WHAT IS A FIELD TRIAL?

 
 

Junior Field Trial Stake

 

The Junior Stake is for dogs not over 2 years old on the day of the trial.

The Junior Stake is for retrievers under two years of age. A "reasonable" degree of steadiness and general obedience are the requirements in the Junior stake. Marking ability and style constitute the most important factors for placings in the Junior. Blind retrieves are not required in the Junior stake.

Usually retrieves are limited to single marks and double marks. The most common Junior test would be a double with the guns remaining visible. Only on rare occasions judges have required retrieves of marks from which gunners retired (hide) after the bird has been shot. Also on rare occasions judges have required the retrieving of triple marks. There are usually four series, or tests, with two series being run on land and two series on water.

In order to receive the CKC Title of "Junior Field Trial Retriever" (JFTR), a dog must have placed in 3 CKC approved Junior stakes and acquired 5 points.

* Please refer to the CKC Retriever Field Trial Rules & Regulations for detailed information regarding this stake.  
 
 
 

Qualifying Field Trial Stake

 
 

The Qualifying Stake is for dogs who have never won 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or a Certificate of Merit in an Open All-Age Stake, nor a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th in an Amateur All-Age Stake nor have won 5 Qualifying Stakes.

The Qualifying Stake is open to all dogs who have not won five Qualifying Stakes, have not received a placement or a Judges Award of Merit in the Open All-Age Stake, and have not received a placement in the Amateur All-Age Stake.

The most common marking tests in a Qualifying Stake are triple retrieves with all guns visible, even though retired gunners (who hide after the bird is shot) are often used. Blind retrieves are also required in the Qualifying Stake, although abilities acquired through training are of less importance in the Qualifying Stake than in those carrying championship points.

The status recognized as "Qualifying All-Age" allows a dog to be eligible to run a "Limited All-Age Stake", which, at some field trials with large entries, is an "Open All-Age Stake" that "limits" the entry to "Qualified All-Age" dogs. A dog placing first or second in a Qualifying Stake is recognized as "Qualified All-Age". (A dog may also become "Qualified All-Age" by receiving a Judges Award of Merit or better in a major stake.)

In order to receive the CKC Title "Qualified Field Trial Retriever" (QFTR), a dog must have acquired 10 points in Qualifying stakes with 8 starters and have placed first at least once or have placed in an All Age stake or have obtained a Certificate of Merit in an Open, Limited or Special All Age stake.

* Please refer to the CKC Retriever Field Trial Rules and Regulations for detailed information regarding this stake.  
 
 
 

Amateur All-Age Field Trial Stake

 
 

The Amateur All-Age Stake is for dogs over the age of 6 months if handled by a person who is an Amateur as determined by the Field Trial Committee.

Championship points earned toward the Amateur Field Championship are awarded in the Amateur All-Age Stake and the performance requirements are basically the same as in the Open All-Age Stake. The main difference between the two stakes is that only amateur handlers are allowed to handle dogs in the Amateur All-Age Stake, whereas professionals and amateurs may handle dogs in the Open All-Age Stake.

Trial-giving clubs have the option of holding an Amateur All-Age or an Owner-Handler Amateur All-Age. In a regular Amateur All-Age Stake, the dog may be handled by any amateur handler. In an Owner-Handler Amateur All-Age Stake, the dog may be handled only by the registered owner (and certain relatives), and only if the owner (or relative) is an amateur. In order to receive the CKC Title "Amateur Field Trial Champion" (AFTCH) a dog must win the National Amateur Retriever Championship stake or acquire 10 points in All Age stakes with 8 qualified starters and have placed first at least once in an All-Age stake.

* Please refer to the CKC Retriever Field Trial Rules and Regulations for detailed information regarding this stake.  
 
 
 

Open All-Age Field Trial Stake

 
 

The Open All-Age Stake is for dogs over the age of 6 months.

