Our History

E-Z’s Midnight Serenade 

MH WCX-1999

Master National Qualifier

Trained, handled and

dearly loved by Kim

From the very beginning our goal has been to operate a first class, high quality breeding, showing and training facility. Turtle Creek is a full time, professional sporting dog business that is owned and operated by Kim Trafton.

Turtlecreek's philosophy is that breeds were developed to perform behaviors and sporting dogs should have the opportunity to put their structure to correct use, and a well rounded retriever should have the chance to retrieve. A well rounded spaniel should get the chance to flush. We mustn't forget to give our dogs a chance to do what their cells tell them they were born to do!

Training a fine dog is a wonderful accomplishment, and we don't go at it without realizing what a thing of beauty it is to have the sort of dog-handler teamwork which ends in  a well-executed retrieve.  We also  recognize that there has never been a dog who could retrieve perfectly each time out and  under all conditions. A  good dog comes to you with tractability, courage, drive, relationship skills and a small amount of built-in instinctual behavior which can be developed by hard work and repetition. We love the dogs we work with, and enjoy discovering each dog's special talents- one might have a great nose, a different dog have a better mouth, or bird interest. In any case, each dog has a skill to build on, and it is a wonderful way to earn a living.

Kim personally oversees all aspects of the operation of the

training facility, and personally accomplishes the training of

all dogs. Things like kennel maintenance, website updates

and bird throwing are hired out to folks trained in Kim's

method .  Kim has 20 +years of experience in training

retrievers, showing in conformation and training all breeds

for obedience.  She also has several years of experience as

an upland hunting guide and training bird dogs to round out

the program. She has a hired part-time trainer and limits the

number of client dogs so that each individual dog  can be

trained to their full potential and the desires of the owner. 

Her approach is simple; repetition and lots of birds.

Turtlecreek Sporting Dogs offers training and titling for all

sporting dog breeds.

We offer Breed Specific Working Certificate,

AKC Hunt Tests (Pointers and Retrievers) and HRC tests. 

We also enjoy training dogs for personal gun dog use.

Turtlecreek offers pet obedience training and titling for

AKC Obedience trials for all breeds.  With over 25

combined years' experience in raising, training

and competing with sporting breeds Kim and crew have the

expertise to provide you with a great companion.  Backed by

a  tremendous amount of experience in professional dog training,

we are able to objectively evaluate our own litters and prospective

breeding stock, and the occasional litter is a natural offshoot of the training program.

We began raising Labrador Retrievers in 1990, Golden Retrievers in 2002. Naturally, only  the dogs that pass our standards for natural hunting ability, physical soundness, temperament and conformation are bred, and we rarely have more than a litter every other year at Turtlecreek.

©  2008 Kim Trafton  - Turtle Creek Sporting Dogs   All rights reserved.                                                                               WebDesignbyBob.com

"It's not just a passion...  It's an Obsession"

Kim Trafton

Visits are scheduled 24 hours in advance and preferably on Mondays

478-763-2053

478-299-3815