Mike Pirtle has enjoyed training 
gun dogs professionally for 21 years. He spent the first 4  years training with Hoppy Hopson at Hoppy's Kennel near Decatur, Texas. Hoppy absolutely set the standard for what a "finished dog" should be, in both field trial dogs and gun dogs. Mike is one of the few trainers able to finish a dog that would meet Hoppy's high standards for excellence.

Mike and Hoppy Hopson in training field at Hoppy's Kennel.

Hoppy Hopson and Mike Pirtle with winners at field trial.

Mike continues to train dogs with the techniques that he learned from Hoppy, producing fine gun dogs for the bird hunter and field trial dogs for the amateur handler.