Championship points are awarded in the Open All-Age Stake, which is open to all retrievers eligible for a CKC-licensed retriever field trial. Tests consist of demanding marks and blinds and only accomplished retrievers of extraordinary natural and trained abilities usually excel in the Open All-Age Stake. Tests commonly consist of triple or quadruple marks, with and without retired guns (hidden after the bird is shot), and single, double or triple blind retrieves. Dogs must be steady and under control at all times. The Open All-Age Stakes commonly begin with a marking test on land followed by a land test with at least one blind retrieve. Dogs "called back" after the land tests are usually required to successfully perform a blind retrieve on the water which would be followed by a marking test on the water. In order to receive the CKC Title "Field Trial Champion" (FTCH) a dog must win the National Retriever Championship stake or acquire 10 points in Open, Limited or Special All-Age stakes with 8 qualified starters and have placed first in at least one of these stakes.

* Please refer to the CKC Retriever Field Trial Rules and Regulation for detailed information regarding this stake.  
 
 
 
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WHAT IS A HUNT TEST?

 
 

Junior Hunt Tests

 

In Junior Hunt Tests dogs shall be tested on 4 single marks: 2 on the land and 2 on water.

• Test distances shall not exceed 75 yards.
• A leash, line or slip cord may be used to steady the dog at the line.
• No dog shall wear a collar while making a retrieve.
• Dogs must deliver to hand, failure to do so will result in a fail.

In order to receive the CKC Title of "Junior Hunter" (JH), a dog must have a record of having acquired qualifying scores in the Junior Hunt Test in 3 CKC approved hunt tests.

* Please refer to your CKC Hunt Test rule book for detailed information regarding this stake.  
 
 
 

Senior Hunt Tests

 

In Senior Hunter Hunt Tests dogs shall be tested in a minimum of 5 hunting situations, which include:

• 1 land blind.
• 1 water blind
• The blinds may be run as a double blind 1 placed on land and 1 placed on water.
• 1 double land mark
• 1 double water mark.
• An upland hunting test.

At least one of these situations should include a walk-up. The judges shall establish distances on the land and water but no retrieve should normally exceed 100 yards and under no circumstance shall exceed 125 yards. A Senior Hunt dog must retrieve to hand. Dogs shall be required to honor a working dog at least once. Diversion shots shall be used.

In order to receive the CKC Title of "Senior Hunter" (SH), a dog must have a record of having acquired qualifying scores in the Senior Hunt Test in 5 CKC approved hunt tests. Or in the case of a dog that has been recorded by CKC as a Junior Hunter, that dog will be recorded as a Senior Hunter after having acquired qualifying scores in the Senior Hunt Test at 4 CKC approved hunt tests.

* Please refer to your CKC Hunt Test rule book for detailed information regarding this stake.  
 
 
 

Master Hunt Tests

 

Dogs shall be tested in a minimum of 5 hunting situations as follows:

• Multiple land marks.
• Multiple water marks.
• An upland hunting test with flush.
• A land blind (s).
• A water blind (s).

There shall be at least 3 series. Diversion birds and/or diversion shots must be used at least once. The word multiple means more than one, although triple marks are encouraged. Natural hazards, obstacles, hunting equipment and implements should be utilized to a somewhat greater degree than in the Senior Hunt Test. A Master Hunt dog must honour at least once. The judges shall establish test distances but no retrieve should normally exceed 100 yards and under no circumstance shall exceed 125 yards. A Master Hunter must be steady and must deliver to hand.

In order to receive the CKC Title of "Master Hunter" (MH), a dog must have a record of having acquired qualifying scores in the Master Hunt Test at 6 CKC approved hunt tests. Or in the case of a dog that has been recorded by CKC as a Senior Hunter, that dog will be recorded as a Master Hunter after having acquired qualifying scores in the Master Hunt Test at 5 CKC approved hunt tests.

In order to receive the CKC Title of "Grand Master Hunter" (GMH), a dog must have earned a "Master Hunter" title and acquire qualifying scores in the Master Hunt Test at an additional 10 CKC approved hunt tests.

*Please refer to your CKC Hunt Test rulebook for detailed information regarding this stake.  
 
 
 
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WHAT IS A WORKING CERTIFICATE TEST?

 
 

Working Certificate

In Working Certificate Tests dogs shall be tested on 4 single marks: 2 on the land and 2 on water.

