Chris Akin has built Webb Footed Kennels in Jonesboro, AR, into a nationally recognised hunt-test operation that the program’s records associate with more than 350 Hunting Retriever Champions and over 3,000 duck dogs and family companions trained.

The counts underline a singular focus: training retrievers for the field and for competition. Akin’s program is widely described in profiles as producing numerous champions and training thousands of duck dogs and family companions, establishing Webb Footed Kennels as a major center for hunt-test preparation in the region. Participating in hunt tests helps dogs develop their natural hunting skills and obedience in realistic field conditions, enhancing their performance and controlled behavior, which is essential for both competition and real-world hunting.

Akin’s public profile is tied closely to a major equipment supplier. “I’ve been with SportDOG Brand since 2003,” he said, citing a long-running relationship with the e-collar producer and supplier of training equipment. The link with SportDOG Brand appears on the company’s pro-staff pages and in the branded instructional material that features him and his methods. This partnership reflects a wider trend, as the continued popularity of hunting and sporting breeds has generated a significant market for specialized training programs across the U.S.

He emphasises practical, field-ready tools when describing his kit. “Their products were designed by trainers and hunters who know how to develop a high-quality, reliable and durable e-collar,” Akin said, praising both design and durability. In other anecdotes he notes the slim remote design and how easily it stows in a pocket or hooks on waders, details that speak to the daily realities of working retrievers in marsh and river environments. Additionally, common training methods utilized in successful programs, such as structured obedience, use of leads, check cords, and e-collars, are central to the techniques he demonstrates in publicly available training content.

Webb Footed Kennels operates from Jonesboro, AR, and its program has grown over years of field work and test preparation. The kennel’s focus on hunt tests and duck dogs is reflected in its public-facing materials and in the number of dogs associated with the operation; those figures are frequently cited when the program’s outcomes are described.

Akin also appears in instructional content for the company that supplies his gear, offering training tips to handlers and owners. That content ranges from basic obedience and puppy handling to more advanced hunt-test preparation, and it positions him as both a hands-on trainer and a public instructor for gun-dog techniques. By engaging in training and testing, owners gain not only experience but also a clearer understanding of their dogs’ capabilities.

The relationship with a major equipment maker has two practical effects: it provides a platform for Akin’s teaching, and it gives prospective students and owners access to specific tools he endorses. Akin’s public statements about equipment emphasise reliability and trainer-led design as key reasons he remains associated with the brand.

For owners and handlers interested in the hunt-test pathway, Akin’s program is presented as one route to preparing dogs for standardized evaluations of field skills. Webb Footed Kennels’ scale and output figures frequently appear in profiles as shorthand for the program’s reach and its emphasis on structured training for retrievers used in waterfowl work and competitive hunt-testing.

Those interested in Akin’s training tips or the pro-staff profile can find details on the SportDOG Brand website and related instructional platforms that host his sessions. The partnership has resulted in instructional videos and branded material in which Akin demonstrates handling, line manners and other hunt-test elements.

At this stage Webb Footed Kennels remains an active training operation in Jonesboro, AR, with a public record that ties Chris Akin’s name to substantial counts of trained dogs and long-term collaboration with SportDOG Brand. His quoted endorsement and the equipment details he highlights form a through-line in descriptions of his approach.

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Original reporting: view the original article.