Retrieving Ability Tests For Gundogs

[twoblackdogs]

The National Retrieving and Field Trials Committee has reviewed the Rules for Gundog working tests and renamed it "Retrieving ability tests for Gundogs"

and it now has Titles attached to it.

All those Gundogs owners out there, whether Main, Limited or Associate Registered should check out this new Sport.

You could end up with a Retrieving Title!

The rules are on the ANKC Website - http://www.ankc.org.au/Rules.aspx

[RubyStar]

Awesome! Love the fact that titles are involved and you know what I love more, that Associates can earn them, too! My associate Lab would love the chance to earn a retrieving type title like her sister could Not sure any WA clubs holds it, though :D Hopefully that will change :p

Off to go read the rules anyway Thanks for the headsup

Edit: Where do we find out what Associates are allowed? I take it that the dog has to resemble a purebred Gundog (or a cross between 2 Gundogs??), but as you can't prove parentage, this could be a point of argument with some :D

Main and Limited Registered Gundogs (including de-sexed registered Gundogs)

and Associate Dogs of a variety accepted by a Member Body as a Gundog.

Edited December 1, 2010 by RubyStar

[RallyValley]

I would contact the Gundog club of WA, the Retrieveing Club of WA and maybe even the lab club if I was you RS. Surely at least one club will hold this trial as it is a great gateway to proper trials.

[RubyStar]

I would contact the Gundog club of WA, the Retrieveing Club of WA and maybe even the lab club if I was you RS. Surely at least one club will hold this trial as it is a great gateway to proper trials. ;)

Great minds, Valley ;)

I think if they want more people in their sport, which they do as it's slowly dying out with lack of new blood, then these tests would be a great intro!

The Gundog club might be the best bet, seeing as they are the only club out of those 3 that also hold Obedience trials, and these tests are supposed to be held during obedience trials I read...

Edited December 2, 2010 by RubyStar

[twoblackdogs]

Check with your local Canine Authority for further clarification in regards to what Associate Reg'd Gundogs are allowed.

My understanding is, if it has been registered as a Lab for example then it is eligible, but if it's a cross mix and does not look like the

Gundog Breed then you may not be.

I had my Associated Reg Male Lab assessed at a confirmation show back in 2004 and given a conformation certificate. Can't get much better than that.

The new rules apply from 1st Jan 2011, so if your interested I would be contacting the clubs and putting pressure on them to start the ball rolling for next season.

Good Luck everyone.

Regards

Lyn

[FHRP]

I think if they want more people in their sport, which they do as it's slowly dying out with lack of new blood, then these tests would be a great intro! ;)

That's the idea!! I really hope that all States run with Restrieving Ability Tests, please do contact your Gundog Clubs and show them you're interested!

ACT is looking to to hold a training and trial day early next year and I know Victoria is already planning a training day

[RubyStar]

I had my Associated Reg Male Lab assessed at a confirmation show back in 2004 and given a conformation certificate. Can't get much better than that.

I'd be interested in knowing more about this! Did you ask a judge to check your dog over to say they believe it is a purebred Lab and they were able to issue an official certificate to state so? I didn't think this was at all possible and have never heard of it. How did you get this to happen? I'd like to know if Millie is eligible as she's my associated registered Lab.

I'll make contact with DogsWest to ask what are eligible associate dogs, and will contact some clubs to see if they have any intention of holding these tests here in WA

[twoblackdogs]

Hi Rubystar.

It was done as an exercise at the Lab National when it was held in Adel back in 2004.

Anyone was able to take their dog in for assessment by the Judge, and issued a certificate of conformation

[Aidan]

I think that test is very practical regardless of whether you want to go on to more specialised training, great program for any gundog - pet, show or working.

[RubyStar]

I think that test is very practical regardless of whether you want to go on to more specialised training, great program for any gundog - pet, show or working.

Agreed, I just hope the clubs pick it up and start offering it to us! ;) I'm not too confident they will though as I don't think I've ever seen the previous Gundog Working Tests available here in WA... but then again, I've only been "in dogs" for a short amount of years

[mollipop]

Thanks for the link.

There are quite a few changes and still some unclear points, eg if my dog is currently working in Open GWT, does she now have to get a novice (NRA) title first.

I am sorry to see that the blind retireve has been removed. Now there will be no handling/directional skills invovled.

Also upset that if dummies are used they can't have feathers or fur. I have just made some really good rabbit skin dummies which the dogs love.

The dummies have to be quite a large size which could be a disadvantage for smaller gundogs like Cocker Spaniels.

We have been using the new NSW rules for a few months now which didn't have a stop on recall. Back to training for that now.

The Action and Style section is interesting. Should be easy points for any motivated gundog.

Can't wait to enter some trials to see how the dogs adapt to the changes.

[FHRP]

There are quite a few changes and still some unclear points, eg if my dog is currently working in Open GWT, does she now have to get a novice (NRA) title first.

Yes, she will have to compete in Novice unless she has a Retrieving Trial title, as per the rules (see eligibility). These are new tests with National rules which may be quite different to what has previously been run, depending on the State. Previous passes at GWT do not count towards Retrieving Ability Tests.

Also upset that if dummies are used they can't have feathers or fur. I have just made some really good rabbit skin dummies which the dogs love.

The dummies have to be quite a large size which could be a disadvantage for smaller gundogs like Cocker Spaniels.

