About East Texas Elite Kennels

A family operation in Gilmer

East Texas Elite Kennels is a family-owned dog training kennel run out of Gilmer, serving the Gilmer area. It specializes in started and gun dog training as well as all-breed general obedience, with programs that include puppy head start, obedience and advanced training. The kennel describes a state-of-the-art facility and AKC and UKC competitors, and says it has over 13 years of experience training high-quality dogs for hunting.

The team

Owner and operator Ryan Middaugh says he has 14 years of professional dog training experience, began training part-time while working in corporate America, and in 2017 left his corporate job to work at the kennel full-time. He also mentors interns. His son Logan assists with the labs, and Blayde Weekley, who holds a business management degree from LeTourneau University, works at the kennel and favors Golden and Labrador Retrievers.

Programs

Training options include intermediate obedience as personal one-on-one training, obedience training covering bad habits, advanced training, and retrieving and gun dog training. The kennel also sells started gun dogs with a solid foundation and finished gun dogs, and offers a stud dog. Hours are Monday to Sunday, 8am to 8pm.

What to ask

Ask how long each program runs, whether dogs board during training, and current rates.