Inductees

In the far corner of northeast Missouri from the 1980s and well into the early-2000s, out in the prairie fields, you could find Bob Burchett training bird dogs.

Since 2013, he’s called southwest Missouri home, continuing a lifelong passion that has led to success in national competitions. Not that this is what he set out to do upon graduating from college.

“I had a friend who had a black lab, and I said, ‘I’ll get it in line,’” Burchett said. “So I read a book about how to do it.”

Perhaps unconventional because he turned to books and videos to learn his craft, Burchett has become one of the top bird dog trainers in the state. And that’s why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted Burchett with the Class of 2025.

A trainer since 1981 and for the public since 1988, he has been full-time since 1994 and has placed more dogs in the National Gun Dog Championships than any other Brittany Spaniel handler.

Additionally, he has won 12 Gun Dog of the Year awards and two Purina All Age Dog of the Year awards. He also was named the top All Age Brittany Handler for the past three years and top gun dog handler in 2022 and 2024.

Burchett’s Bird Dogs – which relocated in 2013 to near Conway, or about 40 minutes east of Springfield – have earned 100 placements for 19 years running. Their focus? Pheasant and quail.

Burchett also has chaired five National Gun Dog Championships – and six pheasant championships – for the American Brittany Club. He also is a board member of Field Trail Sportsman’s Association.

“To this day, even though my dogs have had success, I haven’t written a book,” Burchett said with a laugh, since there are a number of print media out there for folks to learn from. “I abhor writing.”

Burchett graduated from Iowa State University in 1980 and spent much of his adult life in southeast Iowa and northeast Missouri.

His love for training bird dogs took off in the 1980s when he went to work briefly for the Nebraska Game & Parks Department. It was during that time when he selected a puppy that, as it turned out, had excellent bloodlines. It led to nearly 4,000 more Brittanys.

Burchett also has developed programs, facilities, and grounds to bring out the best in every dog, whether a hunting dog or field trial prospect.

He did work for the Lee County Conservation Department in southeast Iowa for a dozen years, and that’s when he got the idea to go full-time. That’s when he realized his passion exceeded his day job.

For years, he would take dogs to weekend competitions across the Midwest, leaving almost no relaxation time from the end of the day Friday to the start of work on Monday. And so, in 1994, he resigned from the conservation board and opened his business.

The secret to his success? It’s Burchett’s patience. Each dog is worked at their pace and in a way to match their individual temperament. That can take two to three months, or longer. Competition dogs are six to nine months per year, and may compete for a decade.

Additionally, the grounds are groomed to bring out the best in each dog and, with a combination of wild and pre-released birds, with each new prospect assured lots of game contact.

Thoroughness is probably the best way to describe his training. In bird dog field trials, he travels with 30 dogs and six horses.

In competition, dogs compete in braces of two in head-to-head contests. The judges rank the top four out of all entered. Burchett might have up to 16 entered in a stake, and run each of them for either a half hour in club trials and an hour in championship trials.

The judges evaluate on their range, drive and pizzaz. The dogs cannot retrieve a bird but instead must move on to the next.

Years ago, Burchett campaigned 15 dogs for a half hour each, walking the entire time. He has since turned to riding horseback.

Beyond his success, Burchett is most proud of those he mentored and competed well in competitions. Nine have won national amateur championships.

Best of all, though, is that he has long had the support of his wife, Valerie. They are parents to Hyatt and James. He also thanks John and Jodi Weddle, and in-laws Clifford Weaver and Michele Weaver.

“I am extremely blessed to have a career stamped with success,” Burchett said.