Iron Oak Dog Company

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Iron Oak Dog Company 100+ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ratings
🏛️ Over a decade coaching dogs & people
🤓 We make effective training simple to understand

We offer a well rounded approach to dog training, including reliable obedience and manners, behavior modification, socialization and owner training.

11/07/2025
REMINDERS!--July Companion Dog Sunday School session is THIS SUNDAY. We'll be in Baltimore near Locust Point. Phase 1: O...
10/07/2025

REMINDERS!

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July Companion Dog Sunday School session is THIS SUNDAY. We'll be in Baltimore near Locust Point.

Phase 1: Obedience/Manners/CGC exercises in the park
Phase 2: Small watercraft acclimation at the water access point nearby.
Phase 3: Public Access training (and food & dranks)

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August Companion Dog Sunday School is August 3rd. We'll be in Mount Airy, MD.

We're excited that our friend, dock diving instructor and judge, Danny Lease will be providing a seminar with one-on-one instruction for clients to introduce their dogs to dock diving. If you've done it before, you're welcome to come and let your dog rip!

Phase 1: Obedience/Manners & Dock Diving
Phase 2: Public Access training (and wine tasting) at Linganore Winery

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Working Dog Sunday School Sessions are all held at Central Penn Sporting Clays

These sessions work on tracking/trailing, area search, retrieving, and ancillary outdoor skills that are useful for companion dogs and hunting dogs.

July 20th 8:30am -12:30pm
August 17th 8:30 - 12:30pm

Please note that you have to be a client of ours who has completed a board + train program, private lesson program, or in-person group class in order to attend these sessions.

Registration and specific location details are available on our events page: https://www.ironoakdogs.com/events

07/07/2025

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩?

Building and maintaining a strong training group takes significant effort. It starts with like-minded people who understand the group’s purpose—and are willing to do the work required to help *everyone* succeed.

Here are the key ingredients:

👉Access to Resources
Training groups need access to grounds, equipment, dead birds, live birds, and storage. Everyone should bring their own gear: radio, gun, ammo, bumpers, blind markers, chair, holding blind. For ATVs, launchers, electronics, and other high-dollar equipment—discuss expectations. Don’t assume. Share costs for birds, feed, fuel, freezer space, and more - these things are expensive and labor intensive.

👉Leadership
Every group needs a leader. Someone to coordinate, facilitate and communicate. This doesn’t need to be formal—but it must be agreed upon. Leadership ensures direction and accountability.

👉Communication
Communication is a two-way street and no single person is solely responsible for it. Use apps like Telegram or Slack to keep info accessible to the group.

👉Shared Responsibilities
There’s a lot to do. Grounds need reserving and maintenance. Equipment must be transported, repaired, and stored. Birds must be stored, thawed, bagged, caught, fed, and disposed of. ATVs need fuel. Training setups must be designed, built, moved, and cleaned up. Every member must do their share. Step up. Don’t wait to be asked. When training ends, jump in to clean up, gather equipment, and prep for the next setup. Be respectful. Save the socializing for later.

👉Trainer Education
Retriever training is complex. Success requires education. Attend seminars, read, listen to podcasts, watch videos, ask questions, observe dogs, and study interactions. You owe it to your dog—and your group—to contribute intellectually and help raise the collective bar.

👉Pre-Training Planning
Have your own two-week plan mapped out. You can’t cover everything, so focus on 4–5 key areas (marking, handling, drills, etc.). Plan, record, evaluate. Share your needs with the group ahead of time. Find common ground but also make room for individual goals. Compromise is essential, but balance is the goal.

👉Willingness to Adjust / Reset
If a setup isn’t appropriate for a dog, be willing to reset or adjust. Asking someone to “move up” doesn’t fix a poor setup. Include all members meaningfully.

👉Leave Egos at Home
Every group member is a resource. Don’t assume someone can’t offer insight. Listen with an open mind. Be secure enough to ask for feedback. You don’t have to take every suggestion—but one of them might be the pearl you need.

👉Committed, Dependable, Responsible
If you're joining a training group, commit. Help provide resources, bring your own gear, show up on time, and engage. This is what you owe your teammates—and what they owe you.

Happy training,
—Kevin

Milo recently finished up his private lessons. With some very nice obedience, developing environmental neutrality, and w...
03/07/2025

Milo recently finished up his private lessons. With some very nice obedience, developing environmental neutrality, and way less cattle dog chomps... he's ready to start attending our Sunday School sessions. This guy has a sweet personality, is very cooperative, and likes to work!

