We are Bob and Laura Whitlock, proud owners of four beautiful Llewellin Setters, “Splash”, “Bristol”, "Duchess" and "Hope". We both currently work full-time outside of the home in the Information Technology field, Laura as a Mainframe Software Developer and Bob as a Project Manager, but since acquiring our first Llewellin in December of 2004, this rare breed has totally captured our hearts.

These days, we are dedicating a large part of our lives to these wonderful dogs, and to educating others about the breed; not only about their natural and exceptional bird hunting instincts out in the field, but also about their loving, gentle, devotion and companionship at home.

We live in Shellsburg, Iowa, a small rural community about 20 minutes northwest of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. We own a small acreage nestled far back into the Hickory timber with many mature fruit trees and lush rolling pastures for our two horses.

Our dogs have a very large fenced-in backyard where they run, play and interact with each other daily. They all get along like peas in a pod and seem to really enjoy each other's company. Sometimes they play so hard that when they finally come inside they just flop due to sheer exhaustion.

When you purchase a Hickory Hollow Llewellin Setter, we feel that you are not only getting a new family or hunting companion, but may also enjoy the experience of a lifetime.  From our regular BLOG updates to postings of new photos and our LIVE puppy cam, you can feel like you have been a part of this pup's life from the start, not just from the age of 7 weeks and beyond.  

We handle every aspect of our business and customer transactions with precise detail and with utmost professionalism. All of our information, contract conditions and guarantees are provided in writing. We strive to go above and beyond our competition by providing a well-rounded package with the highest quality of service and bloodlines possible.

We breed with the aim of producing a high quality, close working, foot hunting dog that will perform with a superior level of excellence in the field as well as embody the ideal blend of strength, stamina, grace and style that is classic of the breed. Our breedings incorporate some of the finest Llewellin bloodlines in the country including Wind’em (Advie), Gladstone, Royacelle, Blizzard and Bondhu. Just check out our dog's pedigrees!

We pledge to better the breed by doing genetic screening for known health issues, such as OFA screening for Canine Hip Dysplasia and CERF screening for inheritable eye diseases. We will not perpetuate any known genetic conditions in our lines.

We require all of our pups to be spayed or neutered unless they prove to be of breeding quality. Before any of our pups can be bred, they must also pass all genetic health screening tests.

Look for us in upcoming bird dog challenges in 2008. We want to showcase the Llewellin Breed and our dogs in competitive events to prove their natural instincts and outstanding abilities in the field.

We do everything humanly possible to produce healthy, happy and sound puppies by raising them in the best possible way involving; feeding a nutritional diet, plenty of exercise, socialization both with children and other adult dogs, noise desensitization, neurological stimulation based on the "Super Dog" theory, and medical/veterinary care.

We are dedicated to each and every one of our pups and won't leave anything left to chance. If we have a big litter and momma is having a hard time feeding them all, we supplement with regular bottle feedings. If a pup is small or ailing, we don't just leave it's fate up to mother nature, we get right in there and do what needs to be done to save a life.  Loss is not an option if we can have anything to do with it! Due to our diligent efforts, we have successfully reared all live-born pups to this date without any loss.

Our goal is to place our pups in the best possible environment for them. These dogs were bred to hunt and that will be a high priority when finding them a home. We will also look for these dogs to be lifelong family companions, not just hunters and that they will be kept indoors most of the time and looked upon as an integral part of the family. These dogs need companionship, the kind they will also provide 100 fold in return. If you are one of the lucky ones to adopt one of our pups, then you have demonstrated to us that you have our common interests at heart and we believe you will be the kind of puppy parent(s) that we are seeking.

If for any reason an owner can no longer keep the dog, we would be happy to provide assistance in finding the dog a suitable new home or would be willing to take the dog back. We will not permit our pups to be surrendered to animal shelters, humane societies or rescue groups when they can come back to us. We take great interest in all our pups throughout their entire lifetime.

Our Llewellins live in our home and are part of our family. We are not a “kennel” and therefore do not have many dogs, and the ones we do have get tons of love and attention on a daily basis, the kind of affection they give back in full.

We do not overbreed our dogs.  We have one litter per year per female and let them rest for a season in between each litter. For that reason, we only raise a couple litters per year, and unfortunately this fact will make the availability of our pups somewhat limited.

If you choose a Hickory Hollow Llewellin Setter, you are not only going to get a quality family and hunting companion, you will also be provided with a rare opportunity of getting glimpses into the life of your much anticipated new arrival and you will become a part of the "Hickory Hollow family".

• From the moment the planned breeding takes place all the way through to the day the puppies go to their new homes, we make regular updates to the litter's dedicated web page including BLOG entries, the addition of new photos and video clips and you can watch your puppy at almost any time via our "LIVE Puppy Cam".

