About Me
I have been making inexpensive and light-weight holding blinds for training my Flat-Coated Retrievers for hunt tests for several years, using pieces of camouflage tarps, stick-in-the-ground electric fence posts, and duct tape. While serviceable, the duct tape frequently wore out and needed replacing, and I was never very happy with the height of the posts. When my friend Al Strasser made a blind, I really liked his design. He let me imitate it, and the idea for DIY Holding Blinds was born in July 2017.
I started experimenting with his design, trying out different materials. The result is my kit, complete with everything except 4 stick-in-the-ground electric fence posts, which can be purchased at such places as Menards or Tractor Supply.
In October 2017, my friend Helen Szostak taught me how to make Grab Tabs out of paracord. I found I really enjoyed the creativity and learning to make new items keeps it fun and interesting, and that side business took off, too. You can read more about that part of the business here.
Adele Yunck
Northfield Dog Training
Ann Arbor, MI
Adele Yunck
Developer of DIY Holding Blind concept
I have been training my own dogs since acquiring my first one in January 1985, little Australian Terrier Casey. Our first Flat-Coated Retriever, Tramp, joined us in 1986, and I’ve had at least one terrier and one Flat-Coat ever since. I started Northfield Dog Training in 1990, where I teach competition obedience, rally, and the occasional Intro to Retriever training. I started competing in AKC hunt test in 2005 with Flat-Coated Retriever Gryffin, and have earned 2 Master Hunters, 2 Senior Hunters.
Sonic
My 2nd Master Hunter
Ch Coastalight Primetime UDX2 OM4 RE MH WCX
8/14/2011
Sonic is the 2nd dog with whom I’ve earned the AKC MH title, and in August 2017, she earned her 10th Master pass.
In 2015, Sonic produced the first litter of puppies I’ve bred in 30+ years of owning pure-bred dogs. She had another litter of puppies in February 2018.
Tigger
My 5th Senior Dog