About Hannalore Kennels

What this kennel offers

Hannalore Kennels is a home-based, family-run business on County Highway 23 in Unadilla, just off exit 10 of Interstate 88. Its published service list runs to seven items: pet boarding, all-breed dog and cat grooming, doggy daycare, obedience classes, AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy and Canine Good Citizen testing, grooming classes, and private dog training. For an owner in the southern half of Otsego County it is one of the few places within reach that runs an actual group class rather than only one-to-one work.

Group classes

The obedience class runs weekly for six weeks and is published at $120 for the session. The site's description of the approach is specific: the classes involve "lots of dog psychology, positive energy, corrections that are properly timed and correctly applied", the stated goal is a partnership based on communication, respect and leadership, and the tone is deliberately informal — "no one is turned away, no one fails, and everyone learns and improves". Classes are held at the kennel in spring, summer and fall. In winter they move indoors to a host store in Sidney, which the site notes is useful in itself because the shoppers and their pets provide real distraction to work around. A $10 gift certificate toward any Hannalore service is offered to anyone attending a class.

Private training and testing

Private dog training is offered either to reinforce what was learned in a group class or for dogs and owners for whom a group is not convenient or appropriate. Sessions can be held at the kennel, in the client's home, or at another location, and each is aimed at whatever specific behavioral problem the owner is dealing with. The published rate is $50 to $75 an hour, varying with location and travel distance. The site also states that owner Cheryl Eighmey is certified to administer the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy and AKC Canine Good Citizen tests to anyone who wants to take them after finishing the six-week class.

Who runs it

The about page gives the kennel's history in the owners' own words. It was founded by Thomas S. Murphy, described as a local music teacher, musician and vocal instructor and a well-known breeder of Shetland Sheepdogs, who started by boarding for friends and neighbors and later added grooming. Cheryl Eighmey was hired as the groomer in 1996 and purchased the business on December 31, 2005. The site says the kennel has served the local community for over 27 years, and names Felicia Ruth White as the groomer.

Practical notes

The kennel is open in two windows a day, 8-10 AM and 4-6 PM, Monday to Saturday, and is closed to the public in the middle of the day. Reservations are required for boarding and grooming, and the site asks for them by phone rather than message because of how much information has to be exchanged. Hannalore also breeds and shows Australian Shepherds.