• Test distances shall be 50 - 70 yards on land and 25 - 40 yards on water.
• A leash, line or slip cord may be used to steady the dog at the line.
• No dog shall wear a collar while making a retrieve.
• Dogs should deliver to hand.
• Dogs cannot be handled.
• Back to back singles run from the same line should have an angle of not less than 90 degrees.

In order to receive the CKC Title of "Working Certificate" (WC), a dog must pass 1 CKC approved Working Certificate test.

* Please refer to your CKC Working Certificate Test rule book for detailed information regarding this stake.  
 
 
 

Working Certificate Intermediate

In Working Certificate Intermediate Tests dogs shall be tested on a land double, an honour and a water double.

• Test distances shall be about 70 yards on land and 40 - 50 yards on water.
• The angle between the falls should not be less than 90 degrees.
• Dogs must come to line off lead.
• Dogs must deliver to hand.
• Decoys will be used.
• Honouring dogs will be required to sit and stay until the working dog has made the area of the fall for the first bird it was sent to retrieve.

In order to receive the CKC Title of "Working Certificate Intermediate" (WCI), a dog must pass 1 CKC approved Working Certificate Intermediate test.

* Please refer to your CKC Working Certificate Test rule book for detailed information regarding this stake.  
 
 
 

Working Certificate Excellent

In Working Certificate Excellent Tests dogs shall be tested on a walk up with a land double or a land/water double, an honour on the walk up, a water double, a land blind and a water blind.

• Test distances shall be about 100 yards for the first land mark thrown and 50 yards for the second land mark, up to 50 yards for the water marks, 15 yards for the walk up, about 50 yards for the land blind and a maximum of 50 yards for the water blind.
• The angle between the falls should not be les than 45 degrees on land 90 degrees on water.
• Dogs must come to line off lead.
• Dogs must deliver to hand.
• Decoys will be used.
• Dogs must honour until the working dog has picked up its first mark or should have picked up its first mark.

In order to receive the CKC Title of "Working Certificate Excellent" (WCX), a dog must pass 1 CKC approved Working Certificate Intermediate test.

* Please refer to your CKC Working Certificate Test rule book for detailed information regarding this stake.  
 
 
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RETRIEVER EXPECTATIONS

 
 

The function of a field retriever is to seek and retrieve fallen game when ordered to do so.

Dogs are expected to retrieve any type of game bird under all conditions.

Dogs that mark the fall of a bird and use the wind are of great value.

Dogs that will sharply and positively take direction are also of great value.

Dogs should:

sit quietly on line or in a blind;

walk tractably at heel;

sit promptly at any station designated by the handler until sent to retrieve;

remain quietly where placed until given further orders.

When ordered a dog should:

retrieve:
        - directly and briskly without disturbing too much ground;
        - eagerly on land and water to marked falls;


eagerly on a line given by its handler on falls not seen;

respond quickly and obediently to any further direction;

deliver tenderly to hand.

Dogs should not bark or whine on line, in the blind or while retrieving.

Barking and whining should be penalized. Loud and prolonged barking or whining is sufficient cause to justify elimination.

Accurate marking or memory of falls is of paramount importance.

Dogs that disturb cover unnecessarily, clearly well out of the area of the fall should be penalized more severely than those handled quickly and obediently to the fall.

Sagacity (keen intelligence, shrewdness) - A dog that fails to find a bird which, in the opinion of the judges, he should have found shall be eliminated.

Attention is a highly desired trait which is displayed by the dog's:

• eagerness and general attitude when coming to line;
• alertness in locating gunners;
• acceding to its handler's commands;
• zeal for the hunt.

Lack of attention and lack of interest should be penalized.

Nose, scenting conditions are mysterious and little understood, although obviously affected by many factors such as type of cover, wind, frost, rain, location of fall, acidity of soil and apparently many other conditions, therefore extreme caution must be exercised before a dog is charged with a poor nose.

Repeated evidence of poor nose is sufficient justification for elimination.

Perseverance is shown by a dog's determination to complete the task at hand; i.e. systematically, aggressively and without faltering, search for and find the bird that it has been sent to retrieve.

