Barton founded Southern Oak Kennels in 2012, after spending a few years training labradors and springer spaniels under mentor Mark Hairfield. He has dedicated the last decade to improving the lines of British Labradors available here in the US. Barton is dedicated to keeping SOK a traditional, family-run kennel that focuses on gundogs who excel both in the field and at home.
Barton has built a legacy of producing British Labradors that are an improvement to the breed standard. By doing so he has built wonderful relationships with clients that have become deep lasting friendships that all started because of a dog. If there was one main motivating factor that drives Southern Oak Kennels most, it would be watching a client build a bond with their Labrador. These bonds are forged not only in the woods or open fields, but also every day in the home and office. Our hope is that every dog from SOK will create a bond between man and dog that will last a lifetime.
