About Us

Matt Larkin has owned/operated Cross Creek Kennel, Inc. for almost 19 years now.  He was raised in Dallas, TX where his interest in dog training started.  He trained family dogs for obedience and even competed in obedience trials.

While attending Stephen F. Austin State University, earning a geology degree, he managed Cross Creek Kennel and enjoyed working with the working retrievers and pointers so much that he purchased it.   He has been training working retrievers for all types of hunting for over 16 years now and has titled many dogs in AKC & UKC events through the years.  

       Helena came to Nacogdoches to also attend Stephen F. Austin State University.  She majored in Animal Science (Pre-Vet) and minored in Chemistry and Biology.  While attending SFA she worked at the SFA Beef Farm and eventually was able to take a position at a local veterinarian clinic.  There she went from just cleaning kennels to becoming the office manager and receptionist.  This is where she met Matt. 

    While Matt does the training of the dogs, Helena runs the office and helps Matt care for the dogs.  In 2003 she started up an dog training equipment catalog.  Cross Creek Gun Dog Catalog, and also developed Hunting Lab Pedigree. www.huntinglabpedigree.com an online pedigree database.

We also added some bird boys to the family.  Our twin boys Aidan and Caleb born in November 2002. And Payton, born in August 2004.

(Top: Caleb, Middle right: Aidan, Bottom: Payton)   They grow so fast!!

Some of the organizations we are involved with are below: Hunting Retriever Club (HRC) members www.huntingretriever.org Raven's Way Hunting Retriever Club (Helena's the Secretary) www.ravenswayhrc.com Duck's Unlimited Delta Waterfowl National Rifle Association Southeast Hunting Retriever Club