National Amateur Retriever Championship Blog


2024 National Amateur Retriever Championship Blog
Showing posts with label test dogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label test dogs. Show all posts

Saturday, June 22, 2024

10th Series Test Dogs

Warren-Hill’s Celtic Quest, “Brannagh,” LF
Owners: Peggy and Brian Knowles
Handler: Peggy Knowles


First test dog up was Brannagh with handler Peggy Knowles .... Brannagh came to the line at 12:02 pm

Duck Flyer (DF) - Can not find in the water due to heavy vegetation - had to handle to the bird

Rooster Flyer (RF) - Could not find this one - guns came out to help

Right Retired (RR) - Good job!

Long Retired (LR) - Good job - left guns were out

This test took Brannagh about 28 minutes to complete.



NOTE: The Test was changed to a Triple after the 1st Test Dog ran the test.

Honga’s Over and Under Beretta QA2, “Rett,” LM
Owner: Deborah Gardner
Handler: Deborah Gardner


Next test dog up was Rett and handler Deborah Gardner ... Rett came to the line at 12:33 pm

Right Flyer (RF) - Came in left of the guns and around to establish a hunt and he got it!

Middle Retired (MR) - (This is thrown across s small cove of water Right to Left) Rett went out to the long point - swam back and forth and was handled over the point and back to his bird.

Long Retired (LR) - Swam way too deep and the guns cam out and the dog was handled back to this bird

This test took Rett about 19 minutes to complete.

9th Series Test Dogs

Honga’s Over and Under Beretta QA2, “Rett,” LM
Owner: Deborah Gardner
Handler: Deborah Gardner

First test dog up for this series was Rett and handler Deborah Gardner ... Rett came to the line at 8:26 am

Flyer - Went to the fall area and got the bird

Left Retired - Drove past the bird and hunted deep right left for several loops - came back and got the bird

Middle Retired - A few loops past and left and back to the bird





Warren-Hill’s Celtic Quest, “Brannagh,” LF
Owners: Peggy and Brian Knowles
Handler: Peggy Knowles


Next test dog up was Brannagh with handler Peggy Knowles .... Brannagh came to the line at 8:32 am


Flyer - Went to the area and got the bird

Left Retired - Small hunt and got to the bird

Middle Retired - Hunting the tree line - came back and got the bird



This test is taking approximately 6-7 minutes per dog to complete.

Test Dog - 2nd Day

Warren-Hill’s Celtic Quest, “Brannagh,” LF
Owners: Peggy and Brian Knowles
Handler: Peggy Knowles


Our single test dog to the line to finish up the 8th series was Brannagh with handler Peggy Knowles .... Brannagh came to the line at 5:54 am

F – Duck was running down the test and back to the pen after missed - Rethrew - She was out to the fall area and quickly got it!

LR – Down the middle of the pond and below the mat - drove to the middle of the field and started to turn - was handled to this bird

MR – Had the guns come out before the dog ran this mark to speed up the test - she was straight as an arrow across the field into the back piece of water to the bird

Friday, June 21, 2024

8th Series Test Dogs

Honga’s Over and Under Beretta QA2, “Rett,” LM
Owner: Deborah Gardner
Handler: Deborah Gardner


First test dog up was Rett and handler Deborah Gardner ... Rett came to the line at 12:49 pm

Right Flyer (RF) - Down the hill - into the water - climbed up by guns - hunted deep left and right and he got it

Left Retired Island (LR) - Down into the channel - across land then the road bridge to where the guns were in the woods - entered water - worked it out to the island and found it.

Middle Retired (MR) - Down and out across - had to have the guns out to help - Dog picked up.



Warren-Hill’s Celtic Quest, “Brannagh,” LF
Owners: Peggy and Brian Knowles
Handler: Peggy Knowles


Next test dog up was Brannagh with handler Peggy Knowles .... Brannagh came to the line at 1:03 pm

Right Flyer (RF) - Short hunt and she got the bird.

Left Retired Island (LR) - After a lengthy hunt the guns came out to help the dog - Pick up

Middle Retired (MR) - Handled the dog to the area on this mark but the guns had to come out to help -pick up.


This test is taking approximately 10-12 minutes per dog to complete.



