Smith Kennels

04/01/2026

One of the great things about seminars is the opportunity they give everyone to step back, study dogs objectively in a different environment, and see how small adjustments in timing, positioning, cues, and expectations change a dog’s mindset. That understanding is something people can take home and continue building on as they work through the training system long after the seminar ends.

This was a wonderful group of people that we look forward to working with again at future seminars. The relationships formed and the sense of community that grows around these weekends is real, and something we never take for granted.

We want to give a special thank you to Dr. Joe Wurster, DVM, for taking the time to speak to everyone about the health and well-being of our dogs. His perspective and experience in the bird dog world always has tremendous value, and we appreciate him sharing his knowledge with all of us!

We’re continually grateful for the many people who have attended seminars over the years and reached out to share their progress, lessons learned, and stories from home. Hearing how the work continues with your dogs after the seminar means a great deal to us and reminds us why these gatherings matter so much.

Thank you all for being part of it!

03/31/2026

Ronnie and I are thankful for the people and the dogs that made last weekend's Foundation Seminar here so special!

People from all over gathered to study dogs with us and learn the Foundation of our Smith Method of Bird Dog Training. Together we worked on our Core Bird Dog Behaviors (Go With You, Come to You, and Stand Still), helping dogs develop a calm, responsive, and joined up mindset. The goal not being just simple obedience, but building prey drive, establishing handling cues, and creating a unique partnership with our dogs while developing our Core Bird Dog Mindsets of Confidence, Compliance, and Composure.

More seminars are coming up! If you're ready to learn our complete system and begin building a solid training foundation, we invite you to join us! You can sign up for any of our seminars directly on our website.

03/13/2026

Great bird dogs don’t happen by accident. They are the result of understanding, thoughtful development, and a proven training system.

Our Foundation is where our training system begins. Every handler who wants to understand “the why” behind the Smith Method should start here. We walk through the fundamentals of developing a confident bird dog and help handlers better communicate with their dogs. The training then progresses to Intermediate and then Advanced Seminars.

Upcoming Foundation Seminars:
📍March 21-22 - Smith Kennels - Pawhuska, OK
📍April 11-12 - Prairie Wildlife - West Point, MS

(We will post a link to our full list of seminars and online registration in the comments!)

📸: Aaron Davis

03/08/2026

Delmar can say more in a funny one-liner than many people say in a speech.

Funny on the surface…but true all the way to the bone.

100 years of studying dogs, horses, and people will do that. He is one of a kind! ❤️

When Delmar Smith first worked the chutes at the inaugural Timed Event Championship four decades ago, he was already at an age when most men are contemplating retirement.

And now, at an age when most men have long since stepped away from the arena—he turns 100 this July—Smith has become inseparable from it. A beloved fixture at the Lazy E Arena, he has been the gateman for every Timed Event Championship since, cracking the chutes on every run for every cowboy ➡️ https://bit.ly/4lc632G

02/28/2026

Training a bird dog is like weaving a tapestry, each thread contributing to the final picture.

Each step is dependent on the others. Nothing is random. Nothing is without purpose. And to skip a step blurs the picture for both dog and handler. Follow these steps in our training method and develop clarity with your bird dog:

⭐️Foundation Training Seminar shapes obedience and develops physical cues with a lead or a rope.

⭐️Intermediate Training Seminar transitions those cues to remote cues of the e-collar in the field and begins steadying on birds.

⭐️Advanced Training Seminar brings it all together in hunting scenarios on game birds.

Join us at our bird dog training seminars this year to learn the full process!

(A link to our seminars is in the comments below.)

02/17/2026

1. Develop the mindset.
Long before formal training, puppies are on the learning pathway. Minor stressors of new experiences spark growth and resilience. A puppy that grows up with the opportunity to be curious and confident will be more resilient and adaptable when formal training begins.

2. Teach communication, not just commands.
Early handling should focus on understanding pressure, release, and guidance. Puppies that learn how to respond thoughtfully to direction develop into dogs that are receptive to training, better at problem-solving, and are more capable of staying mentally engaged and composed, rather than reactive.

3. Shape lifetime behaviors.
The habits formed in the first few months shape lifetime responses. Clear routines, fair boundaries, and intentional interaction help create a foundation for a dog to be confident, cooperative, and capable of becoming a proficient bird dog. Keeping expectations consistent makes it easier for them to generalize behaviors.

Three Basic Bird Dog Behaviors every bird dog should know are: Go With You, Come to You, and Stand Still.

Develop the dog you want, starting when they are a puppy. The puppy stage goes by way too fast. Don’t miss the opportunity to get them started early on the right path!

02/14/2026

Thank you to everyone that has waited so patiently for the 2026 seminar dates! We are happy to tell you the wait is over, the dates are set, and you can sign up online!

We look forward to working bird dogs with you!

Sign ups available on our website: https://smithkennels.com/events

02/12/2026

Dogs do what feels most rewarding to them in the moment and are more likely to repeat behaviors that they feel gain them something. Recognizing this makes training clearer and simpler.

Dogs move toward what brings comfort or enjoyment and away from pressure. If a behavior is repeated, something about it works for the dog. As trainers, we understand this. We don’t fight against it. We incorporate it into our training interactions. We stay curious about what appeals to each individual dog and use that as a training tool to shape decisions and behaviors.

If we want better dogs, we have to become better handlers, more consistent, more thoughtful, and clearer about the behaviors we are rewarding.

02/07/2026

The development of long-term behavior starts at a young age. We strive to have intentional interactions with our dogs to help them develop tools to be resilient, adaptable, trainable and successful bird dogs. Growth and development requires new experiences and, naturally, that includes stressors from change. This is a part of healthy growth. A constantly quiet, sheltered environment with few expectations or requirements does not promote mental growth or provide a launchpad for a bird dog puppy’s future success.

02/06/2026

This is where bird dogs begin — long before the first hunt.

02/04/2026

We’ve had to shuffle a few dates around, but seminar signups will be available soon!

Thank you to everyone who has reached out to us about attending a dog training seminar this year. The continued interest means a great deal to us. Keep an eye out for the announcement. You’ll be able to sign up online as soon as all of the seminars are posted.

We look forward to working with you and your dogs!