AAR has an interesting startup story that I hope will give you insight into our passion, principles, and dedication to your canine companions. In a nutshell, we were blindsided by a nationally known and reputable trainer of which we were long-term clients. I want to stress that although this is an unfortunate possibility in this industry, there are many amazing trainers who are as wonderful and honest as they seem, who optimally care for their canine and human clients as they should. What I learned the hard way is it was our responsibility as dog owners to do our due diligence and demand proof of quality care and training progress. Therefore, our mission and promise at Ace Acres Retrievers is to consistently communicate with you our love and commitment to your dog’s care as well as their training evolution from day one.

During the summer of 2023, our Chesapeake bay retriever, Piper, went back to her former trainer to brush up on her skills to earn her second and final grand pass. Two weeks into the “training,” we received a tip from a stranger to go check on our dog, and THAT was the day that changed my life. Horrifically, we found our baby girl, at the seasoned age of 8 years old, stuffed in a trailer kennel for two weeks straight in the sweltering heat and severe storms of Arkansas summers. She, along with 16 other dogs, had been laying in their urine and feces. This trainer had a total of approximately 60 dogs living in unimaginable conditions, with the majority of those dogs getting zero training time. After getting Piper home, she was pent-up, in pain, stiff, dehydrated, and starving, among other ailments. Her excrement-soaked stench took MONTHS to resolve.

I fought to get the word out to other clients to go rescue their dogs. I began researching and learned how prevalent this level of theft and neglect is in this industry. This is due in part to many under-qualified backyard trainers, poor facilities, and zero legislative regulations in place. I have received countless testimonies where dogs would return home from training, not knowing their name, being completely unsocialized and frightened of people, with zero skills and very obvious poor care.

After learning of these common deceptions, I decided to be part of the change I knew needed to happen. My goal is to set a precedent for the standard of care that we all want for our animals. This vision is my version of a “rescue organization,” as we truly feel we are rescuing these dogs from potentially horrible living conditions that, in many cases, have even been fatal.

Your athletes will be at the Four Seasons of dog training facilities, being trained by the best of the best. They will get all the pampering, love, and attention they would get at home, while also nurturing their God-given gifts to work, obey, and retrieve for their owners.