• We are not only the pup's breeder but we would also like to call ourselves a friend. We think of all our pups as our "fur kids", so we like to follow-up to check on the puppy's progress, share stories, receive feedback, answer questions and are available to our clients throughout the lifetime of the dog and beyond. E-mails and photos are always welcome!

We've been accepted into the Reputable Breeder Directory.  All breeders who are accepted into this registry must pass specific criteria for how they conduct business and their breeding practices.

We are honored to be a part of this world-wide directory.  Check us out!

NALBA (North American Llewellin Breeders Association) - We became an Associate member of the North American Llewellin Breeders Association in August of 2005.

FDSB (Field Dog Stud Book) - Our dogs are 100% pure Llewellin which have been registered with the American Field of Chicago in the Field Dog Stud Book and have been DNA tested for parentage and to prove lineage. All our puppies will also be eligible for FDSB registration as purebred Llewellin Setters.

AKC (American Kennel Club) - Because our dogs are already registered with the FDSB, which is a domestic registry acceptable to the AKC, our dogs and their pups are eligible for open registration with the AKC as purebred English Setters.
We offer this option for those clients who wish to participate in AKC sponsored events.

DNA - Our breeding stock have been DNA tested by the MMI Genomics laboratory to guarantee pedigrees by proving parentage and purity of the Llewellin lines. MMI Genomics Inc, is an internationally acclaimed laboratory with experience genotyping hundreds of thousands of dogs for breeders and registries. DNA is the only way to prove that a dog is a purebred Llewellin and we can show certifiable proof that all of our dogs have Verified Identifiable Parentage ("VIP") status.

OFA - Our breeding stock are OFA certified by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals to be free of Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) once they reach the minimum two years of age. X-rays are taken while the dog is chemically restrained in order to get an accurate photo of the hip joints. Those x-rays are sent off to the OFA for evaluation by several doctors who will rate the hip joints from Excellent through Dysplastic. Ratings within normal limits are Excellent, Good and Fair. Dogs with these ratings reduce the likelihood that their offspring will inherit the condition.

CERF - Our breeding stock are CERF certified by the Canine Eye Registration Foundation to be free of heritable eye diseases by members of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO).

Feeding - Our adult dogs and puppies are fed Hill's® Science Diet® products - The Global Leader in Pet Nutrition. We truly believe that this brand is the absolute best of the premium foods for providing optimal health and nutrition for growing puppies and adult dogs.

While in maintenance mode, our adult dogs are fed Science Diet® "Adult" formula.

For our stud dog during periods where our females are in season, we feed Science Diet® "Active Adult" formula in order to try and keep weight on.

For our dams that have been bred, at around four and a half weeks post breeding, they are switched from the "Adult" formula to the "Puppy" formula in order to provide for the higher energy needs of pregnant and nursing mothers. We will continue to feed the puppy formula to our nursing mothers until weaning time.  

During and after weaning, the puppies are fed Science Diet®. During the weaning period they are fed "Savory Chicken Entree Puppy" in canned form which is mixed with Esbilac 2nd Step cereal, and then are gradually switched to the dry kibble Puppy "Small Bites" and then eventually "Original" formula, the only difference being the kibble size.

We are absolutely convinced that this regimen, starting with the mother, makes for stronger and healthier puppies.

Record Keeping - Even before the pups are born, our record keeping begins.  At about day 55 during gestation, we begin taking momma's temperature twice daily.  This information is used to help us judge whelping day or potential problems.  From the moment of birth, all important information for each pup is recorded such as birth time, weight, length, color, markings, position and gender. Other information is also regularly recorded such as weights, wormings, vaccinations and other developmental significant events.

Weight Measurements - Our puppies are weighed daily until they are three weeks old and then weekly thereafter. Their weights are recorded on a data sheet and kept with all the other records for the particular litter. This practice helps to alert us to a pup that might be ailing or to those that need some extra time at the milkbar or need special bottle feedings.

Worming - Our puppies are wormed regularly at weeks 2, 3, 4 and 6. Pups should be free of worms by the time they go to their new homes, however the veterinarian should check a fecal sample during your initial veterinary wellness exam to verify.

Vaccinations - Our puppies are given their first parvo virus vaccination at 6 weeks, which is the earliest age recommended by the vaccine manufacturers. The next vaccination boosters will be due at 9 weeks and 12 weeks of age and will be the responsibility of the new owner.

Socialization - Our puppies are well socialized during their time at Hickory Hollow. They will be exposed to other animals (adult dogs and cats), the outdoors (weather permitting), and many humans including children. We believe that socialization is extremely important in creating a well-rounded animal that will adapt to any situation that they encounter making them better hunters and family companions.

Desensitization - Our puppies are subjected to a variety of different types of noises throughout their time at Hickory Hollow. From birth to about 4 weeks of age, they are in our home and experience regular daily household noises. From 4 to 7 weeks, they are in our new puppy facility and are subjected to the sounds of squeaky toys, running water, the can opener, a food processor, clanking food pans and the unexpected opening and closing of doors.

