Welcome to DD Kennels
We are a Billings based training and boarding facility located on the west end of Billings.
- Heated Indoor/Outdoor Kennels
- Access to a Large Fenced Area
- Specialized Training for Bird Dogs
Located in West Billings, our 3200 square foot kennel can host more than 20 dogs at a time. If that’s not enough, we are also located on over 13 acres of fenced-in training and exercise area touching 587 acres of state land on which to train.
We love dogs and have been training, breeding, and working dogs since 1997. Since 2007, Our owner, Andy Elser, has been a professional guide and outfitter so we know what it takes to make a great bird dog. You learn quickly what to look for when you hunt with dogs for a living.
Boarding
It breaks our hearts to see a dog without its pack. And this is an area that hits many pet owners’ hearts also. We want to provide a space to have your dogs stay with us during your time away from home. We offer heated indoor/outdoor kennels with access to a large fenced-in area. There are no upcharges or up-sales to get access to this additional space. It is simple, your dog will not only have a safe place to stay but also be able to exercise, play with caring people, and socialize with other dogs.
We charge $30.00 per day per dog. We recommend bringing your own food as in most cases a quick change of food will cause nausea and discomfort for your beloved pet. It will be hard enough on them while you’re gone. We also require up-to-date records on vaccinations.
Training
We specialize in bird dogs. Over the years we have learned the process of training a good gun dog. This process does not happen overnight and is an ongoing process. Each dog is different, just like people. We will go through three stages of training with each dog. Each stage takes approximately three months but each dog learns at their own pace and each owners’ expectations of their dog are different, so it is important for us to stay in communication with you. From puppy development to a finished dog or regular preseason tune-ups, we love to train.
We only take 15 dogs at a time to make sure that each dog is getting the training, exercise, and socialization that they need to learn. Also, it helps to educate the owner as well as that is a huge part of the process and bond. Please call at any time to discuss timing and availability. The more we know the more we can help.
We also have started and finished gun dogs for sale throughout the year. Please call for availability or check out our Facebook page.
Pricing
Pricing for training is simple – $1,250 per month. This includes food, kenneling, and training. We ask also for a 3-month commitment. We are committed to training 5 days or more per week so if you are in the area and would like to bring your beloved pet home for a few days throughout the week that can be arranged.
In addition to the monthly training, we can also offer your dog a unique experience by bringing them along during our guide season. This option is offered on a case-by-case basis. It's an amazing opportunity for a dog to see more birds in a short time than many dogs get to see in a lifetime and to see over 200,000 acres of prime bird habitat. If this is of interest to you, please call for more information. The old saying is very true that you can’t have a bird dog if they don’t get to see birds.
About DD Kennels
DD kennels is a tribute to the great Duane Donald Elser my grandfather who was to me, my hero and mentor. He taught me the ways of Montana. I am a proud fifth-generation Montanan, my family gets to trace its roots back far into Montana history. I was blessed to be raised by grandparents and parents that instilled Montana into my soul. I grew up in Montana and have been fishing and hunting everything I could as far back as I can remember. As I grew up, my parents hatched a plan for me and my brother to learn responsibility by buying, training, and ultimately breeding dogs. We started with Labs and the lifestyle became a passion! There are just certain times where the dog makes more sense to me than people. And after a brief stint in the US Army, I came home and just couldn’t figure out what to be when I grew up, so I decided to do what I knew. Hunt and Fish and train dogs. I guess by now I can say that I have made a career out of it.
We are a family operation. My wife and kids are often my training partners and I love what we get to do! We limit ourselves to training 15 dogs at a time so we know that they will receive our full attention. In addition to the monthly training, we can also offer your dog a unique experience on a case by case basis to bring them along on our guide season. This is an amazing opportunity for a dog to see more birds in a short time than many dogs get to see in a lifetime and to see over 200,000 acres of prime bird habitat. If this is of interest to you, please call for more information.