About Strickland's Kennels


Reload and Ryan

Ryan Strickland and Reload

In 1990, I started training retrievers. First I used books and videos to train my own dogs. Then in 1994, I became a bird boy for Mr. Bob Reckart of Amberwood Kennels in OH. I worked as an associate trainer and bird boy for Mr. Reckart until he was in an unfortunate vehicle accident in October of 2008. 

Mr. Reckart maintains a web site at www.amberwoodkennels.net. 

After 5 years of throwing birds and bumpers for Mr. Reckart, he let me run his older, more experienced dogs to teach me how to properly run a finished retriever. After a couple of years of this type of training, I learned the art of Force Fetching and other retriever handling skills which I still use today as a professional trainer. Over the years I became skilled in new techniques of training for different types of behaviors that a retriever needs to be a good companion and hunting partner. Since 2004, I have devoted all my training to my own clients. You can visit my Referral page and call any of our listed clientel. All have agreed to have their name and number shown.

I am an avid outdoorsman, and I enjoy all types of hunting. Most of my hunting excursions involve chasing after waterfowl with a retriever. My personal hunting dogs are Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. I do enjoy hunting for deer, doves, and turkeys as well. I am also an AKC Judge for Retriever Hunt Test. I work as a full time police officer with the Kenansville Police Department and a part time reserve Captain with the Beulaville Police Department.  


Josh and Reload

Josh Batchelor and Tar
Josh Batchelor began working for Strickland's Kennels nearly 4 years ago. Initially, he came looking for help training his older hunting dog and looking for a puppy which we all know now as Tar. 

Josh helps out with the basic obedience training, collar conditioning, and force fetching for Strickland's Kennels. He has also trained dogs to an AKC Senior level.. I taught Josh everything I know about retriever training from being a bird boy to running a finished Master Hunter. Josh is also an AKC Hunt Test Judge. He has run and passed dogs at all levels of the AKC hunt test program, including Junior, Senior, and Master levels. Josh has also worked with Danny & Peggy Ramsey of Steelshot Retrievers.