I'm the breeder behind Dog Ear Outfitters located in Isle, MN. Our dogs are not only proven in the hunt test arena but in the field as well. Many of our dogs guide at Dog Ear Lodge. We are located in Isle MN and guide near Winner SD in the heart of pheasant country where they see plenty of action. We hunt and hunt test all of our dogs. Mark is also an HRC Judge at the Finished and Seasoned level. We are always working toward a complete gundog. Dogs will keep you humble and always learning.
About Mark
I am an HRC Hunt text judge and Upland Guide at our Pheasant lodge in the heart of pheasant country. I enjoy running hunt test, judging, hunting, training, and fishing.
What makes Mark’s program special
Our dogs are not only titled and health tested, but they are also working dogs. Some of our dogs pickup 400 birds a season. We are producing pups out of proven hunters! These dogs go all day in the field and will lay in the lodge with our clients in the evening. That’s a good bird dog and companion! Trainability, temperament, & athleticism are all there!
Mark is a member of 4 clubs
Prairie Lakes Hunting Retriever Club, Hunting Retriever Club, Mt Rushmore HRC, Mount Rushmore AKC
Mark’s certifications & recognitions
Puppy Culture Breeder, AKC Breeder with H.E.A.R.T., HRC Judge
Mark has been certified by Good Dog's screening team for responsible and trusted breeding practices. When you're ready to reach out, feel free to ask any questions about the breed, their program, or specific puppies. You'll also have the chance to share a bit about yourself and what you're looking for in a new companion. Together, you'll choose the puppy that's right for you, stay in touch with regular updates, and plan how to bring your new puppy home.
Puppy prices range from $1,200 - $1,500 and include a non-refundable deposit of $500.
“Price includes first shots, vet check, microchip, ENS, introduced to wings and water, well socialized, and wormed at 2, 4, 6, & 8 weeks. Also Hip, elbow, & eye guarantees and breeder support. Deposits are $500 and only refunded in the event that your puppy is not born. Note: We can not control litter timelines.”
Mark may provide a written contract or health guarantee when you purchase a puppy. This helps protect both you and your breeder, ensuring that you both have a clear understanding of the terms of your puppy purchase. If Mark offers a contract or guarantee, the details will be personalized by them. If you have any questions or want to know more, don’t hesitate to reach out to Mark directly.
Our puppies are whelped and grow up the first four weeks in our bedroom where they are handled daily and a part of the family. Once they start food at 3.5 weeks we transition them to a larger play area. We have grandchildren then help us socialize as well as a family with kids that love the job! Our puppies are exposed to the vacuum, pots, & pans, tv, and all the noises of day to day activity. I utilize the following enrichment methods: Socialized with other animals, Introduced to people of different ages and appearances, Socialized with other dogs, Daily handling, Scent introduction, Socialized in new places, Socialized with children, Surface & tactile stimulation, Car rides, Various sounds, introduction to potty training, Manding, Bird Introduction, Introduction to crate training, Socialized with Cats, Socialized with Adult Dogs, Household Desensitization, Early Neurological Stimulation, Toys, e.g. Ball, Outdoors (when Weather permits), and Socialized with Children.
Vaccinations & worming starts w/making sure adult dogs are current. Worming our dams 2 weeks before whelping helps ensure that she is not passing things on to her pups. We give the Neopar Vax @ 4 weeks, for Parvo. Vet check @ 6 weeks to ensure no underlying issues where they are also given DAPP. We worm our pups at 2 & 4 weeks w/Pyrantel 6 & 8 weeks w/Panacur. We also do a fecal at the 6 wks.
We send our puppies home with Blanket with mom & littermates’ scent, Vet records, Registration, Microchip, Basic obedience & manners, Initial potty training, Puppy starter kit, Toys, Food & treats, AKC Registration, Blanket with Littermates Scent, Food Starter Bag, Microchip, Puppy Starter Kit, and Vaccinations.
Mark offers options to help you easily get your new puppy home.
If you’re nearby, you can visit in person to pick up your pup. If you’re far away, you can travel by car or plane.
Work with a trusted flight nanny or transporter to get your puppy comfortably dropped off at an airport or meeting point close to home.
Why Mark started breeding
I have always owned a good hunting dog. Once our kids were grown and gone it gave us more time to follow our passion for dogs. We have always focused on the family hunter and Labrador has always been our breed.
Mark is a Preferred Good Dog Breeder
Preferred Breeders are recognized for their quick replies and exceptional buyer support.
Mark has been a member of Good Dog for almost 5 years
Mark was screened for responsible practices and has been a member since 2020.
Mark’s program includes three colors
Mark’s Labrador Retriever puppies include black, chocolate, and yellow. Colors will vary depending on the parent dogs.
Dog Ear Outfitters meets or exceeds our community standards in these areas:
Labrador Retriever
Excellent level
Dog Ear Outfitters reports to performing the health tests below on their breeding dogs. Ask your breeder about the tests performed on the parents of your litter. Learn more about health testing for Labrador Retrievers.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip testing reduces the chance of passing down hip dysplasia, which is primarily found in large breed dogs and can cause hip pain and the eventual loss of the function of the hip joint.
Elbow Dysplasia Finals (OFA, BVA, SV, FCI)
Elbow testing reduces the chance of passing down elbow dysplasia, which is primarily found in large breed dogs and can cause arthritis in the elbow joint and front leg lameness.
Eye Certification (CAER, registered with OFA)
Eye testing reduces the chance of passing down a wide range of hereditary eye illnesses including retinal dysplasia, lens luxation, and glaucoma, which can cause impared vision or blindness.
Cardiac Evaluation (registered with OFA)
Heart testing reduces the chance of passing down congenital heart disease, which can cause a range of symptoms ranging from trouble exercising to heart failure.
Patellar Luxation
Knee testing reduces the chance of passing down Patellar Luxation, which results in the kneecap becoming displaced or dislocated and can cause mild to severe joint pain.
Brucellosis
A breeder may perform additional tests on their dogs that do not fall into these general categories. These tests may be more uncommon or very specific to a particular breed.
Retinal Dysplasia/Oculoskeletal Dysplasia 1 (RD OSD), PRA, Cone-Rod Dystrophy (PRA-crd), Standard Wirehaired Dachshund Type, Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC), Degenerative Myelopathy (DM; SOD1A), Skeletal Dysplasia (SD2), Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis (HNPK), PRA, Rod-Cone Degeneration (PRA-prcd), Centronuclear Myopathy (CNM), D Locus (Dilute) DNA test
Genetic testing reduces the chance of passing down a wide variety of hereditary diseases of differing prevalence and severity such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy (an eye disease) and Von Willebrand's Disease (a blood disease).