Growing up in the South East Arkansas farming community of McGehee, Arkansas, Keith Allison's love for duck hunting and dogs did not come along until later in life, but the seed was sown at an early age.
Keith began training retrievers in 1997, but his love of working dogs came from his dad who hunted quail over pointing dogs when Keith was very young. He remembers his dad showing him how to work a young pointer puppy with a quail wing, string, and fishing pole. Keith was amazed that his dad could get the pup to hold a point at such a young age with the pole and wing. This early impression and family tradition is what instilled the love of working dogs in him many years ago.
The passion for duck hunting came along when Keith was in his late teens. One morning, he and his best friend decided to jump shoot ducks on one of Keith’s uncle’s many rice fields around McGehee. He remembers the “wall” of ducks that came up on the other side of the levee as they surprised the hundreds of mallards sitting in the field. From that moment on, duck hunting became a passion for Keith and still is today.
After high school, Keith eventually went on to pursue a Degree in Physical Therapy. While working in the Orthopedic/Sports Physical Therapy field, Allison had the opportunity to treat several Professional Athletes some of which included: Scott Pippen (Chicago Bulls), Keith Jackson (Green Bay Packers), and Corliss Williamson (Arkansas Razorbacks/NBA) as well as many other Pro, College and area High School Athletes and weekend warriors.
Keith’s love of working retrievers and a passion for waterfowl hunting is what eventually lead Keith to leave his career in Physical Therapy and co-own War Eagle Retrievers in Northwest Arkansas. The leap of faith paid off and it achieved international acclaim with clients from Coast to Coast and Europe. With a client list ranging from past Wal-Mart and Fortune 500 Executives, High Profile Professional Athletes to the everyday duck hunters and college students. Keith has trained countless working retrievers and has a multitude of Hunt Test titles to his and his clients credit from Grand Hunting Retriever Champions, Hunting Retriever Champions, Master Hunting Retrievers, and Master Hunters in AKC, HRC and NAHRA Hunt Tests just to mention a few. From the beginning, it has been the passion of hunting and retrievers that has driven him to devote himself to the full-time training of retrievers and their owners. Allison has also set records in the Super Retriever Series Events (SRS).
2004 ESPN GREAT OUTDOOR GAMES
2001 ESPN SUPER RETRIEVER SERIES FINALS
2004 ESPN GREAT OUTDOOR GAMES
• First handler to make it to the SRS Finals with 2 different dogs in 2 different SRS Events.
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• First Chocolate Male to be an SRS Finalist.
Keith is one of only 3 handlers to ever score a Perfect Score of “zero” at an SRS Event and owns the second lowest two-day total score of “zero” and “4” in SRS History.
He has made the SRS Finals/Semi-Finals with over 7 different retrievers throughout the history of the SRS Events and was a Semi-Finalist in the 2004 ESPN Great Outdoor Games.
AVERY TEAM WATER DOG DEMO AT CABELA'S IN PA
CABELA'S IN PA
CABELA'S IN PA
AVERY TEAM WATER DOG DEMO AT CABELA'S IN PA
Allison was also an original member of AVERY OUTDOORS TEAM WATERDOG that travelled around the country performing retriever demonstrations for the public at MACK'S PRAIRIE WINGS in Stuttgart, AR as well as CABELA'S all around the country
Keith also was the trainer for “Lucas” who was the black Labrador chosen to be on the 2010-2011 Arkansas State Duck Stamp as well as "Steel" who is the dog on the 2021-2022 Arkansas State Duck Stamp.
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Keith’s dogs get to truly showcase their talents and skills in the truest Proving Grounds of all… Arkansas’ famed flooded green timber as well as the water and fields of Oklahoma. Each duck season, Keith has the privilege of hunting at one of Arkansas’ premier Flooded Timber Duck Clubs, the Greenbriar Club and guided for over 10 years at the famous Prairie Wings Duck Club near Stuttgart, AR! He knows what it takes to produce a true to life working retriever getting to hunt/train dogs in these atmospheres 60 days out of the season.
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Today, Keith lives in Pea Ridge, AR and balances time between family, Waterfowl and Upland hunting. When not training retrievers, Keith’s tries to spend as much time as possible with his wife, son and daughter. Beginning at the age of 3, Keith’s son started going on dove hunting trips with him and since the age of 4 years old, his son and daughter have been joining Keith in the Flooded Green Timber of Arkansas where Keith understands the importance of instilling a true love and appreciation of the Outdoors in his children.
CLICK ABOVE TO LISTEN TO KEITH ALLISON DURING HIS INTERVIEW WITH THE OZARK PODCAST