An attempt has been made to standardise the dummies so that throws will be more equitable. Having recently been on the thrower at a GWT with dummies that varied greatly, I certainly support this whole heartedly. A standard 2" plastic dummy falls within scope and Cockers are more than capable of retrieving them, have you seen the game they can retrieve!? Although I wouldn't have minded feathers on dummies, now that we don't have blind retrieves, there's no place for fur IMO (ever seen a flying rabbit )

Edited December 3, 2010 by FHRP

[mollipop]

You don't drink enough, FHRP, if you haven't seen a flying bunny!

Good point though. I'm going to miss the Blinds.

Do you interpret the new rules as saying that if the dogs breaks (ie you can't stop them and call them back), it is a NQ?

[FHRP]

You don't drink enough, FHRP, if you haven't seen a flying bunny!

Good point though. I'm going to miss the Blinds.

Do you interpret the new rules as saying that if the dogs breaks (ie you can't stop them and call them back), it is a NQ?

Flying pigs maybe...

Hmmm, my imediate response is no, you would be deducted the full 10 points for unsteadiness, as you would in a Retrieving trial. However under the definition of breaking it says that if the dog is brought immediately under control it shall be penalised for unsteadiness, implying that if they aren't brought under control it isn't regarded as unsteadiness? And there is no listing of breaking in the Deductions list, only unsteadiness....

eta. Feel free to drop in at the Working Retriever bulletin board and ask your questions there too! There is a new sub forum for the Retrieving Ability Tests! http://www.australianworkingretrievercentral.org.au/bb/

Edited December 3, 2010 by FHRP

[RubyStar]

The thought of a real retrieving trial still scares me :p so this new test is pretty exciting for me If I can find out if there are any intentions to hold these in WA, I will have more motivation to go and train for it I must admit I am not training for retrieving like I should, because I don't foresee me ever making it to a trial ;) But if I can train towards this, and we have some fun and some success with it, who knows, a novice retrieving trial might not be so scary anymore and we'd be half way there training wise

[FHRP]

RubyStar, why do Retrieving Trials scare you?? If I'm brave enough to start trialing with my much pampered Agility & Obedience Vizsla, having never even fired a gun before, then anyone can do it, especially if you have the "right" breed!!!

[The Spotted Devil]

Agreed! I was thrown in the deep end with Lablover's help and, whilst I was nervous, am now hooked Started shaping a formal retrieve this week with Miss E. Whether I can pull off the training is another question but I'll give it a shot!

[RubyStar]

I guess I am scared because I don't know how to get my dog where I need her to be. I am getting a little bit of help every so often in training it, but sadly my lack of knowledge means I'm not sure I'll ever get there

My dog is steady, she's not gunshy as I've shot over her a couple of times and she doesn't flinch, she watches keenly for where it falls, and she has the drive to bolt out the fastest I've ever seen her run in my life once sent, but I am having trouble building her (and my!) confidence in going that bit further to find it if it didn't fall in plain sight, as she isn't quite getting the depth I guess of how far it fell. She tends to come back to me for guidance and she tends to get a bit distressed if she thinks she's wrong (she's a much softer dog than I first thought and shuts down if it gets too hard for her). She is getting better I guess, but we don't practice enough.

My main trouble I am having with her is the absolute basics - getting her to not mouth it as she comes in, and she's still dropping it on occasion. Don't even know where to start with a water retrieve, as she drops it at the water's edge to have a shake I have a lot of shaping ahead of me to get her to hold it properly. She's only had a bird once, it was a water retrieve and to my absolute surprise she brought it up the bank without dropping it, mouthing it, or shaking! She delivered to hand and then shook Doesn't do this with a dummy

I'd just like to be able to complete a Novice trial, I have no ambition to go further than that at this point in time :p I need a permanent mentor ;)

[FHRP]

OMG, she sounds about 100 times better than half the Novice dogs we get!! :p When I started trialing I had nothing but support and advice. Sometimes too much advice I'm not familiar with the WA trialing scene, but the few WA trialers I do know are very nice people who I can only imagine would be supportive. The Sport can't afford not to encourage new trialers!

It took me until the end of our first season (we did about half the trials available) for my dog to actually finish a trial He did manage to win it though

I really hope that the Retrieving Ability Tests are offered in your area and they give you and your dog the confidence to go on to Retrieving trials which really are a lot of fun. Just remember, just like in the obedience and agility trial ring, you and your dog aren't going to do anything at a Retrieving trial that many dogs haven't done before! Yes, it does sounds like you need to work more on distance and cover, but you really do have the makings of a capable retrieving dog by the sounds of it! Not gunshy, not hard mouthed and retrieves from water, a very good start ;)

[RubyStar]

I'm certain my dog is capable, but she has the handicap of a dopey handler

I wouldn't say she isn't hard mouthed, that retrieve of a bird from the water was a complete shock as it wasn't trained, she was going off instinct I guess :p and is something I really don't think I'd be able to replicate without some serious training Actually she has had a second bird, it was on land a few weeks or so after her amazing water retrieve, and she proceeded to rip it's head off ;) Yes, a case of handler thinking her dog had it but pushed waaaaaaaaaaaay too soon. Big slap for the handler. No more birdies for her for a while.

I do hope we make it one day, it's a HUGE rush for the handler to watch their dog's retrieving instincts take over

And yes, the WA people are lovely and very encouraging! I feel because I'm such a novice that I don't want to hound them too much for help, as they are busy training their own dogs and it takes a lot of effort to help someone new out that doesn't have much knowledge or experience.