About Patriot Retrievers

Retriever training near Hartford

Patriot Retrievers is a retriever and gun dog training kennel south of Hartford, just west of Sioux Falls, owned by trainer Sean Rogers. He says he started training dogs in 2008 and named the business for his military service, citing 23 years with the South Dakota Army National Guard.

Grounds and care

The 40-acre property has a mowed field for drill work, handling hills with cover for upland training, a swim-by pond, and 13 and 6-acre ponds with points and islands. All 20 kennels are indoors in a climate-controlled building with fans and cameras, and dogs run in two airing yards at least three times a day. Dogs are fed Purina Pro Plan, with accommodations for puppy food or strict diets.

Method

Training follows Mike Lardy's program, described as a mentored relationship with the dog, "like a coach getting the best out of its players," with teaching prioritized over testing or timelines. Live birds, from pigeons for puppies to pheasants and ducks, are part of training. The process takes about 3-4 months depending on the training requested, and it includes one-on-one sessions so owners learn the commands; owners are encouraged to come in every week or two to run their own dog.

What to ask

Ask about pricing and current kennel openings.