The Retriever Retreat is nestled in the southern part of Fentress County, Tennessee near the Cumberland Plateau. Originally developed in 2018 as an upscale retreat for motorcyclists touring the Upper Cumberland area, it is now an exclusive retreat for Retrievers and their people. Purchased in the winter of 2019 by Lois Luthenauer, we offer retriever handler workshops in small groups or private lessons and an upscale “glamping” experience where Retrievers and their handlers can room together. We strive to provide the grounds and advice for learning the skills necessary to be the best Retriever/Handler team you can be.

The Retriever Retreat will host the First Annual Kevin O. Luthenauer Memorial Youth Handler Workshop on March 30, 2019. Three years in the making, this annual event is hosted in honor of Kevin Luthenauer, who was an active member of the East Tennessee Retriever Club until his death in 2015. Kevin was an avid sportsman and hunter, and loved retriever training. He believed in the value of amateurs participating in the retrieving sports, and was known for encouraging young people in all aspects of hunting and shooting sports.

Meet Your Host

Lois Luthenauer is an amateur handler participating in AKC sanctioned Hunting Tests for Retrievers. Introduced to the sport in 2006 on the second date with her future husband, Kevin Luthenauer, she is a Board Member and Past President of the East Tennessee Retriever Club, and a member of the Middle Tennessee Amateur Retriever Club. In 2018, she qualified her dog Coon Creek’s Back Water Quackhead (Woodie) for the third annual Master Amateur Hunt Test! Her goal in establishing The Retriever Retreat is to provide comfortable, affordable lodging for handlers looking to improve their “team-manship” with their retrievers. Having sent dogs to trainers, and traveling to the trainer for an afternoon experience, she knows that an all-inclusive package of training and lodging will facilitate learning to work as a partner with your retriever.