Faults include:

returns to handler voluntarily before finding the bird,

stops the hunt or continues in a slow lackadaisical, disinterested manner,

pops or looks back at the handler for direction on a mark and before hunting for a considerable time,

switches birds,

blinks a bird (fails to pick the bird up, leaving it after making the find).

A lack of perseverance is justification for elimination.

Style is apparent in the dog's every movement by its:

gaiety of manner;

alertness on line,

obedient manner,

eagerness and speed on retrieves,

water entry,

fast, determined departure,

aggressive search,

prompt pickup,

reasonably fast return.

Penalties for style deficiencies may range from minor to elimination.

Unsteadiness all movements on line (except for an occasional change in position in order to better see a fall), creeping or jumping forward.

Unsteadiness should be penalized and if repeated or seriously excessive may be justification for elimination.

Control is closely allied to the dog's response to direction and includes:

obedience at all times;

line manners;

walking tractably at heel;

assuming and staying in any designated position on line;

remaining quietly beside the handler after delivery;

returning promptly when called;

Penalties for control deficiencies may range from minor to elimination.

Response to direction is all important in handling tests.

Faults include:

not taking the line originally given;

not continuing a considerable distance on the original line given;

stopping voluntarily;

failure to stop promptly and look to the handler;

failure to take a new direction;

failure to continue in the new direction for a considerable distance.

Poor response should be penalized and if repeated or seriously excessive may be justification for elimination.

Delivery. Upon finding game the dog should quickly pick it up return briskly and deliver the bird promptly and tenderly.

Faults include:

dropping game on the ground;

freezing (unwilling to release the bird);

jumping after the bird once delivered;

hard-mouth (crushed bone structure, flagrant tearing of flesh).

Failure to deliver properly should be penalized and if repeated or seriously excessive may be grounds for elimination.

The faults referred to below are listed in the Retriever Field Trial Rules & Regulations and are also applicable to Hunt Tests:

Serious faults (A to S) are usually justification for elimination.

Moderate faults (A to K) may actually be so slight as to warrant their consideration as only a minor fault or so severe as to warrant their consideration as a Serious Fault. Repetitions of a Moderate Fault or a combination of Moderate Faults and/or Minor Faults may readily convert the total infraction into a Serious Fault.

Minor faults (A to N) may be so slight as to not warrant any penalty or so severe as to warrant converting them into a Moderate Fault or even a Serious Fault. Repetitions of a Minor Fault or a combination of these Minor Faults may convert into a Moderate Fault or even into a Serious Fault.

 
 
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Retriever "Jargon": Glossary of Retriever Training Terms

 
 

(Note: This is intended as a terms glossary only and should not be used as a "How to" section.)

 

AFC - Amateur Field Trial Champion. An AKC title.

AFTCH - Amateur Field Trial Champion. A CKC title.

Amateur - One who trains dogs for the sheer pleasure of it.

Baseball - A beginning drill used to teach the dog to take hand signals. A precursor for blinds.

Big Hunt - When a dog can not find a mark and runs all over the field looking for it. Not a good thing.

Bird Boy - (BB) The person, male or female, throwing the item for the dog to retrieve.

Blind - The art of guiding a dog to an item it did not see fall, through the use of voice, whistle, and body movements.

Blink - When the dog goes by an item that it has clearly seen and is supposed to have retrieved. The dog runs out to the area of the fall, looks directly at the bumper/bird, then continues to hunt around anyway..... "I can't believe my dog has just BLINKED that bird!?!?!?"

Bumper - A plastic or canvas item, usually 2 or 3 inches in diameter, used to train the dog. Available in a wide assortment of colors. White is generally used for marks. Black or Orange Bumpers are generally used for blinds.

Burn - Terminology used to describe a type of e-collar correction. Usually differentiated, in most training circles, from the definition of a "Nick". Used to correct a known command that the dog is choosing to disregard.

Call Back - A list provided by dog game judges prior to the next series in an event. This list denotes those who are invited back to continue participating in the event. Those who do not make the "call back" have been disqualified for some reason.

Cast - To give the dog a specific direction through the use of body movements.

Campaign or Campaigning - The pursuit of a title for a dog. "They will be campaigning several nice dogs this year."