7th Series Test Dogs

Honga’s Over and Under Beretta QA2, “Rett,” LM
Owner: Deborah Gardner
Handler: Deborah Gardner


First test dog up was Rett and handler Deborah Gardner ... Rett came to the line at 6:31 am

1 whistle before the brush
3 whistles before the 1st water
1 more on the road into the 2nd water (dog not visible in 2nd water)
Several whistles the rest of the blind
In and out of water 5 more times




Warren-Hill’s Celtic Quest, “Brannagh,” LF
Owners: Peggy and Brian Knowles
Handler: Peggy Knowles


Next test dog up was Brannagh with handler Peggy Knowles .... Brannagh came to the line at 6:43 am

1st whistle in the water
Jumped the brush and crossed the road
Went right of the cattails
Got left and stayed wide left all the way out to the bird


This test is taking approximately 7-9 minutes per dog to complete.



Thursday, June 20, 2024

6th Series Test Dogs

Honga’s Over and Under Beretta QA2, “Rett,” LM
Owner: Deborah Gardner
Handler: Deborah Gardner


First test dog up was Rett and handler Deborah Gardner ... Rett came to the line at 11:41 am

1 whistle up front by the trees and carried this line out into the water
2nd whistle and he missed the cover
1 more to correct the side of the bale
A few check down whistles at the bird



Warren-Hill’s Celtic Quest, “Brannagh,” LF

Owners: Peggy and Brian Knowles
Handler: Peggy Knowles


Next up was test dog Brannagh with handler Peggy Knowles .... Brannagh came to the line at 11:44 am

1st whistle up by the trees - 2nd and 3rd whistle
2 more to get into the water
1 more to correct the line
Dog went out of sight
Way off line  - multiple whistles before she got there

This test took between 2-3 minutes to complete as well.

5th Series Test Dog - Day 3 of the Series

Honga’s Over and Under Beretta QA2, “Rett,” LM
Owner: Deborah Gardner
Handler: Deborah Gardner

Our single test dog up this morning was Rett with handler Deborah Gardner ... Rett came to the line at 6:57 am

LF – Straight to it!

LR – Perfect

RR – Out to the blind on the right and into the water – he got his bird

RF – Across the field, through the water to the backside of the guns – turned right and out to the fall area – he went back and forth a few times but needed to be handled because he got too deep – gunners came out to help

It is warm already with no wind, hazy conditions, thin clouds above. All the guns show up in the field.

And off we go for another day in this challenging series!

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

5th Series Test Dog – Day 2

Warren-Hill’s Celtic Quest, “Brannagh,” LF
Owners: Peggy and Brian Knowles
Handler: Peggy Knowles


Our single test dog to the line today was Brannagh with handler Peggy Knowles .... Brannagh came to the line at 6:52 am

Left Flyer (LF) – Out in front of the guns under the arc - went left and directly to her bird

Right Retired (RR) – Out across the field into the water - going deep past the area - handled back to the bird

Left Retired (LR) – Under the arc and went deep past the area again - was handled back down to this bird

Right Flyer (RF) – Out to the area and got her bird

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

5th Series Test Dogs

Honga’s Over and Under Beretta QA2, “Rett,” LM
Owner: Deborah Gardner
Handler: Deborah Gardner


First test dog up was Rett and handler Deborah Gardner ... Rett came to the line at 7:19 am

LF – Out to the fall area and quickly got his mark

RF – Out into the pond and the backside of the guns - set up a hunt for 1 loop and then moved both left and right to locate his duck.

LR – He flew past the area towards the flyer and had to be handled back to this bird.

RR – Out to the tree and the bird - hunted the area and got it.

This test took Rett 9 minutes to complete.



Warren-Hill’s Celtic Quest, “Brannagh,” LF
Owners: Peggy and Brian Knowles
Handler: Peggy Knowles


Next up was test dog Brannagh with handler Peggy Knowles .... Brannagh came to the line at 7:31 am

LF – A couple loops and she got it.

RR – Went out under the arc, but then went too deep and was handled to this bird.

LR – Good line out, but drove past the area and was handled to this bird as well.

RF – Hunted behind the guns and then over to the fall area and located her bird.

This test took Brannagh 9 minutes to complete as well.



