ABOUT KERN FLYWAY RETRIEVERS
- Based in Bakersfield, Ca, we are family operated, we love duck hunting, and we love our labradors! We want to share the rich tradition of waterfowl hunting and the unparalleled companionship of a well-trained Labrador Retriever. We are committed to breeding and raising healthy and affectionate purebred Labradors with a powerful drive to retrieve. Our dogs are specifically bred to be highly trainable, making the perfect family companion and focused and determined in the field.
- We are thrilled to announce that a thriving litter of chocolate Labs was born on May 28th, 2025 and they will be ready for their forever homes in August. Sired by Gun Dog Retrievers, known for their impressive bloodlines and hunting pedigrees, our pups trace their lineage to Starlight Kennels – also highly regarded for producing top-tier hunting companions. A $500 deposit secures your place to bring one of these exceptional pups into your home, with deposits fully refundable if we don’t have the perfect fit for you.
- Let us help you find a loyal, hardworking companion that will be with you for years of adventures. We provide a nurturing environment for our puppies, fully equipped to raise large litters with the highest standards of care. We feed our puppies Purina Pro Plan, supplement with essential vitamins from NuVet, and ensure they receive the necessary vaccines and handling to start life healthy and strong. All our puppies receive lots of daily interaction to become familiar and comfortable around other animals and people, especially children. This interaction includes early neurological stimulation (ENS), early scent introduction (ESI) and as they age, positive reinforced retrieving and basic obedience commands.
- Our dogs are registered purebred with the AKC. Complete genetic and health testing is performed on dams and studs prior to breeding to ensure healthy puppies and promote the wellbeing of the Labrador breed. Health screening is OFA certified and includes advanced cardiac, eyes, hips, and elbows. DNA testing includes centronuclear myopathy, degenerative myelopathy, cystinuria, exercise induced collapse, nasal parakeratosis, PRA-PRCD, copper toxicosis, and coat color.
- We do not remove our puppies’ dewclaws because we firmly believe in preserving the integrity of the whole dog. We agree with the growing opinion among many veterinarians and working dog enthusiasts that dewclaws are incredibly useful for traction and grip, and removing them can hurt the puppy as well as generate other health problems like muscular atrophy and carpal arthritis. Though rare, it is true that some dogs experience dewclaw injuries from getting snagged. So, we recommend that all handlers regularly inspect the dewclaws and keep nails trimmed, especially during hunting season. The following articles by Ducks Unlimited and Dr. Christine Zink support our reasons for retaining dewclaws.
- M. Christine Zink DVM, PhD, DACVSMR; Dew the Dew (claws)?
- Ducks Unlimited: The Great Dewclaw Debate
Why the name, 'Kern Flyway'?
Kern County is perfectly positioned at the very center the Pacific Flyway —a vast migratory route stretching from the Arctic tundra of Alaska to the wetlands of South America. Flyways are the aerial highways used by millions of waterfowl as they travel between their breeding and wintering grounds. And because of our central location on this route, we’re fortunate to witness an extraordinary diversity of ducks and geese—more species than many will see in a lifetime.
California is home to 19 National Wildlife Refuges open to waterfowl hunting during the season, and year after year, the Kern National Wildlife Refuge consistently ranks at the top in terms of bird counts and hunter success. It’s recognized as one of the premier destinations for waterfowl hunting in the entire country.
Kern Flyway Retrievers exists because great duck hunting demands great retrievers—and our dogs have risen to that challenge season after season. Our most cherished memories were made right here in Kern County: beneath the sunrise skies of the Kern Refuge, along the quiet stretches of the Kern River, and on the cool waters of Lake Isabella. It’s where our retrievers learned to hunt, made their best retrieves, and became the companions we’ll never forget.