Training Dates

We will conduct training on the first Saturday of the month from March through August; and the first Sunday of the month from September through February. Unless specified otherwise, all scheduled training will take place at Shady Grove Kennel & Hunting Preserve, Remington, Va.

May 3rd (Saturday)

May 10-11 AKC Hunting Test

June 7th (Saturday)

July 5th (Saturday)

August 2nd (Saturday)

September 7th (Sunday)- Club work day

October 5th (Sunday)

November 2nd (Sunday)

December 7th (Sunday)

Check-in: 8:00, Start time: 8:30, with training running up to 4 PM.

You must register in advance (deadline is the Wednesday before the training day) so plans can be made for training scenarios and shot flyers, etc. Please send an email to rrrctraining@yahoo.com with the following information:

Name
Phone Number
Number of dogs (4 maximum)
Level of Dog
Number of Shot Flyers (1 per dog)

The fee for the day is $5 per dog (6 months or older) payable upon arrival. Shot flyers will be at cost ($11). All birds, once shot, will be kept by RRRC for the next training day. We welcome all guests to join us for a training day and evaluate our great club. Please bring your dog, a leash, water and lunch. You will be expected to "work" in the field throwing birds for other dogs. We would love to meet you!

On a typical training session, the club will offer single, double, and triple marks as well as blind retrieves that are arranged, conducted and at distances similar to what is encountered at both NAHRA field tests and AKC hunt tests. Not only are individuals encouraged to ask for set-ups that allow them to more fully test or evaluate their dog’s ability on certain issues or concepts, but members are also encouraged to take turns setting up a given training session so that they can tailor-make a session.

Besides offering retrievers a variety of marking and handling tests, the training sessions also afford handlers and dogs alike an opportunity to become familiar with the sights, sounds, and excitement of a hunting test or field test so that they will be better able to perform at their best when the real test takes place, should one wish to show their retriever.

Training a retriever, like most things in life, does not happen all on its own- it takes an investment of effort, patience, consistency, and last but certainly not least, an investment of time. Greater levels of proficiency at retrieving understandably require different concepts to be taught, as well as more of an investment in time and effort. Individuals are encouraged have a goal of proficiency in mind that they wish their retriever to attain, to develop a training schedule that will allow for the goal to be reached, and to then train with that goal in mind. Just as people have different personalities, cognitive prowess, and physical attributes, so to do retrievers. Accordingly, one needs to remain flexible to modifying their training regimen to the particular needs of their retriever. A concept may seem to be quite simplistic to you, however, if your retriever does not understand, it really doesn’t matter what you think as your retriever does not understand what is being asked. Be willing to take a step or two backwards in your training before you advance to the next phase or concept. By adapting your training regimen to the needs of your retriever, you will be better able to reach the goal together and both you and your retriever will be able to find the pleasure, if not joy, of working together as a team.

April 2007 AKC-licensed Hunting Test

Photos, courtesy of Dennis Glennon Photography.