Researchers believe certain stimuli can aid in boosting a puppy's neurological system during it's development which can greatly improve the dog's performance later in life. These benefits include improved cardiovascular performance (heart rate), stronger heart beats, stronger adrenal glands, more tolerance to stress and greater resistance to disease. The particular interval of time in a puppy's life when the neurological system is rapidly developing is between 3 and 16 days of age so it is during this time frame that we will perform five neurological stimulation exercises each day to aid in their development.

All of the stimulation exercises below are done for each puppy, once per day and are held for approximately 3 to 5 seconds.

1. Tactile Stimulation - One foot is tickled with a Q-tip
2. Head Pointed Up - Puppy is held perpendicular to the ground with head directly above the tail
3. Head Pointed Down - Puppy is held perpendicular to the ground with tail directly above the head
4. Supine Position - Puppy is held on it's back in the palm of the hand with it's muzzle facing the ceiling
5. Thermal Stimulation - Puppy is placed on a damp towel which was cooled in the refrigerator

For more information on the "Super Dog" or Bio Sensor program, please see BreedingBetterDogs.com

Laura has a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from Iowa State University and in the past has had extensive training as a veterinary technician with over three years experience in the field. Laura has also been certified as a Hill's Veterinary Nutritional Advocate and has had the opportunity to educate pet owners on the importance of proper diet in relation to maintaining good health. Therefore, our dogs used in our breeding program are kept on a strict regimen including daily Hill's Science Diet kibble, monthly heartworm preventative and intestinal worming medication, annual veterinary exams and vaccinations for all major canine diseases which include Distemper, Parvo Virus, Corona Virus, Bordetella (Kennel Cough), Lyme Disease and Rabies.

Bob is an avid bird hunter. He has been hunting for over 20 years, sometimes with dogs and sometimes without. Recently, he has really come to appreciate the Llewellin Setter. After hunting with different breeds which his buddies would bring along on their hunts, he has seen them all from Brittanys and Pointing Labs to German Shorthairs and he can attest to the outstanding hunting style of the Llewellin Setter. Not hooked on the breed yet or still trying to decide if you want to switch from the old tried and true? If you would like to see a Llewellin in action, just call us up! We'd be happy to take you out in the field with our dogs to you can see how they operate FIRST HAND!

Have no fear about putting your trust in us!
We have placed our puppies in wonderful homes literally from coast to coast! (Oregon to New York).

References are available upon request or please feel free to check out our Testimonials page.

Through the summer and fall months of 2006 and into winter 2007, we constructed a 26' x 36' outbuilding to house our 9' x 14' puppy facility.

Design began in June 2006, our old garage which occupied the desired spot was hauled away in August 2006 and construction began in September 2006.

Click here to view the details of the construction progress.

Our climate controlled facility is equipped with hot/cold running water, a kitchen area with an extra large deep sink (great for giving puppy baths) and includes an oversized puppy play area and doggie door to a covered 6' x 10' outdoor run. The design is very effective and highly efficient, helping us to streamline our routines and greatly improve the cleanliness and quality of care that we can provide for our pups.

The 9' x 4.5' play pen easily accommodates and safely contains our energetic and ever growing puppies. It is lined with Dri-Deck and rubber mat flooring, (which Colby has so graciously exposed for you in the photo), is bedded down with red cedar and equipped with an automatic waterer. The cedar serves multiple purposes, it gives off a wonderful aroma, repels bugs and also soaks up urine and helps to keep fecal matter off of the puppies coats. The entryway is designed as a two-part sliding door whereby the top half can be removed to allow entry of the nursing momma while still keeping puppies contained.

As of July 2006, Hickory Hollow Llewellin Setters has teamed up with Will's Prairie Kennels. Will's Prairie Kennels is owned and operated by Bob and Kris Bartz of West Point Iowa.

Bob Bartz is a professional gun dog trainer specializing in Llewellins and on occasion they will have trained Llewellins for sale.  

Our kennels have entered into a cooperative relationship and we are very excited to be working with them. Bob Bartz is the official gun dog trainer for Hickory Hollow and will be training some pups from our litters and we will be advertising his training program and trained Llewellins for sale on our site. This association will allow us to provide a greater level of service to our clients.

To contact Bob Bartz, please call 319-669-0016.

NOTE:  As of April 2007, Will's Prairie Kennels will no longer be breeding Llewellin Setters.

Bob and Laura Whitlock

Address: 

Phone: 

E-mail: 

   Hickory Hollow Ranch 

   3049 - 62nd Street

   Shellsburg, IA  52332 

   Toll Free:  877-GUN-DOGS

   Home:        319.436.2277

   Mobile:       319.521.6201

   info@HickoryHollowLlewellins.com

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