About Red Barn Ranch and Labradors, LLC

Red Barn Ranch and Labradors is a training and breeding operation on Mount Hammond Farm in Jefferson County, described on its own site as "a small family owned kennel nestled in the Shenandoah Valley." Chris and Sandy Stokes are the owners; Sandy does the training.

What they train

Programs are built around "private lessons and residency training," with a named ladder – Puppy Primer, Basic Beginning, FUNdamental First Year, Team Work and The Firm Foundation. The stated aim is everyday reliability: a dog that can "learn not to jump on your guests, to walk politely on-leash, to come when called."

How they work

Two things on the page are worth weighing. Intake is capped on purpose – they "limit the number of dogs we train" so each dog gets what the site calls personal attention and individual care. And the owner is trained too: "We don't just train your dog, we train you too. We teach you what you need to know to maintain your dog's training." They also state that "Training isn't our hobby and isn't a part time job."

Credentials

The site says Sandy "successfully completed the Animal Behavior College's certification program, graduating with honors" in 2007, and lists her as "a Professional Member of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP), a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), and Approved CGC Evaluator," with business insurance in place.

Also on offer

The same business runs an AKC Labrador Retriever breeding program with health screening on sires and dams. That is a separate line from training – if you are here for training, say so when you call. The site invites a visit before booking.