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Anna (Childs) Feller K9 Training & Adelhorst Kennels
"Professional Dog Training and German Shepherd Breeding!"
About Us
Hi, I’m Anna (Childs) Feller—a dedicated dog trainer and the heart behind Adelhorst Kennels. I’m passionate about helping dogs and their owners build strong, respectful relationships through clear communication and consistent, real-world training. I work with all breeds and ages, using a non-treat-based approach that focuses on lasting results. Whether you're starting with a new puppy or working through behavioral challenges, I’m here to guide you every step of the way. In addition to training, I also offer boarding, German Shepherd breeding, and pet photography, combining my love for dogs with years of hands-on experience. My goal is to help you and your dog thrive—at home, in public, and everywhere in between.
Areas Served
All Surrounding Areas | Altoona, IA | Ankeny, IA | Carlisle, IA | Colfax, IA | Des Moines, IA | Mingo, IA | Mitchellville, IA | Newton, IA | Pleasant Hill, IA | Runnells, IA | Carlisle, IA
Our Professional Associations
- Alliance Therapy Dogs
Our Certifications
- 30 Years of Experience
What We Offer
Our Specialties include:
- At Anna (Childs) Feller K9 Training & Adelhorst Kennels, we proudly specialize in professional dog training for all ages and breeds, offering personalized programs that build trust, obedience, and confidence in every dog. Whether you're working with a playful puppy or a seasoned companion, our training is tailored to meet your dog’s unique needs. In addition to expert training, we also offer pet photography, capturing the personality and charm of your furry friend in timeless, high-quality portraits you’ll treasure forever.
Our Services include:
- Training Programs" We offer a variety of training approaches tailored to your dog’s needs, including non-treat based training for long-term behavioral success. Our programs are open to all breeds and ages, and we specialize in service and therapy dog training to prepare dogs for important roles in support and companionship.
- Obedience & Competition Classes: Our obedience classes range from beginner to advanced, available in group, private, and outdoor settings. We also offer AKC Obedience and Rally competition classes for those looking to take their training to the next level. Whether on-site or on location, our lessons are designed to build strong, lasting communication between you and your dog.
- Board & Train Services: Our Board and Train programs provide immersive, structured training while your dog stays with us—either at our facility or through in-home options. These programs are ideal for busy owners or dogs needing focused, consistent guidance in a controlled environment.
- Additional Services: We proudly offer German Shepherd breeding with a focus on health, temperament, and working ability. Our limited grooming services help keep your dog clean and comfortable, while our standard boarding ensures a safe, caring environment when you're away.
Testimonials
On 6/19/2026
Diane C.
had this to say:
When I dropped my dog, (Jemma) off, I was amazed at how quickly she bonded with Anna. She practically jumped into Anna's truck like they were headed out for ice cream.
Thankfully, Jemma was with Anna when the spring storms started rolling through. Anna later told me, "That first storm was hard to watch her struggle through."
I knew exactly what she meant.
But with each storm, Jemma improved.
When Anna brought her to my house for training sessions, I couldn't believe I was looking at the same dog. I had intentionally arranged for people to come over so we could test her. Anna would calmly tell her "No" in the sweetest voice, and Jemma would immediately settle down.
No barking.
No lunging.
No chaos.
I knew she would be different, but I never imagined the transformation would be that dramatic.
Anna took her back for a little more work, and two weeks later she brought her home for good.
I sat on my deck in complete disbelief as Jemma watched the neighbors without barking or acting like a fool. When someone walked by with their dog, Anna coached me through it. After Jemma let out a bark, I quietly said, "No."
And she stopped.
Just stopped.
WHAT?!
Are you kidding me?
Why didn't I bring her to Anna five years ago?
The very next morning, we had a thunderstorm. I immediately thought, "Here we go."
But Anna had already given me the tools and skills I needed to help Jemma work through her fear. We sat through the storm together. The thunder was loud.
We both heard it.
But Jemma wasn't shaking.
She wasn't vomiting.
She wasn't trying to hide.
She simply sat there and handled it.
I was stunned.
We even walked outside in the rain, and she didn't immediately run back to the door. The confidence Anna gave her during the board-and-train program was incredible.
Later that day, the mailman came.
Okay, girl, here's the real test.
Oh please, let me remember what I was taught!
She lunged.
She growled.
She barked.
She was jumping around and completely out of control.
I said, "No."
(In Anna's sweet voice, of course.)
She stopped.
In the middle of a bark.
WHAT???
The mailman yelled from across the street, "WOW! That is SO much better! What an improvement!"
I just stood there staring at Jemma in disbelief.
Anna and her team are true experts. The time, patience, dedication, and knowledge it took to transform my mix of cuteness and crazy into a confident, manageable dog is something I will always be grateful for.
