Same Problem.
Different Dog.
Different Answer.
Most runs don't fail from one big mistake.Learn to listen with your eyes and make a better decision for the dog standing in front of you.
Two dogs can show you the same behavior for completely different reasons. One may need you to step in. The other may need you to trust him a little longer. Can you tell the difference?
📅 September 8th, 2026 @ 8PM ET
💻 Online
💸 Free
RESERVE YOUR SPOT
The part most handlers never see.
The problem may not be the first thing that happened.
By the time a dog breaks down, creeps, refuses a cast, loses focus, or avoids a piece of water, the problem is obvious.
But the dog may have been communicating well before that. It may have started in the holding blind, on the approach to the line, or while the marks were being thrown.
You may see it in the dog's eyes, posture, pace, and intensity. You may recognize it in the quality of a whistle stop or in the way the dog looks at you and accepts a cast.
Seeing the signals earlier gives you better information, so you can anticipate more accurately and improve the timing of your response. Better information earlier means better decisions in the moment — and that is where your best training either shows up or doesn't.
BEFORE THE WORKSHOP
Sound Familiar?
01
Have you ever walked off the line wondering whether you recognized what your dog needed soon enough?
03
How do I know whether to step in or let things develop?
02
Why did my dog fall apart on a test I know he was ready for?
04
What am I missing in the moments before the breakdown?
Pat will use real training footage to help you start seeing what you may have been overlooking.
IS THIS WORKSHOP FOR YOU?
If any of those questions sounded familiar, yes.
This is for you if
You're training for hunt tests, field trials, SRS (Super Retriever Series), or simply trying to become a sharper handler.
This is not for you if
You want a rulebook of exact responses for exact behaviors. Pat's whole point is that there isn't one.
The goal is not prediction
Look at the dog before deciding what to do about the behavior.
This is not a rigid interpretation chart or a one-size-fits-all formula. It is an opportunity to practice observing more carefully, interpreting what you see in context and continuing to evaluate the dog standing in front of you.
Pat Burns
Trainer. Mentor. Student of the Game.
YOUR TEACHER
Nearly 50 years of reading dogs.
Much of Pat's ability to read dogs developed while running dogs he knew very little or nothing about. Without their history to influence him, he had to watch carefully and respond to the dog standing in front of him.
Today, Pat helps trainers and handlers develop that same curiosity, awareness and judgment.