Pine Shadows

What Pine Shadows does

Pine Shadows is a family-owned, multi-service English Springer Spaniel breeding and sporting dog operation headquartered in Brainerd, Minnesota. Founded in 1976 by Mark and Sophie Haglin, the company has run a continuous breeding program for nearly five decades, producing field champions, therapy dogs, working dogs (NYPD bomb dogs, cadaver search and rescue), and family companions. Its core differentiator is a proprietary puppy imprinting protocol applied from birth, combined with Sophie Haglin's canine personality assessment methodology used to match puppies to family dynamics. The business sells English Springer Spaniel puppies and partially-trained started dogs, with deposits taken against waiting lists.

Pine Shadows operates a vertically integrated service portfolio: in-house gun dog training ($1,600/month all-inclusive or $60/day), boarding and grooming services in a 5,000 sq ft climate-controlled facility with 64 private dog runs and 21 kitty condos, and the signature Daybreak hunting estate, a 7,000-acre (11 square miles) pheasant hunting property in Brown County, South Dakota, with all-inclusive 1-, 2-, and 3-day packages priced at $525, $2,750, and $3,650 per person respectively. The hunting experience is led by Morgan Haglin, second-generation Head Trainer and nationally recognized trial judge, using Pine Shadows-bred Springer Spaniels. Customer segments span individual families seeking gun dogs and companions, upland bird hunters, dog owners seeking training, regional pet owners seeking boarding/grooming, and corporate retreat groups.

The company generates revenue through one-time sales (puppies, hunting packages), subscription-style recurring training fees, and regional boarding/grooming volumes. GTM is direct-to-consumer via website, phone (218.829.4736), email, and in-person visits, with no third-party resellers. Marketing relies on earned media (Covey Rise, Garden & Gun Magazine), the Orvis endorsement partnership, organic social (Facebook, Instagram), and community events such as Ladies Day training. The company is private, founder-led, and operates without external capital or institutional investors.

Name

Pine Shadows

Website

https://pineshadows.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Pine Shadows is a family-owned English Springer Spaniel breeder, gun dog trainer, and hunting lodge operator founded in 1976 in Brainerd, Minnesota, serving families seeking premium gun dogs, upland bird hunters at its 7,000-acre Daybreak estate in South Dakota, and regional pet owners using its boarding and grooming services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sporting Dog Breeding and Training Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Support Activities for Animal Production (1152), Hunting and Trapping (11421)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Boarding (Kennels, Catteries) (AFAEALAA)

Keywords

• English Springer Spaniels
• Gun dog training
• Pheasant hunting lodge
• Canine boarding grooming
• Sporting dog breeding

Headquarters

HQ city

Brainerd

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. English Springer Spaniel Puppies and Dogs: Sale of English Springer Spaniel puppies and started dogs. The breeding program has operated since 1976, producing field champions, therapy dogs, and family companions. Deposits (refundable) may be required to reserve a spot on waiting lists.
2. Hunting Lodge Experiences (Daybreak): All-inclusive pheasant hunting packages at Daybreak hunting estate in South Dakota, including guided hunts, lodging, meals, and bird processing. Packages range from day hunts to 3-day experiences.
3. Dog Training Services: In-house training programs at $1,600/month (all-inclusive) or $60/day. Individual training sessions available at $60/session. Owner participation encouraged with homework provided.
4. Boarding and Grooming: Boarding services for dogs (64 private runs, 4-6 walks daily) and cats (21 kitty condos with playrooms). Grooming services for all breeds include shampoo, ear cleaning, nail trim, and coat evaluation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pine Shadows breeds and sells English Springer Spaniel puppies and started dogs, provides in-house gun dog training, operates the Daybreak all-inclusive pheasant hunting estate in South Dakota, and runs a canine boarding and grooming facility in Brainerd, Minnesota. Services are delivered directly from physical facilities with no third-party resellers, and reservations typically require deposits.

Product overview

Pine Shadows operates as a multi-service sporting dog and hunting facility offering English Springer Spaniel breeding, trained dog sales, gun dog training, hunting experiences, and boarding/grooming services. The core portfolio includes English Springer Spaniel puppies and dogs bred since 1976, started (partially trained) dogs, the Daybreak signature hunting estate in South Dakota with 3-day/2-day/day hunt packages, comprehensive gun dog training services, and canine boarding/grooming facilities. The company also offers a Resources line featuring canine supplements and training equipment. Services are delivered through the main Brainerd, Minnesota location and the Daybreak lodge in Frederick, South Dakota.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Daybreak: Signature Dakota hunting estate located in Frederick, South Dakota, offering all-inclusive pheasant hunts, lodging, and cuisine on 7,000 acres of hunting grounds along the Elm River valley.

