If Pat Burns were one of the dogs he trains, he would have put in 261 years on the job by now. If you’re doing the math that equates to more than three decades of coaxing canines into champions and helping handlers handle those canine champions. Pat Burns Elite Retriever Training, serving clients both nationally and abroad, was inspired by Burns’ love of dogs and hunting from an early age.

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“I grew up in northwest Indiana where my love for hunting and the outdoors developed,” said Burns. “My love for hunting led me to training my own hunting dogs. I joined a training group and became involved with the Michiana Retriever Club. I was immediately hooked,” he added.

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Burns’ love and passion for the sport and training continued to grow. In the early 1980s, he was eager to learn the newest training methods, as well as absorb as much information as he could from established masters of the retriever training industry. It was at this time he apprenticed with Rex Carr, who pioneered modern e-collar training methods.

“Known as the father of modern retriever training, Carr was also legendary for his “no non-sense” style and for creating a superior relationship between dog and handler,” Burns said. “I spent several summers in California with Carr and Carr-lab kennels learning the implementation of these new training methods,” he added.

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In 1984, Burns continued his journey in the retriever-training world, and accepted an associate training position with Mike Lardy, owner of Handjem Retrievers. Lardy is renowned in field trial circles for a compassionate training style that fosters a healthy respect between dog and handler to create a winning combination.

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