About Walnut Ridge Farm

Who runs it

Walnut Ridge Farm is run by Laura Hark-Plumley and her husband Ritchie Plumley at Shady Spring, four miles off Exit 133 of I-64 east of Beckley. The About section dates the business precisely: "Laura has been holding group obedience classes since 1992 and boarding dogs since 1994. In 1998 Laura married Ritchie Plumley and together they have experience with all different breeds, mixes, temperaments, and canine behavior." That makes this one of the longest-running dog operations in southern West Virginia.

Training programs and what they cost

Two, both priced openly. Private lessons run about an hour at the facility at 100 dollars per lesson, offered year round when schedules allow, and the site says they will work on whatever you need, naming obedience, aggression and fear as examples. Board and Train runs one to two weeks, takes dogs from four months old, and starts at 1,000 dollars. The site lists what a board-and-train covers: walking properly on a leash, sit, sit for petting rather than jumping up, the beginning of stay, recall, socialization to other animals and people, and mouthing. All of it is on-lead work.

The handover is part of the program

The site is direct that board and train does not end at pickup: "This does require owner training too, when you pick your dog up we will go over all the commands and work with both you and your dog." It also says routines and setups at home may need to change.

Boarding

Boarding starts at 50 dollars per day plus tax, in large indoor runs with heated floors in winter, daily exercise in a fenced area, and dogs matched into play groups or let out individually depending on temperament. The kennel sits next to the house so someone is with the dogs at all times.

Worth knowing

This is a working farm with horses as well as dogs, and the site notes that imported German Shepherd puppies and trained adults are sometimes available. Visits are by appointment only, and the listed phone is a landline that does not take texts.