03/07/2025
Gah! I just needed to wait a little longer and I could have posted these awesome pictures from Archer and Toad's first t...
03/07/2025

Gah! I just needed to wait a little longer and I could have posted these awesome pictures from Archer and Toad's first try at dock diving!

Hopefully we'll be able to work out the August date for Companion Dog Sunday School!

📸: Round Hill Photography

Toad and Archer did a thing last night! Shout-out to Danny Lease and Rebecca Schoeffield / Round Hill Photography for in...
03/07/2025

Toad and Archer did a thing last night!
Shout-out to Danny Lease and Rebecca Schoeffield / Round Hill Photography for inviting us into your dock diving world! 🌊
The dogs were wondering where all the Duckweed, muck and lilypads were 🤔

Incredible pics from Round Hill Photography! 🐾

JULY COMPANION DOG SUNDAY SCHOOLWe moved our next Companion Dog Sunday School session from the holiday weekend, to the f...
03/07/2025

JULY COMPANION DOG SUNDAY SCHOOL

We moved our next Companion Dog Sunday School session from the holiday weekend, to the following Sunday, 7/13. This session will take place in Baltimore and will cover:

1.Obedience Phase: Canine Good Citizen (all levels) exercises
2. Adventure Phase: Small watercraft acclimation for kayaks/canoes/SUPs
3. Public Access Phase: Food & Drinks at a local restaurant

AUGUST COMPANION DOG SUNDAY SCHOOL

We are working on organizing an intro to dock diving with an AKC dock diving judge and trainer for the adventure phase of the August session.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ATTENDANCE

These sessions are typically 4 hours and are open to all past/current clients. You must have completed a Board + Train, Group Class, or minimum of 4 Private Instruction session with us in order to attend these sessions.

We still have open spots for both of our fall hunt camps. Our midwest ruffed grouse camp is an easy one day drive for fo...
30/06/2025

We still have open spots for both of our fall hunt camps.

Our midwest ruffed grouse camp is an easy one day drive for folks driving from the mid-atlantic and it's scheduled close to the Iowa pheasant opener if you want to hit both places in one trip. Bird numbers.

Our southwest quail camp has been our favorite perennial trip. When it's freezing cold at home we're enjoying 40-70 degree temps out there.

Prices include:
- 6 nights lodging
- Breakfast daily
- A trip specific webinar on e-scouting, habitat, and species, as well as guidance for packing, travel, and safety afield

Feel free to email us if you have any questions: [email protected]

https://www.ironoakdogs.com/shop/hunt-camps

We held our first Working Dog Sunday School class today. Got everyone started on some tracking using the approach we’ve ...
29/06/2025

We held our first Working Dog Sunday School class today.

Got everyone started on some tracking using the approach we’ve learned from .

Then some retrieving… single marks and force to pile.

We finished up with some confidence building with the instability of the kayak on land.

As everyone progresses over time we’ll chain these exercises together.

For the hunting breeds this will include combining tracking and retrieving for drags, sending dogs on retrieves out of the kayak, and using the retrieve to build area searches like field/forest/duck search.

Non hunting breeds are capable of all the same skills for various sport endeavors but we’re particularly interested in getting some of our folks into sport search and rescue. Retrieving drills are also fantastic for structured off leash exercise. Tracking and other scent work provides mental enrichment and practice with calm focused work.

Everyone did a great job and had a lot of fun today!

We hope you can join us at the next one!

We are excited to now offer financing, including zero interest pay-in-four options for all training products and program...
24/06/2025

We are excited to now offer financing, including zero interest pay-in-four options for all training products and programs!

We’re happy to announce that we’ve updated our payment processing methods to include ApplePay and Paypal. Additionally, we’re now able to offer financing through Klarna and Afterpay. This is available automatically for purchases through our online store, and available as an option for training...

We are currently booking clients for:Board + Train for October 2025Private Lessons for July 2025Schedule a phone consult...
23/06/2025

We are currently booking clients for:

Board + Train for October 2025

Private Lessons for July 2025

Schedule a phone consultation through our website to have your questions answered and see if we're a good fit to help you meet your training goals!

*Reviews may be edited/paraphrased for clarity and brevity. Full reviews available on Facebook and Google.

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