eric and Lynn Rome

My quest for a good dog started after my fourth lab “Apache” was put
down with cancer at 13 years of age.  Apache was a great hunting dog
but that was where it stopped.  He was out of the Osama bin Laden line
that most hunters get dogs from.  Apache was the most expensive free
dog in history.  The biggest ticket items included five privacy fences, an
antique baby carriage, and a paint job on a neighbors Volvo.  Needless
to say, I trained Apache myself and he was “great retriever”.  He would
retrieve any bird at any distance, but would only bring it back if he was
not hungry.  He would break at every shot and had an unusually bad
habit of knocking the shotgun out of my hands when there was no
action.  

My quest for the ultimate hunting partner started with a dog named
Bowie (FC Colonel Bowies Revenge).  I promised the breeder I would
take him as far as he could go in Field Trials, knowing full well that most
dogs wash out early.  Bowie started winning, and I was still picking up my
own ducks.  I eventually sold Bowie and continued my quest.  I acquired
Crockett 2 years ago, and I think it was the first dog Eric trained in
Giddings.  From the start I knew he would make an excellent pet but he
could not swim.  Who ever heard of a lab that cannot swim?  I was sure I
was snake bit again.  

I turned him over to Eric and the rest is sweet hunting history.  Eric
worked wonders for Crockett.  Crockett’s temperament is passive and I
knew that heavy-handed training would ruin him for good.  I knew that
was not Eric’s style in our first meeting.  Crockett is a smart dog from a
great line (FC-AFC Creek Robber) but Eric’s work is what did it.  At every
visit, Crockett was swiftly becoming a hunting machine.  Eric also spent
the time necessary teaching me how to handle the dog.  I have
recommended Eric to my friends and family, and more importantly, my
hunting buddies.  You cannot get a higher recommendation than that.  
Last year was Crockett’s first full year, and we made at least twenty
hunts.  We usually hunt two dog blinds because so many people in our
camp have dogs.  He did great.  His obedience is impeccable, even to
the point of a first year hunting dog honoring another dog’s retrieve.  It
would be a pleasure and an honor to be a reference for your work.  

Sincerely,

Mitchell Srack