Products and services

• English Springer Spaniels English Springer Spaniel puppies and dogs bred and sold as gun dogs and family companions. The breeding program has been operating since 1976, focusing on producing well-balanced dogs suitable for both field work and home environments. Deposits (refundable) may be required to reserve a spot on waiting lists.
• Started Dogs Partially trained dogs ranging from 8 months to older mature dogs that have undergone imprinting, quartering, retrieving, obedience, and bird introduction training. Most are ready for hunting after the training process.
• Daybreak Hunting Experience Signature Dakota hunting estate offering guided pheasant hunts with trained Springer Spaniels, lodging, and cuisine. Located in Frederick, South Dakota with 7,000 acres (11 square miles) of hunting grounds in the Elm River valley. Sold as 3-day, 2-day, or single-day packages.
• Gun Dog Training In-house and appointment-based dog training services for all breeds covering quartering, retrieving to hand, water work, socialization, collar and gun conditioning, general obedience, fetch training, placeboard work, and steadying. Owner participation is encouraged with homework provided. Offered at $1,600/month all-inclusive, $60/day, or $60/session.
• Boarding and Grooming Canine boarding with 64 private runs and nearly 5,000 sq ft of climate-controlled indoor space, plus cat boarding with 21 kitty condos and 2 playrooms. Grooming services for all breeds include shampoo, ear cleaning, nail trim, and coat evaluation. Multiple daily walks (4-6) provided for dogs.

Quantifiable outcome

• High success rate in family/puppy placement through puppy personality assessment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• OrviscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPine Shadows was the first springer-spaniel kennel selected for Orvis endorsement, providing credibility and access to Orvis's customer base of hunting and outdoor enthusiasts.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Bass Pro Shops: Mass-market outdoor retailer operating hunting, fishing, and outdoor lifestyle stores. Comparable as a broader sporting outdoor incumbent, with overlapping upland/hunting customer base and partnerships that touch sporting dog categories.
• Wag Hotels: Premium pet boarding and daycare chain with multiple locations. Comparable as a premium pet hospitality concept, with similar boarding, daycare, and grooming service offerings.
• Camp Bow Wow: Franchised dog daycare and boarding chain with multiple locations across the US. Comparable in the pet boarding/grooming service category, with a similar mix of overnight stays and daycare, though Pine Shadows is a single premium family-owned site.
• Orvis: Established sporting goods retailer and the first partner to endorse Pine Shadows' springer spaniel kennel. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the upland hunting and sporting dog lifestyle category, with a much wider retail, apparel, and equipment portfolio.
• Best Friends Pet Hotel: National pet boarding, daycare, grooming, and training chain. Comparable in the multi-service pet care category, especially boarding and grooming, though Best Friends is a multi-site franchise system rather than a single family-owned facility.
• Cabela's: Iconic hunting, fishing, and outdoor retail brand (now under Bass Pro). Comparable as a broader sporting outdoor incumbent with direct overlap on the upland bird hunting and sporting dog customer base.
• Dogtopia: National dog daycare, boarding, and spa franchise with hundreds of locations. Comparable as a scaled pet care operator offering boarding and grooming services, though lacking the breeding, training, and hunting-lodge dimensions of Pine Shadows.
• Pet Paradise Resorts: Multi-location pet resort chain offering boarding, daycare, grooming, and training. Comparable as a premium pet care operator overlapping with Pine Shadows' boarding, grooming, and training service lines.

Direct peers

• St. Huberts Kennel: Long-established English Springer Spaniel breeder and training kennel. Comparable as a direct peer in the springer spaniel breeding and gun dog training category, with a similar heritage-driven, multi-generational operating model.
• Triple R Ranch (Pheasant Hunting): Established South Dakota pheasant hunting lodge offering guided upland hunts. Comparable as a direct peer in the guided pheasant hunting and lodging category, with similar hunting-pak business model and SD location.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/pine.shadows
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pine-shadows

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pine Shadows