Rivers Turn Kennel takes pride in our success stories.

July 20, 2007

I first met Gene Putnam at a Hunting Retriever Club (HRC) hunt test where I was handling my American Water Spaniel (AWS), Nappy Brown, in the Started class. Gene, being a Boykin man, was interested in a spaniel that looked like a Boykin, but wasn’t. Our conversation led to my asking Gene if he could further Nappy’s training. He said he could and that was the beginning of my relationship with Gene Putnam and Rivers Turn Kennel.

Nappy proved to be a quick learner and in a short time, he was taking hand signals and doing multiple marks. After steadying him on upland flushes, Nappy became the second AWS in history to earn a Master Hunter title through the American Kennel Club (AKC). He is now a complete hunting dog and my constant companion in the duck blind and the field. We still go back to Rivers Turn on a regular basis to visit and train, and Nappy, tail wagging, is always happy to see Gene.

Not only is Gene a superb dog trainer, he does a great job training his clients as well. Most people are clueless about how to get the most out of their dog. Gene spent days teaching me how to handle Nappy (or any other well trained dog) and for that, I am grateful.

After my, and Nappy’s experience with Gene, my wife, Lois decided to let him train Gurley, her female AWS. Gurley was the second AWS Gene had trained, or even seen. After 3-4 months, Gurley became the first female AWS to earn a HRCH title in HRC/UKC, the first, ever, AWS to earn a Master Hunter title in AKC and the top AWS, in the field, in the world. She accomplished all of this before she was 30 months old! We could never have achieved such goals without Gene Putnam’s help and guidance.

David McCracken
Sumter, SC

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