Monday, June 17, 2024

4th Series Test Dogs

Honga’s Over and Under Beretta QA2, “Rett,” LM
Owner: Deborah Gardner
Handler: Deborah Gardner

First up was Rett and handler Deborah Gardner ... Rett came to the line at 11:58 am

2 whistles early for a right cast
1 more got him almost to the water
1 with a pop
3 more on the far bank
A couple more at the bird

This test took Rett 3 minutes to complete.



Warren-Hill’s Celtic Quest, “Brannagh,” LF
Owners: Peggy and Brian Knowles
Handler: Peggy Knowles


Our second test dog was Brannagh with handler Peggy Knowles .... Brannagh came to the line at 12:02 pm

2 quick whistles up front for a right cast
2 in the middle for the right
1 at the tall grass
1 on the far shore
A couple more at the bird

This test took Brannagh 3 minutes to complete.






3rd Series Test Dogs - Day 2

Warren-Hill’s Celtic Quest, “Brannagh,” LF
Owners: Peggy and Brian Knowles
Handler: Peggy Knowles

Our single test dog to the line today was Brannagh with handler Peggy Knowles .... Brannagh came to the line at 6:51 am

Flyer – Hunted the area to get her flapping duck.

Middle Retired – Nice line - bent right and made a loop on the right side of the tree - she came back and went into the cattails for her bird.

Right Retired – Went out and had a hunt behind the guns - then moved out and worked her way to the bird.





Sunday, June 16, 2024

3rd Series Test Dogs

Honga’s Over and Under Beretta QA2, “Rett,” LM
Owner: 
Deborah Gardner
Handler: 
Deborah Gardner

First up was Rett and handler Deborah Gardner ... Rett came to the line at 7:15 am

Flyer – Out to the fall area - nice hunt and he found his duck

Middle Retired – Into tree area where the gunners hide - hunted around the trees and hunted the cattails, but kept missing this rooster that landed in the heavy cattails.

Right Retired – Crashed through the pond on his way to the long bird. Covered a wide area in front of the holding blind and then behind, but he worked it out and got his bird.

This test took Rett 12 minutes to complete.




Warren-Hill’s Celtic Quest, “Brannagh,” LF
Owners: Peggy and Brian Knowles
Handler: Peggy Knowles


Our second test dog to the line today was Brannagh with handler Peggy Knowles .... Brannagh came to the line at 7:30 am

Flyer – Good line, a few loops under the arc and she got her duck.

Middle Retired – Beached right and went to the top of the hill and hunted far right of the bird. Hunted in cover on the way to the bird area, and she got it!

Right Retired – Hunted the area right and left, but needed to be handled to this bird.

This test took Brannagh 9 minutes to complete.



Saturday, June 15, 2024

1st & 2nd Series Test Dogs

Warren-Hill’s Celtic Quest, “Brannagh,” LF
Owners: Peggy and Brian Knowles
Handler: Peggy Knowles


First test dog to the line was Brannagh with handler Peggy Knowles .... Brannagh came to the line at 7:20 am

Flyer – Dog sent for the flyer but came right back - then was sent for the bird under the arc where she looped and was to the bird.

Left Retired – Lined behind the bird, then a short area hunt to the bird.

Blind – 6 whistles - dog line was to the right, 6 left casts, then the dog was back in the trees, called back in and then back in the trees again, behind the planter, they came out to help the dog.


Female Test Dog Brannagh with handler Peggy Knowles


Honga’s Over and Under Beretta QA2, “Rett,” LM
Owner: 
Deborah Gardner
Handler: 
Deborah Gardner

Next up was Rett and handler Deborah Gardner ... Rett came to the line at 7:28 am

Flyer – Beautiful flyer, short area hunt.

Left Retired – Stayed in front of the gun station and quickly got his bird.

Blind – Problem casting into the wind ... then the dog took a straight line to the tree, was picked up and asked to start over. Did a very nice blind on the rerun.


NOTE: Handlers are told they can move up or laterally in the mowed area in front of the mat.


Male Test Dog Rett with handler Deborah Gardner



Honorary Test Dog was #91 FC-AFC Doc's Mesa Boogie, "Mesa," LF
Owner/Handler: William Smith

Next up was honorary test dog Mesa and handler William Smith ... Mesa came to the line at 7:48 am

Flyer – She caught a live one with a standing ovation from the gallery! She Just Retired! Congratulations Mesa!!