CERF - Canine Eye Registry Foundation. A registry created to evaluate and clear breeding dogs of hereditary eye defects including Progressive Retinal Atrophy and Retinal Dysplasia.

Channel Blind - A water blind run in an area that, due to the close proximity of the bank on both sides, makes it very tempting for the dog to exit the water and get up on land.

Cheating - When a dog avoids cover or obstacles enroute to or returning from an item to be retrieved.

Cold - A term used to define the running of a dog on a concept it is familiar with but the exact placement of the item is new to the dog. When we train, we generally run our dogs on "cold" marks and/or blinds. Our dogs know how to mark or run a blind, but they don't know the exact location of this specific mark or blind.

Collar Conditioning - A process by which the dog is taught how to turn off the collar stimulation.

De-bolting - A term identifying the process used to teach the dog it can not "run away" from the stimulation caused by the e-collar.

Diversion - A distraction of some sort, including but not limited to a bird, a shot, a person moving, talking, yelling or walking, etc., done in dog games to test against switching, or dropping. Diversions in dog games are commonly a thrown bird as the dog returns from a retrieve. Sometimes these become part of a delayed mark.

Double - Two items a dog sees thrown for it to retrieve. Items are not thrown at the same time. A double tests the dog's memory as it must pick up one item, return to its handler, then go get the other item and bring it back.

Dowel - An item used to teach the dog the "hold" command. Generally wooden and not larger than one-half inch in diameter. The dog should hold the dowel gently but firmly before moving on to the next phase of FF.

Dummy Collar - A collar that is the exact duplicate of an e-collar in size, shape, and weight but cannot produce electrical stimulation.

E-Collar - A tool used by the trainer and worn by the dog that enables the trainer to make an instant correction from a distance through the use of small amounts of electricity. It is an invaluable training tool when properly used. It is also the FASTEST way to ruin a good dog if improperly used.

Fall - (1) (a.k.a. Area of the Fall) - The spot on the ground or water where the item to be retrieved fell. (2) The time of year when we see just how well our training went during the "dog game" / off-season.

FC - Field Trial Champion. An AKC title.

FTCH - Field Trial Champion. A CKC title.

Field Work - Dog training generally conducted away from the area around the kennel, includes concept work or marks and blinds.

Flare - When a dog avoids continuing on a straight line on which he was sent due to pressure applied previously in that general area.

Force Fetching - (a.k.a., FF, Forcing, Force Breaking, Conditioned Retrieving) Teaching a dog through the use of classical conditioning (stimulus/response) methods to pick up and hold an item until told to release it. Generally accomplished after the adult teeth are in place in the 6 - 8 month age range.

Force to a Pile - An extension of Force Fetching. Pressure of some sort is applied in association with a command to go. This process is done in some circles to prepare the dog for running blind retrieves.

GMH - Grand Master Hunter. A CKC title.

GMHR - Grand Master Hunting Retriever. A NAHRA title.

Go Bird - The last item the dog sees thrown. In a multiple mark situation, it is generally the first item a dog will pick up.

GRHRCH-Grand Hunting Retriever Champion. A UKC/HRC title denoting that a Retriever has qualified in the annual HRC Grand event.

Handler - The person releasing the dog to make a retrieve.

Hand Signals - A series of hand/arm motions used to indicate to the dog which way you desire it go.

Hard Mouth - The action said to occur when a dog uses too much force in picking up or holding a bird. This action renders the bird unfit for human consumption and is a major problem. Difficult, but not impossible, to cure once the habit has been formed.

Heeling Stick - A riding crop or other item carried and used on the dog to remind it of its proper place. This is not used to abuse the dog, rather provide a gentle, but firm, reminder of the place.

Hold - A command used during conditioned retrieving by some to insure that the dog knows that he must hold, in his mouth, any object placed there.

Hidden Gun - A mark thrown by a BB when the BB is totally concealed from the dogs view. The dog hears a shot or call and sees the item to be retrieved thrown by does not see a BB.

Holding Blind - The only spot in the world your dog can lose its mind and you can't do a thing about it. A blind or series of blinds erected prior to the "line" in an effort to keep dogs and handlers available to run the test.