What impressed me most was how quickly Anna can identify the root of a problem. She doesn't just address the symptoms--she is incredibly skilled at detecting behavioral issues, understanding why they're happening, and developing a plan to resolve them. Her ability to assess a dog's needs and adjust her training approach accordingly is remarkable. It gave me confidence knowing that every challenge Jemma presented was met with patience, knowledge, and a solution.
Anna goes above and beyond to set dogs up for success. But just as importantly, she teaches owners how to maintain that success. She showed me how to be the leader Jemma needed and gave me the tools and confidence to continue building on everything she taught us.
And did I mention she has the cleanest kennels I've ever seen?
WOW.
My experience exceeded every expectation I had.
If you're struggling with your dog and feeling hopeless, don't wait as long as I did.
Call Anna.
It may be one of the best decisions you'll ever make--for both you and your dog.
Wish I could give 10 stars!
On 6/19/2026
Diane
had this to say:
I rescued Jemma during COVID. She is not my first dog—in fact, years ago I trained a Great Dane who weighed over 200 pounds and was an absolute gentleman. His manners were incredible, and I was so blessed to have him.
Eleven years later, I got Jemma. I thought I had dog training in my back pocket. After all, I'd done this before.
Ha. WRONG! All dogs are different and not the same training works on all dogs....
Jemma is a mixed breed of equal parts cuteness and crazy.
When I first brought her home, she loved being outside, played like a normal puppy, was quick to potty train, and was a complete joy to have around during such a difficult time. I took her to puppy classes, and she did okay.
My first glimpse of her "crazy" side came when she suddenly refused to jump into the car. What dog doesn't like going for a ride? She was excited to go—but only if I lifted her into the vehicle myself. Teaching her to jump into the car became a major project.
She also loved being outside. I practically had to beg her to come in. Then one day, dark clouds rolled in and I called her to the door. She looked at me like I was ruining her fun. Suddenly, it started hailing. Pea-sized hailstones were hitting her all over her little body.
Unfortunately, that moment changed everything.
Five years later, she was still terrified of storms—so terrified that at times I honestly thought she might have a heart attack. It was heartbreaking to watch. I tried medication, comforting her, touching her, ignoring her—nothing seemed to help. I found myself planning my entire life around the weather because storms would send her into a complete panic. Sometimes she would even make a mess in the house, but that's a story for another day.
Then things got worse.
She bit the groomer. Thankfully, the groomer didn't file charges.
About a year later, she nipped the mailman. Again, thankfully, he brushed it off and said it wasn't a big deal.
Then, six months later, she bit another mailman. I caught it on camera and was convinced I was about to get sued. A few days later, my handyman came over—a man Jemma had known her entire life—and she bit him too.
At that point, I was completely overwhelmed. These weren't the only issues she had, but they were the major ones. I called my veterinarian to discuss euthanasia because I simply didn't know what else to do.
My vet suggested training before we went that route.
Adelhorst Training was the only training facility I would trust with my dog.
So I texted Anna and simply wrote:
"Help."
I explained everything that had been happening, and she immediately told me about her in-home board-and-train program. We set a date, and while I was excited, I was also incredibly nervous.
Let me be clear—I was never nervous about leaving Jemma with Anna. I trusted her completely. What made me nervous was whether I could maintain Jemma's success once she came home. Could I be consistent? Could I be the leader she needed? Could I do my part?
When I dropped Jemma off, I was amazed at how quickly she bonded with Anna. She practically jumped into Anna's truck like they were headed out for ice cream.
Thankfully, Jemma was with Anna when the spring storms started rolling through. Anna later told me, "That first storm was hard to watch her struggle through."
I knew exactly what she meant.
But with each storm, Jemma improved.
When Anna brought her to my house for training sessions, I couldn't believe I was looking at the same dog. I had intentionally arranged for people to come over so we could test her. Anna would calmly tell her "No" in the sweetest voice, and Jemma would immediately settle down.
No barking.
No lunging.
No chaos.
I knew she would be different, but I never imagined the transformation would be that dramatic.
Anna took her back for a little more work, and two weeks later she brought her home for good.
I sat on my deck in complete disbelief as Jemma watched the neighbors without barking or acting like a fool. When someone walked by with their dog, Anna coached me through it. After Jemma let out a bark, I quietly said, "No."
And she stopped.
Just stopped.
WHAT?!
Are you kidding me?
Why didn't I bring her to Anna five years ago?
The very next morning, we had a thunderstorm. I immediately thought, "Here we go."
But Anna had already given me the tools and skills I needed to help Jemma work through her fear. We sat through the storm together. The thunder was loud.
We both heard it.
But Jemma wasn't shaking.
She wasn't vomiting.
She wasn't trying to hide.
She simply sat there and handled it.
I was stunned.
We even walked outside in the rain, and she didn't immediately run back to the door. The confidence Anna gave her during the board-and-train program was incredible.
Later that day, the mailman came.
Okay, girl, here's the real test.
Oh please, let me remember what I was taught!
She lunged.
She growled.
