Old Salem Kennel is a small, privately operated dog training and boarding kennel located in Oconee County, Georgia, serving clients from Watkinsville, Athens, Madison, Bishop, Bogart, and the Lake Oconee area. Founded in 1996, the kennel has remained intentionally limited in size, focused on hands-on training, clear communication, and disciplined methods that respect both the dog and the owner.
This is not a high-volume facility. Dogs are worked individually. Training is structured, purposeful, and consistent. Every program at Old Salem Kennel is built around the belief that clarity, patience, and structure produce reliable dogs—and lasting partnerships between dogs and their people.
A Lifetime of Dogs, Built the Right Way
Dogs have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Long before Old Salem Kennel became a professional operation, dogs were already a daily responsibility—hunting companions, working partners, and teachers in patience and discipline.
Professionally, I’ve trained dogs for over three decades, working with owners throughout Oconee County and surrounding communities including Athens, Watkinsville, Bishop, Bogart, Madison, and Lake Oconee. My foundation was built in the field—upland, waterfowl, and real-world hunting environments—where results matter and shortcuts are exposed quickly.
That background continues to shape how Old Salem Kennel operates today: practical training, honest expectations, and steady progress.
Training Philosophy: Clarity Before Pressure
Training doesn’t begin with correction. It begins with clarity.
Dogs thrive when expectations are clear, consistent, and applied the same way every day. Confusion—not stubbornness—is at the root of most training problems. At Old Salem Kennel, structure always comes before pressure, and repetition is used to build understanding rather than force compliance.
This philosophy carries through every program, including
Obedience Training, Truffle Dog Training, and Gundog Training, regardless of a dog’s age, breed, or working purpose.
Limited Enrollment, Hands-On Work
Old Salem Kennel intentionally limits the number of dogs in training at any given time. This allows for:
- Daily, focused training sessions
- Individual progress tracking
- Adjustments based on temperament and drive
- A calmer, more productive training environment
There are no group classes. Dogs are trained one-on-one, even when other dogs are present in structured setups.
Owners are also expected to be part of the process. When schedules allow, owners are invited into training so they can learn how to handle their dog correctly and maintain progress once training is complete.
Services Rooted in Real Work
Old Salem Kennel provides professional dog training services for clients across Watkinsville, Athens, Bishop, Bogart, Madison, and the Lake Oconee area, including:
- Professional Obedience Training
- Premium Gundog Training
- Specialized Truffle Dog Training
- Limited Boarding for approved clients
Each service is designed for owners who value quality, integrity, and long-term results over speed or convenience.
Appointment-Only, Purpose-Driven Operation
Old Salem Kennel operates on an appointment-only basis and works with a limited number of dogs at any given time. Availability is intentionally restricted to protect training quality and individual care.
If you’re looking for a professional dog training kennel near Watkinsville or Athens, Georgia, serving Oconee County and the Lake Oconee region, Old Salem Kennel may be the right fit.
Founder’s Note
Old Salem Kennel was built on the belief that good dogs are developed through clarity, consistency, and respect—not shortcuts or trends. After a lifetime spent training dogs in the field and at the kennel, that belief remains unchanged.
Every dog trained here is worked with care, intention, and accountability—because that’s what the dog deserves, and it’s what the owner is trusting me to provide.
— Todd Harvey
Founder & Trainer, Old Salem Kennel
Oconee County, Georgia
Old Salem Kennel, Inc.
2122 Old Salem Road Watkinsville, GA 30677
706-614-0217