LORAN SMITH: Wildrose Kennels a top breeder of bird dogs

OXFORD, Miss. — When daybreak comes in Oxford this time of year, it arrives in the serenity of a rural countryside with the sounds of nature bringing pause to the vicissitudes of life. The cicadas having finally wound down their chirping. A mourning dove comes on stage, albeit briefly. And in the distance, the early morning traffic reminds you that commerce has its place no matter the circumstances.

First light brings about a cacophony of Labrador’s energetically barking from Mike Stewart’s Wildrose Kennels, 10 miles from the campus of Ole Miss and the haunts where Faulkner, the literary giant, once frequented. There is something special about higher education enclaves all across this great country, but who is not charmed by the plethora of signature attractions you find in Oxford?

John T. Edge, a Gray, Ga., native, runs the Southern Foodways alliance, which attracts abundant visitors who want to learn about the art of cooking and the intrigue of menus and recipes. Any author worth his salt aspires to see his works on display at Square Books, across from the courthouse. You want a meal to write home about, you book a reservation at City Grocery. In addition to Faulkner’s legend, there’s the Grove, considered the best tailgating scene in the country — certainly if you talk to Ole Miss advocates. Now that Hugh Freeze, the new Rebel football coach, has given fans confidence his team can compete on a championship level in the rugged Southeastern Conference, there is bold and spirited atmosphere permeating the town and campus. Win or lose, Oxford always overwhelms the emotions.

Wildrose Kennels, with its reputation as the best place for breeding and training birddogs, fits right in with the accomplished who inspire headlines and build reputations in Oxford. Stewart is the Faulkner of breeders and trainers. Dog aficionados in Europe — and especially in the United Kingdom, where it all began — not only know about Wildrose, they have found their way to County Road 425 to observe “The Wildrose Way, Raising a Gentleman’s Gundog for Home and Field.” That is the title of a handsome coffee table book which is coauthored by a former Georgia offensive lineman, Paul Ferson, an editor for Orvis. This book must be read by a soothing fire in the evening with a classic bourbon in reach.

Mike is a onetime cop. He was chief of police at Ole Miss for 18 years, but he didn’t suddenly take up with labs and training. He has always trained dogs and turned his hobby into a booming business, which has brought about a worldwide reputation. Wildrose-trained dogs can be found in all states in the U.S. and in seven provinces in Canada. There are 115 dogs in training at Wildrose. Most of his dogs are imported British Labs.

You will not find a shock collar anywhere on the Wildrose property. By starting a dog early and by developing a relationship based on positive reinforcement and gentle persuasion, Mike’s dogs have the reputation of being the “best-behaved ‘gentlemen’s gun dogs’ in the world.” That quote comes from Garden & Gun magazine, just one of the sophisticated slick magazines to feature the “Wildrose Way.”

One of the most interesting stops on a tour of the Wildrose property is the romper room for puppies. Training at Wildrose begins, in most cases, before a puppy is a week old. Wildrose pups are never scolded or screamed at. Never is there a discouraging word. The puppies have an obstacle course, which they run through daily. It is designed to simulate the outdoor conditions they will be exposed to when they are ready to go to the fields.

Wildrose Kennels, operated by Mike, his wife, Cathy, and a staff of about a dozen, is located on 142 acres of woods, grass, and ponds for training purposes. Each dog has its own trainer so that it will never become confused. There is a company store with a tin roof. The manager is the pretty Anna Swinney whose smile certainly enhances business. Mike may even introduce you to Deke, the Ducks Unlimited black lab mascot.

A Wildrose Lab might cost as much as $10,000, maybe $15,000. I like what Mike told Garden & Gun about that.

“When you factor in the cost of this place, the time my four full-time trainers spend with each dog, I think it’s a fair price. Hey, people will have these dogs as life and sporting companions for 10 to 15 years. They often spend far, far more than that on a car, which they might have for, what, four years? And that is just a car!”

Point taken.