WELCOME TO IRON SPIKE KENNELS!
WHO WE ARE
Iron Spike Kennels is a family business has been in operation since 2004. We have supplied literally hundreds of successful hunting dogs to duck, goose, dove and upland game bird hunters, as well as many of their friends and family members whom they referred to us.
WHO OUR CUSTOMERS ARE
A TRULY UNIQUE APPROACH TO GUN DOGS
Being different isn't easy. Nor is it without its risks and its costs. We cannot please everybody, so we cater exclusively to our market niche. We dare to take a bold stance for not only what has proven to be successful for over a decade, but for what we believe is right and humane.
SPECIAL NOTE:
After over two decades of training dogs and 15 years of owning, managing and training at Iron Spike Kennels, I handed the reins over to my competent lead trainer, Nico Correa. I am still involved with the dogs, as they will always have a special place in my heart and life, but I'm transitioning everything to Nico's kennel, CB Retrievers. I have met so many wonderful people through these dogs - hunting, training and helping in other ways - and forged relationships that will last a lifetime. So, while I may be phasing out of trudging through the mud and training in the Texas heat, but I am certainly not closing my doors to all the wonderful people I've met. And I will remain here to help - just a phone call or email away. Meanwhile, I'll be taking a back seat to watch my protoge take this labor of love, the kennel and these dogs, to the next level. Thank you all for your love and support over the years, the dog stories, the laughter - and the tears (as dogs don't live forever), your referrals and repeat business, but most of all, for your friendships. You all have made my life rich, indeed.
- Dawn Bello, Founder & Proprietor of Iron Spike Kennels
PUPPY CARE
Our minimum puppy care is what one should expect from a responsible breeding operation - supplement mama's diet, provide plenty of clean water, maintain a hygienic environment, deworm and vaccinate on schedule and transition to a healthy diet. However, we do much more with our pups beyond the minimum:
TRAINING
Without a doubt, what sets us apart from most American gun dog kennels is our training philosophy. The basis of our dog training program is pack mentality. Dogs are natural pack members, they instinctively hunt and they are genetically hard wired to serve the alpha. We simply:
**Not until we have taught the dog the vocabulary-behavior association, do we hold the dog accountable for an obedient response.**
A dog can be taught to do almost anything through this method and we have proven this by training literally hundreds of puppies to hunt, before the age of six months - long before other breeders and trainers believed it was possible. Furthermore, most dog owners are comfortable with positive reinforcement, so this method facilitates an easy transition to a new home and enables buyers to take over the alpha role. In addition, this training method is simple for new dog owners to learn, making it much easier for first-time gun dog owners to have a high performing dog that is easy for them to handle.
Beyond all of this, and of greatest importance to us, is that we produce highly-driven, confident, content and reliable hunting and family companions without having to break the dogs' spirit or resorting to heavy-handedness, harsh training tools or tactics or using pain, fear & intimidation to maintain compliance.
Positive reinforcement, patience, pack mentality and handler accountability have been and will always be, the cornerstones of our training.
WHO WE ARE
Iron Spike Kennels is a family business has been in operation since 2004. We have supplied literally hundreds of successful hunting dogs to duck, goose, dove and upland game bird hunters, as well as many of their friends and family members whom they referred to us.
WHO OUR CUSTOMERS ARE
- More than 85% of our customers are hunters who want a dog that will be a great companion on the hunt and in the home. They prefer a dog that is easy to manage, will be a well behaved member of the household and that will be steady and reliable when hunting.
- About 10% of our customers are professional waterfowl guides and professional members of the waterfowl community, including state chairs and regional managers for organizations such as Ducks Unlimited and the National Wild Turkey Federation.
- The remaining 5% are seeking extremely high drive dogs suitable for detection work, field trial competitions and Search & Rescue.
A TRULY UNIQUE APPROACH TO GUN DOGS
Being different isn't easy. Nor is it without its risks and its costs. We cannot please everybody, so we cater exclusively to our market niche. We dare to take a bold stance for not only what has proven to be successful for over a decade, but for what we believe is right and humane.
SPECIAL NOTE:
After over two decades of training dogs and 15 years of owning, managing and training at Iron Spike Kennels, I handed the reins over to my competent lead trainer, Nico Correa. I am still involved with the dogs, as they will always have a special place in my heart and life, but I'm transitioning everything to Nico's kennel, CB Retrievers. I have met so many wonderful people through these dogs - hunting, training and helping in other ways - and forged relationships that will last a lifetime. So, while I may be phasing out of trudging through the mud and training in the Texas heat, but I am certainly not closing my doors to all the wonderful people I've met. And I will remain here to help - just a phone call or email away. Meanwhile, I'll be taking a back seat to watch my protoge take this labor of love, the kennel and these dogs, to the next level. Thank you all for your love and support over the years, the dog stories, the laughter - and the tears (as dogs don't live forever), your referrals and repeat business, but most of all, for your friendships. You all have made my life rich, indeed.
- Dawn Bello, Founder & Proprietor of Iron Spike Kennels
PUPPY CARE
Our minimum puppy care is what one should expect from a responsible breeding operation - supplement mama's diet, provide plenty of clean water, maintain a hygienic environment, deworm and vaccinate on schedule and transition to a healthy diet. However, we do much more with our pups beyond the minimum:
- Dew claw removal
- De-sensitize pups to facsimile gunfire
- Whistle condition pups so future owners will have a reliable whistle recall
- Introduce pups to standing deep water to facilitate horizontal body positioning
- Imprint pups to humans at birth to facilitate 'pack leader' status for future owners
- Lay the groundwork for trust-based, positive- reinforcement training
- Address puppy 'pack issues' so that all pups can develop healthy bodies and egos
- Microchip implant (pups that stay beyond the age of 12 weeks)
TRAINING
Without a doubt, what sets us apart from most American gun dog kennels is our training philosophy. The basis of our dog training program is pack mentality. Dogs are natural pack members, they instinctively hunt and they are genetically hard wired to serve the alpha. We simply:
- establish an alpha role,
- communicate to dogs via body language what our expectations are,
- attach vocabulary to the desired behavior,
- establish consistent response through repetition and positive reinforcement and then
- reinforce and maintain obedience by using negative consequences for non-compliance.
**Not until we have taught the dog the vocabulary-behavior association, do we hold the dog accountable for an obedient response.**
A dog can be taught to do almost anything through this method and we have proven this by training literally hundreds of puppies to hunt, before the age of six months - long before other breeders and trainers believed it was possible. Furthermore, most dog owners are comfortable with positive reinforcement, so this method facilitates an easy transition to a new home and enables buyers to take over the alpha role. In addition, this training method is simple for new dog owners to learn, making it much easier for first-time gun dog owners to have a high performing dog that is easy for them to handle.
Beyond all of this, and of greatest importance to us, is that we produce highly-driven, confident, content and reliable hunting and family companions without having to break the dogs' spirit or resorting to heavy-handedness, harsh training tools or tactics or using pain, fear & intimidation to maintain compliance.
Positive reinforcement, patience, pack mentality and handler accountability have been and will always be, the cornerstones of our training.