IPLRC INSTRUCTOR & GUNNER
    John Costello
    johncostelloiplrc@shaw.ca



2018 Field Trials, Hunt Tests & Events are posted towards the bottom of this page.
(subject to change)
 

IPLRC Training Day album
https://www.flickr.com/photos/coastalight/albums/72157664623926564

Photography courtesy of IPLRC member,Wendy Tisdall
 

There are three Retriever Clubs offering CKC approved field tests on Vancouver Island. The Vancouver Island Retriever Club, The Pacific Rim Hunting Retriever Club and the Upper Island Retriever Club. Only registered dogs, from breeds listed in the CKC regulations, may participate in these club's events. A fourth club, The Salt Chuck Hunting Retriever Club, operates under the authority of the United Kennel Club. UKC registered "gun dogs" who can do the work may qualify in SCHRC events. For example, a UKC registered English Springer Spaniel or a German Shorthair Pointer, who could satisfactorily perform the work, could qualify at one of their trials.

Dogs entered in working certificate tests and hunt hunt tests compete against a standard. Any dog successfully completing the work earns a pass. Field trials however are competitive - there is a first place awarded and, potentially, a second, third, fourth and certificate(s) of merit.

Each club operates a web site and those intending to attend events as spectators or participants should double-check to ensure that the information with regards to time and place is accurate.

https://www.ckc.ca/en/Files/Forms/Shows-Trials/Event-Rules-Regulations/Hunt-Test-Rules-and-Regulations-for-Retrievers-Bar.aspx

 

Recommended Resource Materials For Train

1. CKC Working Certificate Test Rules and Regulations

2. Retriever Journal, bimonthly magazine (subscription includes access to web training link)

3. Water Dog, Richard Wolters

4. Retriever Training, Tom Dokken

5. Training the Upland Retriever, DVD, George Hickox,

6. Retriever Training Drills for Marking, James Spencer

7. Training Retrievers Alone with Dennis Voigt – booklet and DVD

8. Retrievers Online, Dennis Voigt, bimonthly subscription

9. Training Retrievers and Spaniels to Hunt ‘Em Up, Arnette/Hickox

10. Retriever Trouble-shooting, John and Amy Dahl

11. The Ten Minute Retriever, John and Amy Dahl

12. The Working Retrievers, Tom Quinn

13. Hey Pup, Fetch It Up, Bill Tarrant

Equipment

Gonia whistle/lanyard

Retriever training “bumpers” or “dummies”

Bird buckets (3)

Birds – pigeons, chukar, pheasants, ducks

Blank gun/ammunition

Slip lead

Survey tape

Light coloured clothing/jacket

Holding blinds

Decoys

Duck call

Suppliers

Wholesale Sports - Nanaimo, BC

Island Outfitters - Victoria, BC

Zinger Winger  - on-line

Lion Country Supplies - on-line

Training Areas

Beaver Lake Ponds Retriever training area

Jenning’s Lane (when field cut)

Oceanographic Research Centre field (when grass cut)

CRD Park Duke Rd Metchosin (when grass cut)

VI Tech Centre (pay parking)

Terms

Line – place from which handler sends the dog

Line – most direct path to and from the area of the fall

Fall – place where the dummy/bird lands when thrown by a gunner

Area of the fall – general area close to where the bird/bumper lands

Pin – dog goes directly to the thrown bird/dummy and retrieves it without a hunt

Gunner – the individual assigned to fire a blank gun or blow a duck call and throw the bird/dummy upon visual signal from a judge

Mark – bird/dummy thrown by a gunner

Single – test consists of one thrown land or water mark

Back-to-back singles – two single marks, run individually but from the same line

Delivery to hand – dog carries the bird/dummy to the handler without dropping it and releases the bird/dummy only when instructed to do so

Slip lead – a leash restraint, without a collar, allowing the handler to easily release the dog at the line (dogs cannot be run while wearing a collar)

Holding blind – a visual block where the handler waits with their dog until called to line

Blink – dog goes to the area of the fall, finds the bird but refuses to retrieve it

Switch – dog goes to the area of the fall, hunts for the bird and, failing to find it, moves on to another fall

Pop – dog stops on the way to the fall and looks back at the handler for assistance or out of uncertainty

Quit – dog looks for bird/bumper but, failing to find it, leaves the area of the fall

Marshall – the club rep who ensures that handlers are sent to the line with their dogs in an organized manner, also acts as an intermediary between the Judges and handlers and ensures that the gunners

Test dog – a dog, not in contention, runs the upcoming test, in order to demonstrate to the handlers what the expectations of the test are

Number – one Judge will call the handler’s assigned number, as a signal that the handler may release their dog, to go and retrieve the mark

Release command – verbal command that the handler utilizes to release his dog – usually the dog’s name

Steady – dog is not restrained and does not leave the line for a mark until verbally released by the handler

Break – the dog leaves the line before being the Judge calls the handler’s number

Blind – instead of a thrown mark, a bumper is placed in the field without the dog being aware of its location. The handler must then send the dog on as direct a line as possible to the bumper, utilizing hand and whistle signals to assist the dog to locate the bumper.

Diversion bird – while on its way back to the line with a retrieved bumper a gunner throws another bird, in full view of the dog. The dog is expected to ignore this bird and continue to return to the handler with the current bumper

Honour – a dog who has run the test must sit quietly at heel, in close proximity to the line, while the next dog runs