Located in the rolling hills of northern Osage County, Oklahoma, our Prairie Hills Ranch provides a respite to a fast-paced world full of concrete and is the home of Smith Kennels. Pavement ends well before you cross in to the Prairie Hills Ranch and you can feel the stress melt away as bird dogs and the great outdoors become the center of attention.

Smith Kennels has been a family endeavor for decades. Ronnie Smith Sr., started it back in 1956 in Big Cabin, Oklahoma. Some of his son’s earliest memories are of being with his father at the kennels. As a toddler, Ronnie Smith, Jr. was cleaning kennels and filling water buckets. At the age of 14 Ronnie’s dad set him up with his first professional training dog. His father’s patience with a young boy in the kennel sparked a passion and a love of dogs that have been a driving force throughout Ronnie’s life.

Ronnie took over the kennels in 1982 after his father passed away. Since then he has worked diligently to improve the business and the training format. He has spent decades giving bird dog training seminars across the country, helping people to better understand their dogs and how to interact with a dog in a way that helps the dog.

Ronnie spent much of his life in hunting camps where he guided hunts for wild bobwhite quail on some of the largest ranches in Texas. He has run the guiding operations on the 6666 Ranch, the Mariposa Ranch, and the Norrias Division of the King Ranch. Ronnie has had the privilege of guiding dignitaries such as President George H. W. Bush, President George W. Bush, Secretary of State James Baker, astronaut Eugene Cernan, and hall of fame football player Lynn Swann.

Even though he is a member of a family recognized for their training abilities, whom some have called "bird dog training royalty," Ronnie always remains very humble and eager to learn from others. He is the consummate student of animal behavior and will always be looking to animals to learn more about them. He, like all of the Smiths, simply enjoys bird dogs and feels privileged to work alongside them.

Bird dogs and upland hunting are a way of life for much of our family. Ronnie’s uncle is the bird dog legend, Delmar Smith. Delmar is recognized as the founder of the Smith Training Method (also sometimes referred to as The Silent Command System or HuntSmith) and is a Field Trial Hall of Fame inductee. Delmar’s field trial career gained him early recognition in the 1950s and he built on that knowledge for the remainder of his career. He began the well-known Smith Training Seminars which his son, Rick Smith, and Ronnie still continue. Delmar's long career in the bird dog world has garnered recognition through many awards, such as the T. Boone Pickens Lifetime Sportsman Award. Called a "living legend" by many, Delmar has left an indelible imprint in the bird dog industry. Both Delmar’s sons, Rick and Tom, are also noted for their skills with bird dogs. Rick earned many Brittany field trial championships, is a Brittany Hall of Fame inductee, and is also a Smith Seminar instructor. Tom also trained bird dogs for the public, successfully campaigned dogs in horseback field trials, and guided wild quail hunts throughout his career.

Susanna, a 4th generation rancher, is originally from far west Texas. Her roots are tied closely to the conservation of land, and the welfare of wildlife and livestock. Whether through low-stress handling methods for cattle or natural horsemanship theories, Susanna has always looked for a quiet, natural way to interact with animals. The transition to training bird dogs over 20 years ago was easy for her.

Susanna has a General Business degree from Texas Tech University and a Juris Doctorate from St. Mary's University. What seems like a lifetime ago, she worked for the House Committee on Agriculture in Washington, DC. Her time living in DC reinforced her belief that her true calling is working directly with animals.

Together Ronnie and Susanna have hunted with dogs from Canada to the Mexican border. They have guided hunters and trained dogs in good bird years and in bad. They know the conditions that challenge bird dogs and what makes dogs successful.

It is a family atmosphere at the kennel. Ronnie and Susanna's twins, Reagan and Gage, are wholly incorporated in the daily life with the dogs. The family believes it is important for youth to be a part of the outdoors and for young ones to experience the joy a bird dog can bring.

Dr. RuthAnn Lobos currently serves as a senior veterinarian for Nestle’ Purina PetCare. Dr. Lobos joined Purina in 2005, as Veterinary Communications Manager for Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets. In this role, she managed the comprehensive VIP experience for the brand, as well as Purina’s robust partnership with the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Throughout her Purina career, Dr. Lobos has worked as Senior Manager of Training and Senior Manager of Veterinary Communication for Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets. For four years, she managed the Global Scientific Programs and Events for the Purina Institute, which advances the science of nutrition, promoting global collaboration with veterinary and other scientific thought leaders to help pets live better, longer lives.

She played an integral role in the annual Companion Animal Nutrition Summit, a signature event that connects more than 150 global thought leaders to advance science and research in pet nutrition.

Dr. Lobos graduated from Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. She also became certified in canine physical rehabilitation through the Canine Rehabilitation Institute in 2010. She completed her certification as a veterinary acupuncture therapist from the Canine Rehabilitation Institute in 2021. She is also an active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition, American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians, and Colorado Veterinary Medical Association.

Dr. Lobos currently resides in Boulder, Colorado, where she spends her evenings and weekends practicing as a relief veterinarian. Outside of work, Dr. Lobos is an avid triathlete and marathoner and enjoys fly-fishing, working with sporting dogs, upland game hunting, hiking, and camping with her husband and son. Dr. Lobos has a hard-charging, 9-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever, Finn, who her family rescued when he was 2 and continues to keep them on their toes!