Our History
Dave Rorem was introduced to his first retriever when he was 7 years old. A precocious black lab female puppy named Pepper, sired by NFC Cork of Oakwood Lane, started his passion for the retrieving game and changed his life forever.
In 1976 Dave saw his first field trial and was immediately hooked on the retrieving sport. This led to the establishment of Rorem Retrievers in 1977 in Madison, Minnesota, with Dave’s wife, Paulette, by his side from day one. Paulette did all the yard work and trained the young dogs, and Dave advanced them into trial dogs.
Dave ran his first trial in 1977, and made his first Field Champion in 1984. In 1978 Rorem Retrievers moved to the International Falls area, and Dave went to work as a Minnesota State Game Warden, while he and Paulette continued to train dogs. In 1990, Dave had the opportunity to train with Rex Carr, and even though Dave already had two National Champions and several Field Champions, he quickly realized he did not know much about dog training, so he spent the next thirteen years training with Rex whenever possible.
During the early years at Rorem Retrievers, Dave and Paulette’s children, Ty and Seth both worked for the business by throwing birds, shooting flyers, and caring for the dogs. After college, Ty returned to the family business and is now training and handling full time.
Dave retired in 2004 after 25 years as a Conservation Officer for the State of Minnesota, purchased property in Texas in 2005, and now trains full time in Minnesota and Texas. Being a family owned business, the Rorems take pride in the personal attention given to each dog and their owner.
Learn more about Dave Rorem
In 1976 Dave saw his first field trial and was immediately hooked on the retrieving sport. This led to the establishment of Rorem Retrievers in 1977 in Madison, Minnesota, with Dave’s wife, Paulette, by his side from day one. Paulette did all the yard work and trained the young dogs, and Dave advanced them into trial dogs.
Dave ran his first trial in 1977, and made his first Field Champion in 1984. In 1978 Rorem Retrievers moved to the International Falls area, and Dave went to work as a Minnesota State Game Warden, while he and Paulette continued to train dogs. In 1990, Dave had the opportunity to train with Rex Carr, and even though Dave already had two National Champions and several Field Champions, he quickly realized he did not know much about dog training, so he spent the next thirteen years training with Rex whenever possible.
During the early years at Rorem Retrievers, Dave and Paulette’s children, Ty and Seth both worked for the business by throwing birds, shooting flyers, and caring for the dogs. After college, Ty returned to the family business and is now training and handling full time.
Dave retired in 2004 after 25 years as a Conservation Officer for the State of Minnesota, purchased property in Texas in 2005, and now trains full time in Minnesota and Texas. Being a family owned business, the Rorems take pride in the personal attention given to each dog and their owner.
Learn more about Dave Rorem
