ABOUT US
Our love for WPG's
Welcome to CrossIron Kennels!
We are Ron & Mary Belt and we live on an acreage near Calgary, Alberta in Rocky View County.
We are a small kennel with the focus of breeding the best Wirehaired Pointing Griffons from top Field & Conformation stock. We hope to achieve & conform to the original Korthal's standard and we test hips, elbows & eyes as well as K-locus: KBKB to ensure genetically sound dogs.
Ron grew up hearing about his grandfather's amazing Korthal's Griffons (Wirehaired Pointing Griffons) that he owned in the Netherlands and he dreamed that someday he would get his own 'Griff' and experience for himself this excellent companion & versatile hunter.
In 2009, his dream came true when he got his first pup 'Dina' from a Montana breeder. Her amazing natural ability for hunting and tracking pheasants and her gentle, loving nature was more than he could have ever hoped for in a dog.
Ron joined the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA) in order to learn more on how to train his Griff. He became the treasurer for his local chapter and enjoyed the community of like minded people dedicated to training & developing versatile dogs for upland & waterfowl hunting.
In 2016, Ron got his second pup from Razorsedge Kennel in his home province of Alberta. He was at a stage in his life where he had more time to commit to training and learning more about the WPG breed. It wasn't long before Mary caught the dog training bug and became involved with NAVHDA and training their dogs.
Their hope was that Skye would have the essential elements of temperament, bird instinct, genetic & OFA testing (Skye received the highest & rare rating of excellent on her hips) in order for her to become Crossiron's foundation bitch.
And Skye did indeed prove that she had what it would take! Her excellent pedigree did produce an incredible gun dog: Skye received a Prize 1 in her Natural Ability test, and Prize 1 - Maximum score of 204/204 on her Utility test in 2019.
Skye's first litter was born in the spring of 2019. It was a strong litter with all pups showing bird drive very early on and 4 pups have already tested their Natural Ability at 5 1/2 months old & it was very evident that the hunting genes were passed on with all pups scoring extremely well!
OUR 'GOT GRIFF' FAMILY
WHY WE BREED
Our dogs are bred from the top hunting and conformation lines. They are the result of careful breeding that has resulted in limited genetic problems such as hips, elbows and eyes.
It is our intention to develop great hunters with excellent drive and instincts that conform to the standards Korthal's intended for the breed: Dogs that are intelligent, loyal, biddable and with great endurance in the field and water.
Griffs are excellent family companions who love to watch over their people and their property.
These affectionate dogs love to snuggle and can lounge around lazily in the home. But don't be fooled by their easy going demeanor! In the field they turn into hunting machines demonstrating why the have earned the moniker, 'Supreme Gun Dog!'
MEET CROSSIRON'S NEWEST ADDITION-
REAGAN!
(CROSSIRON'S CATCH ME IF YOU CAN)
Born February 21, 2021
Reagan was the only girl from our C litter and she was a little go getter and escape artist from the start (hence her registered name!)
With her dark head, contrasting light colour, spunky & smart personality, she was simply irresistable! It's a long road ahead with field testing and health clearances but our hope is that we will see Reagan in our future breeding program one day!
MEET OUR PACK!
RAZORSEDGE RED SKYE RIZING
"SKYE"
EAR MOUNTAIN INCONTESTABLE
"DINA"
INTRODUCING...
CROSSIRON AIN'T MISBEHAVIN!
'HAVEN'
CROSSIRON'S NEXT GENERATION!
NATURAL ABILITY TEST PRIZE 1 - 112 MAX SCORE AT 5 1/2 MONTHS!
UTILITY TEST AT 17 MONTHS PRIZE 2 - 193
MEET HANK
UTILITY TEST PRIZE 3 AT 15 MONTHS
Hank joined our pack March 1, 2020 as a rehomed 10 month old lover boy. He is a half brother to our pups as they share the same great sire, CH COTTONWOOD'S NORTHERN LIGHTS. This goofy boy has so much natural talent he makes us look good and he fills our home with much love & laughter. And, he's a hunting machine to boot!