Winter Kennels
Service area: Serves Austin, Cedar Park, Round Rock, West Lake Hills, and Bee Cave, TX, and surrounding Central Texas areas.
Service Overview
Types of Dog Training
- Working Dog
- Behavior Modification
Specialty Focus Areas
- Recall
- Stealing Food
- Fearfulness
- Separation Anxiety
- Biting / Nipping
Training Formats Offered
- Private Facility
- Board and Train
Program Formats
- Intensive Program
- Sessions Package
Types of Dogs
- Sporting
- Working
Age of Dogs Trained
- Puppy (<1 year)
- Adolescent (1-2 years)
- Adult (2-8 years)
Dog Training Methodology
Methods:
- ✓ Positive with Some Corrections
Equipment:
- ✓ E-Collars
- ✓ Obstacle Courses
Training programs are intensive and conducted on-site at their facility. Dogs undergo snake avoidance training using non-venomous snakes and e-collar corrections to create strong aversion. Hunting dog training includes bird and gun dog instruction with obedience as a foundation. Board-and-train options are available, and owners receive instruction to reinforce training at home. Refresher sessions are offered quarterly at no cost to alumni.
Pricing & Policies
Pricing Summary
Snake avoidance training is $60 per dog per snake (rattlesnake, cottonmouth, or copperhead). Private refresher sessions are $40 per dog per snake. Three free refresher clinics are offered annually to past clients. Cash or check only; no credit cards accepted.
Policies
Three free refresher clinics are offered annually to past clients. Private refreshers are available by appointment for a fee. Training is by appointment only. Cash or check only; no credit cards accepted. No mention of cancellation policy.
Testimonials
“My one year-old, 13 pound cockapoo took the snake safety class here. It was phenomenal! Felt a little traumatizing at the time, but we found a copperhead in our backyard a couple of nights ago. Magnolia steered straight away from it! Now, she’s afraid to go in the garage where the boots and machete are located. Don’t judge – we can’t have another den of copperheads in our backyard after I was bit two summers ago. Thank you so much to Winter Kennels for helping us avoid another trip to the hospital, and even worse, a potential trip to the emergency vet. You were amazing! We will be back next year for a refresh. Literally, life saving!”
– S H
“I recommend Winter Kennels for the snake avoidance training. Working with Kay was very easy. I took my two year old chocolate lab in for snake avoidance training. It is never fun taking your beloved dog somewhere, knowing that they’ll be using a shock collar for training purposes. However, I’m very glad I did. My dog was introduced to three separate snakes (venom glands are removed), and the idea is that once they pick up the scent, see the snake and move in to investigate, they get a shock to the system to reinforce that the snake is not something to be curious about or move towards. You definitely want your dog to associate a snake with a quick shock, and to be fearful of a snake. I was amazed at how small the snakes were as well – you really can’t see them very well until you’re 8 feet in front of them, and by that point it may be too late. It is very important to me that my dog can now recognize a snake and know to stay away. While there is no guarantee for certain that she won’t get bit by a snake, I have much more peace of mind about having her off leash in central TX, southern CA, etc. At the end of the day, I’d much rather her get 3 small shocks to her system through training, rather than get bit by a toxic snake.”
– Anonymous
“I have had 3 of my hunting dogs snake avoidance trained by Kay Winters over the last 10 years. Each has left this training with the ability to not only avoid being snake bit but also left with the ability to ensure that myself and my family members have never been threatened by a snake near by our cabin. Each dog has warned us of the presence of rattle snakes several times around our cabin over the last 7 years. It is essential that the dog realize through the training that a snake will kill you and Kay’s process is humane and successful. Their charge in comparison to not training is of no consequence!!!”
– Anonymous
About the Trainer
Winter Kennels is a family-run dog training business in Austin, TX, established in 1969, specializing in training hunting breeds including bird dogs, gun dogs, pointers, and retrievers. They offer specialized snake avoidance training using non-venomous rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, and copperheads to teach dogs to avoid deadly encounters in Central Texas. Training emphasizes the owner-pet relationship, with owners taught to reinforce what their dogs learn. They provide board-and-train services with outdoor boarding for larger hunting breeds, and offer refresher clinics three times a year at no cost to past clients. Private refresher sessions and individual training are available by appointment. Their training methods include corrective shock collar use during snake avoidance, and they train dogs as young as 5 months old.
In addition to hunting-specific training, they provide general obedience instruction for dogs who complete specialized programs. Their facility includes a lake or pond for water work, and all training is conducted on-site at their private facility. They do not offer in-home, group classes, or video training.
Winter Kennels has been serving Austin, Cedar Park, Round Rock, West Lake Hills, and Bee Cave for over 50 years, with a legacy led by founder Harlen and now continued by his daughter Cory, who personally trains each dog to maintain quality control.
Accomplishments
Founded in 1969, Winter Kennels has over 50 years of experience training hunting dogs and snake-avoidance programs. Former trainer Harlen personally trained every dog for over 46 years; his daughter Cory continues his legacy by limiting client load to ensure personal attention to each dog.
How to Get Started!
Client engagement begins with contacting Winter Kennels by phone to schedule an appointment. A form must be printed and brought to the appointment with the dog’s name, breed, and owner’s information. Training is available year-round by appointment only.
Contact Information
Availability
- Weekdays
- Morning
- Afternoon
- Evening
- Weekends
Hours
8am-6pm
Languages
- English
Misc Features
- wheelchair accessible parking
Other Services Offered
- Kennel
- Pet boarding service
Location
2509 De Soto Dr, Austin, TX 78733Listing Tools for Trainers
For Winter Kennels Only
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