Our Story
Presque Isle Retriever Club was founded in 1985 by a group of individuals who wanted more than just a season in the blind — they wanted a place to train year-round, prepare their dogs for real hunts, and keep the retriever tradition alive. What started as a small circle of dedicated trainers has grown into a community built on strong dogs, strong friendships, and a shared respect for the outdoors.
Today, you’ll find us working dogs at Pymatuning State Park, where fields, cover, and water create the same challenges faced in both the marsh and the hunt test field. From young pups learning their first retrieves to seasoned retrievers sharpening for hunting season or the next test, we train with one goal in mind: bringing out the best in our dogs.
More than just training, our club is about mentorship, tradition, and fellowship. Whether you measure success by a limit of ducks, a qualifying ribbon, or simply watching a dog grow in skill and confidence, PIRC is a place for handlers and hunters alike to learn, connect, and celebrate the bond we share with our retrievers.
Our History
Presque Isle Retriever Club was founded on March 18, 1985, first as a NAHRA (North American Hunting Retriever Association) club before affiliating with the American Kennel Club (AKC). Since then, our purpose has been the same: to build better hunting dogs and stronger handlers through training, testing, and the traditions of responsible hunting.
Our members currently train at the southern end of Pymatuning State Park, where we hold two weekday practices along with weekend training sessions. These gatherings give handlers and retrievers the chance to work in realistic hunting setups that prepare them for both waterfowl and upland hunting as well as AKC Hunt Tests.
When colder weather arrives, the club hosts several pheasant hunts, and waterfowl hunts, providing live hunting opportunities that keep both dogs and handlers sharp throughout the season.
At PIRC, our goal is to help members teach their retrievers to be obedient, versatile field dogs — steady in the blind, reliable in the uplands, and confident at the hunt test line. For nearly four decades, the club has been a place where dogs improve, handlers learn, and friendships are built.