TRAINING FAQS

  • Great question! We have detailed information on our training format on Our Blog: What is the Smith Method of Dog Training.

  • We feed Pro Plan All Ages Sport Performance 30/20 Chicken & Rice Formula.

  • Yes! The majority of the dogs we work with are house dogs and family pets that hunt when the opportunity is presented. Obedience training is the foundation for the field training, so this is a great education for your dog even if you are not hunting a lot. The training applies in everyday life with a sporting breed.

  • We specialize in training all pointing breeds; including Brittanys, Drahthaars, German Shorthaired Pointers, English Pointers, Vizslas, Setters, etc...

  • Susanna and Ronnie personally train all of the dogs at SK.

  • You can register online from our Training Page or this link. The form will take you through some questions about your dog and your goals.

  • Absolutely, your dog will remember you when you pick him up from training! In fact, your relationship will be the same as the day you dropped him off. This is why we ask clients to spend time with us at pick up. We have to show the owners the nuances of handling each particular dog and help the owners begin to reshape the areas of their relationship that they want to change. The training gives the owner the tools too continue successfully managing their dog's behavior and build a symbiotic working relationship.

  • Your dog’s food is included when staying with us. We feed Purina Pro Plan All Ages Sport Performance 30/20 Chicken & Rice Formula. If you prefer your dog stay on the food he or she is currently eating, you can bring a supply of that food to last the duration of your dog’s stay with us.

  • We ask that you leave all of your dog’s toys and blankets at home. This is safer for all of the dogs in the kennel.

  • No, we have all of the equipment we will need in training your bird dog.

  • Yes! All dogs in our care are required to be on flea and tick preventation (such as Bravecto or Nexgard). We require a monthly wormer for common parasites like round worms and hook worms, as well as heart worms (such as Heartgard Plus or Interceptor Plus).

  • Yes, when you drop your dog off to stay with us, please bring proof of your dog’s current vaccinations.

    Required: adenovirus-2 (hepatitis)/parvovirus/parainfluenza vaccine (commonly referred to as DA2PP, DHPP, or DAPP), Bordetella, and Rabies

    Recommend: Lepto, Canine Flu

  • Drop offs are quick and easy. We are not going to require anything of your dog when they first arrive. We will give your dog time to settle in. We will chat with you, take care of paperwork, meds, and discuss goals for your dog during his stay.

    Please do make sure to schedule a date and time to drop off your dog. We want to be at the kennel to greet you and get your dog settled when you arrive. If we happen to be at a back field working dogs when you pull in, connecting with us may actually be difficult. Not everyone has cell service in this area.

  • When your dog is ready to go home we will schedule a pick up time and day with you. During this time we will go over all of the things your dog has been taught and how to implement the training your dog has received. At the same time, your dog is going to be going through his/her own transition, figuring out what old behavior is now not allowable in your relationship and which behavior you will allow. Expect this transition workout to last between 1 - 4 hours depending on your understanding of the training and how your dog responds to the transition.

    It will be easy for you and your dog to slip back in to old habits and behavior after you go home. We will give you a packet of suggested home workouts that will help to implement the new knowledge in your home routine. This will help you prepare for hunting sessions even when interacting with your dog at home.

  • Our address is:

    1377 County Road 4790

    Pawhuska, Oklahoma

    DIRECTIONS FROM BARTLESVILLE, PAWHUSKA, & POINTS SOUTH:

    Our road, County Road 4790, is 14 miles north of the intersection of Highway 99 and Highway 60. For a marker, look for a rock house on top of a hill on the right side of the highway and a metal cut-out of a pointer on the left (west) side of the highway. Turn left (west) on to County Road 4790. Follow the dirt road over 3 cattle guards.

    After you cross on to our property and see our signs, you will start to see the kennel on the top of the next hill (big red and white building on the right).

    Please drive slow on our gravel road and watch for cattle, kids, and bird dogs!

    FROM SEDAN, KANSAS AND POINTS NORTH-

    Take Highway 99 south in to Oklahoma. After you cross Pond Creek look for County Road 4790 on top of the hill. For a marker, look for a rock house on top of a hill on the east side of the highway and a metal cut-out of a pointer on the west side of the highway. Turn right (west) on to County Road 4790. Follow the dirt road over 3 cattle guards.

    After you cross on to our property and see our signs, you will start to see the kennel on the top of the next hill (big red and white building on the right).

    Please drive slow on our gravel road and watch for cattle, kids, and bird dogs!