Honour - When a dog must observe another dog making a retrieve. An honouring dog should watch the entire sequence of birds decoying, flying, being shot and falling without interfering through sound or motion with the "working dog".

HRCH - Hunting Retriever champion an UKC Hunt title.

HR - Hunting Retriever an UKC title.

Indent - A term used to identify the placement of a shorter mark in relation to the other marks in the field. A triple is thrown, the first is 200 yards away, the second is 100 yards away, the third is 250 yards away. The second mark is called "indented" because the dog must go long, then short, then long again. A difficult concept to teach.

JFTR - Junior Field Trial Retriever. A CKC title.

JH - Junior Hunter. A CKC title.

Line - (1) The starting point for dog tests, trials, and training. (2) The line segment from Point A to Point B from the starting point of tests, trails, and training (Point A) to the item to be retrieved, be it for marks or blinds (Point B).

Line Manners - A term used to describe how a dog acts while sitting at the "line" under judgment. "That dog really pinned that mark, too bad he has the line manners of a goat!"

Literal Casting - A cast that, if taken properly, would lead directly to the blind.

Mark - An item a dog sees thrown for it to retrieve. Usually a game bird or a training bumper. A foundation task for dogs.

Memory Bird - Any item in a multiple mark situation, other than the last item, a dog has seen thrown for it to retrieve.

MH - Master Hunter. A CKC title.

MHR - Master Hunting Retriever. A NAHRA title.

Money Bird - The absolute last item, in a multiple mark situation, the dog picks up. Called "Money Bird" because in a Field Trial, if your dog doesn't get it, you get no money!

NAFC - National Amateur Field Champion. An AKC title.

NAFTCH - National Amateur Field Trial Champion. A CKC title.

NFC - National Field Champion. An AKC title.

NFTCH - National Field Trial Champion. A CKC title.

Nick - A correction applied with an e-collar set to a "Momentary" setting or a tap and immediate release of the button for those e-collars without a "Momentary" setting.

North American Hunting Retriever Association - (NAHRA) A non-for-profit organization set up to provide the average hunter a place to show case his/her retriever in a non-competitive environment.

Obedience - (OB) THE foundation task for dog training. Comprises a broad spectrum of commands some of which include: Sit, Here, Kennel, Heel, Down.

OFA - Orthopaedic Foundation for Animals. An organization which maintains a registry of hip and elbow data to help determine that joint confirmation is ideal and free of hereditary defects. Typical OFA hip ratings, in order of preference are: Excellent and Good followed by Fair. Initially spawned in an effort to curb the prevalence of Hip Dysplasia occurring in many large breed dogs.

Pattern Field - A series of bumpers placed in the same location every time, generally in the shape of a (T) or a double (T) where two lines, separated by 40 - 50 yards intersect the center line. Used to teach handling skills to dogs.

PennHip - An alternative registry/database to OFA. This method utilizes a "predictive test" testing the "play" or joint looseness by manipulating a joint to measure looseness. While not a commonly accepted as the OFA, PennHip is considered by some advocates to be more predictive of future issues. PennHip scores ratings on a "living percentile" rating current tests against the existing database of previously analyzed animals.

Pin - When a dog runs directly to the fall and picks up the item without a hunt.

Pointing Lab - (PL) A lab that points at birds during an upland hunt instead of flushing them as regular labs (RL) do.

Poison Bird - A mark the dog must ignore to successfully complete the assigned task, usually a blind. It is fairly common in the FT and upper levels of HT games to see this concept. It's called "poison" because, in a Test, if the dog picks it up, it might as well be dead because it will be out of competition.

Pop - When a dog stops and looks back to the handler for guidance or direction without being commanded. A bad thing.

Professional - One who derives any portion of their income from the training of dogs.

Premium - A notice sent out by the Club holding an event. This notice usually includes the time/date/place of stakes being held, entry cost, Judges names, directions and other information concerning the event.

Punch Bird - A term used to identify the placement of a longer mark in relation to the other marks in the field. A triple is thrown, the first is 100 yards away, the second is 200 yards away, the third is 125 yards away. The second mark is called a "punch bird" because the dog must go short, then short, then long and "punch" through the short bird marks.

