Rody Best
Professional Retriever Trainer for Hunting and Competing
Rody Best and his wife Kristin own Best Retrievers, a 120 acre-property in Paige, TX designed exclusively for retriever training. With a team of six professional trainers on staff, they specialize in training retrievers for hunting and competing in American Kennel Club (AKC) and Hunting Retriever Club (HRC) Hunt Tests, plus the AKC Master National, HRC Grand, Super Retriever Series and field trials. They also do all-breed obedience, puppy training and have a professional whelping service for raising puppies.
In 2020, Rody Best was honored with the first-ever “Humanitarian Sportsman Recognition” award by The Master National Retriever Club Foundation for rescuing people and pets from the floodwaters of hurricane Harvey. Additionally, his ongoing assistance and mentorship to fellow trainers is second-to-none. Rody Best and his team exemplify true sportsmanship, and we’re proud he chooses Purina Pro Plan to fuel his exceptional dogs.
Q: Why do you feed Purina Pro Plan dog food?
A: We started feeding Purina Pro Plan many years ago after being dissatisfied with several other brands on the market. We wanted something to give our dogs a healthy coat, sustainable energy and firm stool quality. As soon as we made the switch, we knew we had found what we were looking for.
Q: Why do you recommend Purina Pro Plan to your clients?
A: Once our clients bring us their dog for training, it doesn’t take long for them to see the results of feeding Purina Pro Plan. We hear from owners all the time who say how healthy their dogs look and perform. We know it’s because their dogs are getting the proper nutrition.
Q: What is the most exciting part of being a dog breeder, trainer or handler?
A: As a professional trainer I work long, hard hours outside in all kinds of weather. It’s rewarding to see a dog I’ve worked so hard with finally come together and work with his owner in the field. The owner and dog become a team. They love hunting together and I’ve just given that dog and owner years of enjoyment together.
Q: What’s your number-one goal in your work?
A: My number-one goal is to create healthy, happy, obedient and productive retrievers in the field for my owners.
Q: What do you find most rewarding about the time you spend with your dogs?
A: I spend tons of time with my dogs and I love the relationship we establish. The bond between trainer and dog is unbreakable. Even if I haven’t seen the dog in 10 years, they remember me and we share a special relationship.
Q: If you could train or hunt with your dogs anywhere in the world, where would it be?
A: Canada, definitely. Being from Texas, the birds we hunt have migrated down through the U.S. and have been hunted in every state. By the time they get here, they are educated and challenging to hunt. I would like to go to Canada when they have just started their migration and hunt them before they make the long trek to Texas.
Q: What do you think it takes to get your dogs to perform at the highest level?
A: For my dogs to perform at their highest level, they must have proper training, nutrition and rest. If any one of these is lacking, I notice it. Knowing I can provide all these means I am responsible for their success. I train hard every day, give them the best nutrition available and allow them to rest and recuperate. Then do it all over again the next day. This is how we get better.
Q: Of all the dogs you’ve had in your life, which one has had the biggest impact on you?
A: My dog, Blue, has definitely had the biggest impact on my life. He was the last remaining pup in the litter and I decided to keep him because he was a big, clumsy puppy with big feet! He’s not the most talented or the most driven. But he and I have that special and unique bond, which allows us to communicate on any level. He has travelled all across the country with me training, testing and hunting. He has over 80 Master hunt test passes and 6 straight Master National passes. But at the end of the day, he sleeps beside my bed.
Awards & Accomplishments
- Over 70 Master Hunters
- 30 Hunting Retriever Champions
- 6 Master National Hall of Fame dogs
- 13 Grand Hunting Retriever Champions
- 3 Super Retriever Series Champions
- Several magazine features and an article published in the Retriever Journal
- Hundreds of happy owners who enjoy hunting with their retrievers every day of hunting season
Rody Chooses Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20 Formula dog food.
To help ensure his dogs are reaching their full potential in the field, Rody trusts Purina Pro Plan SPORT Performance 30/20 Formula dog food. Take a look at our full line of Pro Plan formulas to find the one that’s right for your dogs.
This individual serves as a Purina ambassador.