She barked.
She was jumping around and completely out of control.
I said, "No."
(In Anna's sweet voice, of course.)
She stopped.
In the middle of a bark.
WHAT???
The mailman yelled from across the street, "WOW! That is SO much better! What an improvement!"
I just stood there staring at Jemma in disbelief.
Anna and her team are true experts. The time, patience, dedication, and knowledge it took to transform my mix of cuteness and crazy into a confident, manageable dog is something I will always be grateful for.
What impressed me most was how quickly Anna can identify the root of a problem. She doesn't just address the symptoms—she is incredibly skilled at detecting behavioral issues, understanding why they're happening, and developing a plan to resolve them. Her ability to assess a dog's needs and adjust her training approach accordingly is remarkable. It gave me confidence knowing that every challenge Jemma presented was met with patience, knowledge, and a solution.
Anna goes above and beyond to set dogs up for success. But just as importantly, she teaches owners how to maintain that success. She showed me how to be the leader Jemma needed and gave me the tools and confidence to continue building on everything she taught us.
And did I mention she has the cleanest kennels I've ever seen?
WOW.
My experience exceeded every expectation I had.
If you're struggling with your dog and feeling hopeless, don't wait as long as I did.
Call Anna.
It may be one of the best decisions you'll ever make—for both you and your dog.
Testimonial written by Diane on this site.
On 10/12/2025
Kathy O’Brien
had this to say:
Outstanding!!
On 6/13/2025
Autumn Shelton
had this to say:
I have adopted two Shepards from Adelhorst and they are both sweet and intelligent dogs. Training has been fun and rewarding with our older Sheppard! We can’t wait to start with our puppy!
On 6/8/2025
Jacinda Bunch
had this to say:
Benji and Tilly met Anna January 7th. Through her board and train program, she concentrated on working through their anxiety, while building their independence and confidence. The last steps were obedience. Tilly was the least dependent on my mother, so it makes sense that she came home first. We had a 1-hour lesson with Anna to make sure we knew how to reinforce all she had learned before we took her home. Anna made to sure to let all of the family members work with her, explain rationales, and make sure we were comfortable going home. We practice regularly and I’m very proud that 4 months later, Tilly has retained all she learned with Anna! She gets excited for our practice sessions, she’s confident, and has a much better life now.
We just picked up Benji and he’s a new dog. We had our 1-hour lesson with all of the family to make sure we are able to keep up with his training and keep him moving forward. We have a lot of work ahead of us as he settles into home again, but it’s well worth the effort.
It’s so good to see them emotionally and physically healthy. We are forever grateful to Anna and cannot recommend her training highly enough.
Contact Us
Anna (Childs) Feller K9 Training & Adelhorst Kennels
4826 Hwy 316 Swan, IA 50252
Phone: (515) 314-0549
Email: Adelhorstkennels
Near Carlisle and Runnells
Where To Find Us
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Payment Types Accepted
Personal Checks
Our Hours
Monday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
News
🐾 Train with Purpose, Lead with Confidence 🐾We believe every dog—and every owner—deserves the tools to succeed, and that’s exactly what you’ll find at Anna (Childs) Feller K9 Training & Adelhorst Kennels. 🐕✨ We offer personalized programs for all breeds and ages, focusing on real-world obedience and lasting results without relying on treats. From puppies to behavior challenges, our hands-on approach helps build confidence, communication, and trust every step of the way. Join us and see the difference training with purpose can make for you and your dog.
On 4/5/2026 this was posted:
🐾🎓 Obedience & Competition Classes 🎓🐾
Strengthen your bond and take your dog’s training to the next level with our Obedience & Competition Classes! We offer training options for every stage, from beginner to advanced, designed to build clear, lasting communication between you and your dog.
✅ Group, private, and outdoor obedience classes
✅ AKC Obedience & Rally competition classes
✅ On‑site or on‑location training options
Whether you’re focused on everyday obedience or preparing for the competition ring, our structured lessons help dogs perform confidently and handlers lead successfully.
📞 Call or text: 515‑314‑0549
🌐 Learn more: annachildsk9trainingia.com
Train with purpose. Compete with confidence.
#AnnaChildsK9Training #AdelhorstKennels #DogTraining #ObedienceTraining #AKCTraining #RallyObedience #CompetitionDogs #K9Training #DogObedience #TrainYourDog
Expires 4/4/2027
Meet Charlie 🐾
One of our exceptional sires at Anna (Childs) Feller K9 Training & Adelhorst Kennels, now available for stud service. Charlie brings strong genetics, a sound mind, and the kind of temperament that produces well-rounded, quality pups.
Limited openings—message us for details.
We offer customized, non-treat based training for lasting results—open to all breeds and ages. Our team specializes in service and therapy dog training, helping dogs develop the skills they need to support, comfort, and assist.
🐾 Build confidence. Gain obedience. Unlock potential.
Message us to get started!
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