Retired Gun - Used in multiple marks. After the BB has thrown the item to be retrieved, the BB moves to a concealed location so when the dog returns to the line and looks out to their mark, they are hidden from view.

School or Schooled - Running a dog on a mark or blind that it has run in the past. "Yes, I'd like to do this mark as a double, but let's school the memory bird first."

Secondary Selection - When the handler decides which bird will be picked up next. Used mostly in Field Trials but is a useful tool in the Retriever Training Tool Box.

SH - Senior Hunter. A CKC title.

SR - Started Retriever. A NAHRA title.

Steady - (steadiness) The term used to describe when a dog sees a bird or birds fall while remaining in the position commanded by the handler. A steady dog should remain steady until commanded to do otherwise by the handler. Usually, a steady dog, commanded to do otherwise is told to complete the retrieve with a "go" command.

Switch - A dog is sent to mark, establishes a hunt, then leaves that area and establishes a hunt in the area of another fall.

Tight Hunt - When the dog runs directly to the area of the fall and after a short hunt in a small area directly around the fall, finds the item. A very good thing.

Triple - Three items a dog sees thrown for it to retrieve. Items are not thrown at the same time. A triple tests the dog's memory as it must pick up one item, return to its handler, then go get the other item, bring it back, then go get the third item and bring it back.

Two-Down-The-Shore - Generally, a water double thrown so as after picking up the go bird, the dog must swim by the go bird fall area and pick up the memory bird. This is a tougher concept than it sounds and is a basic concept for advance dog work.

UH - Upland Hunter a UKC title.

QFTR - Qualified Field Trial Retriever. A CKC title.

Quad - Same as for double and triple only now you are throwing four items.

Under-The-Arc - When the line to a blind takes the dog between a mark and the BB who has thrown that mark, the dog is said to have run "under-the-arc."

Walking Singles - A single mark thrown by a BB for a dog and, as the dog is released, the BB walks away from the area of the fall. This teaches the dog to concentrate on the item thrown and not the BB.

Walk Up - A mark or marks that occur while the dog is in motion, progressing with the handler. A typical walk-up will expect the dog to cease progress upon the first mark and shot, usually in a sitting position, and to remain there until all marks have fallen and the handler commands the retriever to pick up a mark.

White Coat - A term used to identify those people who participate in Field Trial events. Used because, in part, handlers wear white coats so as to be easily identified by their dog when the dog is a great distance away.

WR - Working Retriever. A NAHRA title.

Yard Work - The term used to describe any number of drills that can be done in and around the kennel area. Baseball and OB are but two examples.

 
 
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RECOMMENDED READING, WEBSITES, & EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

 
 
There is an endless amount of educational material available to retriever enthusiasts. These are some of the more popular ones:
 

The Rex Carr - Dave Rorem Retriever Training Seminar (VIDEO)
Click Here to Order On-line.
Younglove Broadcast Services Inc. 1-800-848-5963 (Outside U.S. 1-810-678-2313)
Or Write P.O. Box 79 Metamora, MI 48455-0079

Retrievers Online: www.retrieversonline.com.
Retrievers ONLINE is published six times a year on a bi-monthly basis.

Totalretriever.com: www.totalretriever.com.
Guide to Mike Lardy's Videos and other information for training your retriever.

Tri-Tronics Retriever Training (Book) by Jim & Phyllis Dobbs.
Learn how to motivate your dog's best performance with methods developed by Jim and Phyllis Dobbs.
*Available at Canvasback Pet Supplies.

National Retriever Club of Canada: www.nrcc-canada.com

Retriever Field Trial News: www.working-retriever.com

Retriever Journal: www.retrieverjournal.com

The Dobbs Training Library: www.dobbsdogs.com

Northern Flight Retrievers: www.northernflight.com/articles

Oak Hill Kennel: www.oakhillkennel.com

Ducks Unlimited: www.ducks.org/waterfowling/retrievers

Dr. P's Dog Training Library: General Training Issues: Dr. P's Dog Library

Retriever Training.Net: www.retrievertraining.net

 
 
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