by Brynna Breen
Y’know the feeling when you’re out in the field, or marsh, hunting? It’s something special, that feeling – like you’re free, and no one needs anything, no one is bothering you, or is gonna break that perfectly still silence.
It’s misty; it’s quiet – so peacefully quiet – and in the early morning tranquility, you wait for that perfect moment when the birds fly over and you make the perfect shot. You’d be just about lost, though, if it weren’t for that hunting dog you brought along with you.
Barron and Brooke Wedgeworth believe in that moment. In fact, they live it all the time. Hunting is something both of them did together when they were younger, it’s something they do with their time as a couple now, and it’s something they do, often, with their kids. How lucky are they, then, that they also get to do it for work?
Buck Gardner, Champion duck caller and Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame inductee, said many times, “The best days hunting must include a well-trained retriever. Likewise, the worst days hunting often include a poorly trained retriever. A dog will make every hunt much more memorable. A well-trained hunting dog will make those memories good ones.” He knew, as do many of you, that an untrained, or poorly trained dog in the field is just a problem for the entire hunting party. “Sit! Stay! No! Come here! Back! No!” over and over to a dog who doesn’t listen to, or obey commands. It wears on everyone and causes more frustration than retrieving your own birds.
For the last four years, the Wedgeworths have owned and operated Double W Kennels, a training and boarding facility for dogs of just about every kind. The kennel is located just west of Tyler, Texas. In 2022, Double W Kennels was constructed, A top of the line boarding and training facility where your pet is kept in a 5×10 Kennel inside a heated and cooled facility where they are treated like family! “We strive to provide your four legged family member with as close to a ‘home experience’ as we can and love hearing feedback from our clients!” says Brooke.
While there are several training options, the Wedgeworths have three main programs: one, an obedience training course that teaches dogs to listen well, obey commands, etc. Option two is advanced obedience, where an already obedient pet learns to utilize those same skills learned previously in a more public setting with a much higher standard being upheld. Because they intimately know the hunting process in a firsthand way, the Wedgeworths also designed another program for hunters, which takes an average of six months to turn pups into obedience-trained, waterfowl gun dogs.
“To train a gun dog, it all starts with obedience,” said Brooke. “And you always want to make sure they are having fun retrieving. Make it a good time! After obedience and puppy marks, putting it all together, dogs then go into a series of gun dog specific sessions such as force fetch. This is where your retriever puppy begins to transition into a partner and an asset in the field. Once the dog has completed the basic gun dog program, it is up to the owner if they want to continue training and pursue an advanced level or a ‘finished” gun dog, and even begin to enter their dogs into A.K.C. and U.K.C. hunt tests (retriever competitions).
As we all know, though, if you’re gonna hand over your beloved – and also expensive – dog to someone, you need to know that they’re trustworthy. Well, the Wedgeworths far and away hit the target on this one: not only do they really, genuinely love dogs, but they’re uniquely qualified in the “training” and “trust” departments. The cool thing is, Brooke was in law enforcement before she left her career to pursue dog training as her full-time passion in 2022. Likewise, Barron is a Deputy Fire Marshal for Smith County.
“(Dog training was) just a hobby… and then the hobby turned into a career,” said Brooke. “It’s just a part of our lifestyle, and we love to hunt. That goes hand in hand with training gun dogs.”
When someone takes a dog to the Wedgeworths for training, their money, and the Wedgeworth’s time, is not wasted. By the end of the gun dog training – which also includes obedience training – Brooke says that the dogs are… well… really obedient. There’s not a good way to describe it without seeing it – but who doesn’t love a perfect, obedient, helpful, and skilled dog?
“We teach them to be well-rounded in their manners, all parts of obedience, they’re steady to shot, and they’re able to go out and pick up the birds – whether that’s afield or in water. And then we get into more advanced gun dog work, too… like casting, whistle sits, swim by, etc. This allows you to send them on blind retrieves.”
Listening to Brooke talk about what they’re able to teach dogs, you almost expect one of their canine students to be able to bark out that Timmy’s stuck in the well.
In the four years that they’ve had their facility, the Wedgeworths estimate that they’ve trained a couple hundred dogs. Not ten, or fifty, or even just one hundred. A couple hundred.
“It’s a lot of work,” laughed Brooke. “I think that comes with anybody that owns a business.”
The Wedgeworths believe that they have something really special with Double W Kennels. Yes, they have a professional responsibility, and drive, to train these dogs, but they also just really like animals, too. When they get dogs – they actually take the time to stop and know each one.
“I love getting to work with dogs,” affirmed Brooke. “Every dog is different. You have to learn how to mold yourself to operate and train with different dogs, see what their motivation is… we love it. It’s a part of our life.”
Even more than getting to do what they love every day, and better than getting to work with sweet dogs, Brooke said their favorite part is how they’re able to help people.
“The best part is seeing how happy the clients are after training, and being able to have an even better working relationship with their own pet. You have to learn how to work with your pet; you both have a relationship together. So it goes both ways; you have to know how to communicate with them.”
One thing that Brooke feels strongly about is the “behind-the-scenes” aspect of her work. Training dogs, she says, is not just about the fun and easy parts – the parts everyone loves to do. Doing it right, and taking good care of the animals, is so much more.
“You have to have the real drive and love to be working with animals all the time,” she said. “It’s more than just loving and playing with them; we have to take care of them, keep things clean and sanitized. So, there’s a lot more to the job description… it’s early mornings, it’s late evenings, feeding schedules, constant potty and play breaks.”
Near the beginning of this article, if you heard “located outside Tyler, Texas” and immediately thought, “Ah well, I don’t live close enough for this to make a difference,” that’s where you’d be wrong. Actually, Double W Kennels is so good at what they do that they often have out-of-towners bring their dogs to have them trained there – many from other states.
Not only are Barron and Brooke showing dogs how to listen to humans, but they’re also teaching humans how to treat dogs, too. According to Brooke, this “whole-family event” of owning and operating Double W Kennels has become multi-generational, as the Wedgeworth kids have also said they want to train dogs when they’re older.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Brooke about homeschooling the kids and showing them what it takes to own the kennel. “It’s a lot of time management, but they get to learn a lot about owning a business as well as, responsibilities, and having a good time too.”
Some people can wax eloquent about fishing. Some people go on about their hunting experiences. Some people just don’t seem to talk much at all. But Brooke and Barron Wedgeworth have something to say about training dogs to be obedient, to be good hunting companions, to have a use, and to be a help in life.
“What I love is just to see the talent that they have,” said Brooke. “I mean, it’s super fun to get up early and having a huntin’ partner – a dog – to get up early and go out with you, and have the same love for your hobby that you do.”
“They can do more than just be in the house… your dogs are really talented, if you pour the time into that relationship and work with them.”
Isn’t it fortunate, then, that there is someone who knows how – and has the passion – to pour time, effort, and love into working with your dogs? Someone who believes in the perfect hunting moment, with a faithful dog at your side? Barron and Brooke Wedgeworth are those people.
More information is available on the Double W Kennels website, www.doublewkennels.com
