About Montana Training and Kennels

A family-run kennel in East Helena

Montana Training and Kennels (MTK) is a family-owned dog training and boarding facility in East Helena, run by Emmet Sasser (owner, trainer and handler) and AnaLeah Sasser (owner and manager). The Sassers came to Montana in 2021, drawn by their dogs, training and the chance to hunt and train on wild birds, and took over the former Countryside Kennels. Boarding is offered for dogs and cats, along with baths and nail trims.

Training for a Champion Mindset

MTK describes its goal as developing a "Champion Mindset" in every part of a dog's life, at home, in the field, in performance and competitive events and out socially. All programs build on foundational developmental training with dedicated daily work, and each program is tailored to the individual dog and the owner's goals. Canine mental health and building confidence are named as the primary focus. Training covers gun dog work, obedience (sit, down, heel and place), force fetch and western shed dog training, and field work runs from hunting western sheds to competitive field trialing.

What owners say

One client wrote that his bird dogs received "great 'in field' pointing and retriever training" during their stay, and another said the shed dog work "was second to none."