dockdogs

This section is dedicated to to the canine athletes that provide us with so much joy, entertainment, and companionship. Through my years of waterfowl hunting in southeast Texas as a an adult and during college near Austin I have trained one chocolate male and 4 yellow female Labrador Retrievers, the latter 3 to Hunting Retriever Champion titles in UKC hunting tests. My newest buddy is Brady, a strapping yellow male pup that steals everyone's heart he meets. Although I have basically retired from hunting, I will be running Brady in UKC and AKC hunt tests. Being born 6/22/2008, we are still in early training, but attending events as we can to meet folks and dogs and learn as much as we can. As we make the rounds I shoot what I can when I see an opportunity to capture the raw athleticism, drive, and dedication a well-trained dog can exhibit when in the element of its instincts and training. Each of these activities require a true team of dog and handler.

Dockdogs

Dockdogs is a relatively new nationwide organization of enthusiasts of the raw athleticism of their dog jumping full tilt into a pool of water from a 2-foot high dock to retrieve their favorite toy tossed by their handler. Events are held by local clubs and the national charter travels with a pool and dock and present more public events at places like Cabelas, Bass Pro Shops, and other venues such as Discovery Park in downtown Houston. There are three areas of competition:

Big Air: just jump as far as possible into the pool, furthest distance wins.
Extreme Vertical: Like it sounds, the highest jump to retrieve a toy wins.
Speed Retrieve: The fastest retrieve of a Big Air type jump at a fixed distance.

Categories are offered for different sizes of course, and although the bigger dogs reach up to 27 feet or so in Big Air, the little ones are extremely entertaining as well with their graceful acrobatics.

Hunt Tests

Hunt Tests are designed to test a dog's training as a hunting retriever - mainly for dove, goose, and duck hunting but also for upland bird hunting such as pheasants. Several dozens of retriever clubs across the country hold sanctioned test events from which qualifying scores are received that count toward champion titles that are reflected on the dogs pedigree, which in turn enhances its own value as well as its breeding potential and that of its offspring.

The American Kennel Club (AKC), United Kennel Club (UKC) (via the Hunting Retriever Club (HRC) and North American Hunting Retrievers
Association (NAHRA) are the three wholly separate entities that offer a system of testing - in order of popularity. AKC and UKC are pretty much nationwide, however NAHRA has had some difficulty competing in many states/regions. The AKC titles are arguably hold the most merit since the AKC is the premier pure-breed dog registry in the US; however UKC/HRC tests are still very popular; many dog trainers/handlers do both, but a sizeable number remains loyal to one or the other due to personal reasons or due to differences in the rules and regulations. Since NAHRC is not strong in the south I know little about it and will not compare/contrast its merits.

Each of AKC and UKC/HRC have 3 main levels of qualification along with a "creme de la creme" level. The main difference is in UKC/HRC tests the handler must hold and shoot a real shotgun loaded with blanks as if he/she are actually shooting the birds - and they are graded on gun safety as well as the dog's work. AKC gives you a little toy wooden gun to hold.

Each groups tests generally consist of "birdboys" placed behind camouflage screens out in a field or around a pond who throw dead ducks or pheasants on cue either by hand or with use of a "winger" - or large slingshot device. These retrieves are called "marks" because the dog is expected to watch the fall of the bird and "mark" its location. In AKC a blank shot is fired from the birdboy location - in HRC the only cue for the dog is the gun shot by its handler.

Advanced levels include a "blind retrieve" in which the dog is expected to retrieve a bird it did not see fall, being led to the location by its handler using a whistle and hand signals.

The three levels for each group are generally the same - AKC is considered a bit more difficult, but they are close enough to group together. The descriptions below are general - please no emails from experts pointing out inconsistencies - I run both and know this very well. This is just intended to inform those that have little exposure to hunt tests....there are many teensy tiney differences in each that can cost you a failure if you don't do it right.

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AKC Junior

UKC Started

Very basic. The dog is provided with two tests of two single marks; i.e. a mark is thrown and the dog retrieves it; then a 2nd is thrown and the dog retrieves it. The dog must deliver to hand in AKC but can drop it and pick it back up, but UKC allows a general vicinity delivery. Retrieves are anywhere from 50 to 120 yds, with one test in water and one on land. Dogs are also judged on manners, and handlers are judged on other technical issues - like not touching the dog. the dog can be "lightly restrained" with a leash or collar. You need 4 passes to continue to the next level and you gat a Junior Hunter (JH) or Started Hunter title.

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AKC Senior

UKC Seasoned

Restraint is gone, the dog is expected to behave well off lead. The test consists of a double mark - meaning the dog must calmly watch 2 birds tossed before being sent for the fiirst, and must return and remember the 2nd bird. in addition, a blind retrieve "outside the marks" is required. In AKC your dog must also sit calmly an "honor" another dog's work. Four passes needed to get to the next level if you passed Junior/Started, otherwise you need five to get the Senior Hunter (SH) or Hunting Retriever (HR) title./

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AKC Master

UKC Finished

Typically a triple mark and a blind, but AKC may have quads, a double and 2 blinds, or other variances. These dogs better be good, sometimes your first bird is a 150-yd blind, and on the way they toss a mark to the side to divert his attention and you have to show the dog is under control to continue to the hidden bird. Four passes needed for the AKC Master Hunter (MH) title or the UKC Hunting Retriever Champion (HRCH) title; 5 or 6 needed if you do not have a Senior or Seasoned title.

Thats just a nutshell....many many details not mentioned! It's a great game!

The granddaddy of Hunt Tests, field trials are the pinnacle of retriever competition - literally dog to dog as opposed to testing against a standard. Field Trial dogs are typically bred a bit more athletic or more slender for faster, more stylish running. The training and events are very similar to training for Hunt Tests with the exception that Field Trials extend to retrieves out much farther - often 400 yds or more, but typically under 350 yds with some as short as 100 yds. Handlers and "throwers" wear white, and all shots are fired from the point of the throw. Because it is head to head competition, judging can be very much less forgiving, especially for having to handle to a mark. Field Trial dogs may strictly compete in Field Trials or they may also enjoy Hunt Tests as well. Field Trials are exclusively AKC events.