Mark Van Zee
Lincoln, NE
BACKGROUND
Mark owns and operates Drake Creek Kennels in Lincoln, NE. A retriever training kennel with a focus on Hunt Test level retrievers & waterfowl hunting dogs. He started training retrievers in high school where he hunted waterfowl along the Front Range of the Colorado Rockies. His passion for retrievers & the sport of waterfowling sparked his interest in field trials and hunt test level retrievers.
After a successful career as an amateur handler running his own dogs, he branched out into training dogs for clients. He currently competes in both AKC & HRC/UKC Hunt Tests & will participate in the odd field trial. He's also the President of the Salt Valley Hunting Retriever Club, Vice President of the Nebraska Dog & Hunt Club, and a AA Finished Level Judge in the HRC.
WHY I USE SPORTDOG BRAND
I use SportDOG Brand 'cause of how tough and reliable the product is. This, along with their top-notch customer service, makes 'em a no-brainer choice!
FAVOURITE PRODUCTS
My favourite product is the SD-2525. It's the perfect training collar with its wide range in stimulation levels that can be easily adjusted on the fly while training. And the 'quick buttons' for high, medium & low allow me to quickly choose a stimulation level I need immediately without mucking about with a dial.
Websites
https://www.drakecreekkennels.com/Other Senior Prostaff
Justin Beall
I started my training career in high school, chucking birds for a field trial trainer, little did I know that he was leading me on the path to my future. I've been training dogs now for the past 7 years, but I've been around dogs me whole life...
Ethan Kimmince
Ethan began his career in the zoo-keeping industry, spending nine years as a tiger handler at Australia Zoo. His expertise extends beyond big cats, having worked in Canada with bears, wolves, and cougars. After leaving the zoo world, he founded Wolf Within Dog Training, applying his deep understanding of animal behaviour, operant conditioning, and training science. In just five years, Wolf Within has become one of Queensland’s top-rated dog training companies, renowned for helping owners build stronger, more harmonious relationships with their beloved pets.
Mitch Watson
Mitch is a highly experienced dog trainer with over 20 years in the industry. A former Police Dog Handler and ex-RSPCA Inspector specialising in animal cruelty investigations, he has dedicated more than a decade to domestic dog training. His expertise spans security dogs, assistance dogs, and therapy dogs, earning him recognition as a preferred trainer for numerous dog rescue organisations.
