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Robin Poon
News Reporter
About 45 handlers and 70 dogs competed in the National Retriever Club of Canada's national championships in the Kane Valley last month.
Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, and other dog breeds — trained to carry downed game to hunters, especially birds — competed at the championships.
The entire competition took place from Sept. 20-25 in the lakes of the Kane Valley. Dogs and their handlers competed by retrieving birds thrown into the lake. Upon the handler's command, the dogs fetched the birds and brought them to the handler. (Photo Submitted)
both professionals and amateurs were allowed to compete.
At the end of the final competition, Taylorlab Calumet's Big Blue was declared the 2010 Canadian national champion. Somewhat unexpectedly, Sharon and Harold Gierman of Morris, Ill., own Big Blue. Sharon handled Big Blue in the field.
According to National Retriever Club of Canada chairman Graham Tyler, three judges presided over each round and determined the criteria for the best retriever among themselves.
Tyler notes that the fastest dog is not necessarily the best. "Speed is not really a factor that is measured."
Self-control and obedience to a handler are more important qualities when searching for a good retriever, he says.
Serious retrievers are trained six or seven days a week from the age of eight weeks, says Tyler.
The Kane Valley event was the first national retriever championship in the Merritt area, although smaller trials have been held in the past.
"The waters, particularly in the Kane Valley, are second-to-none in North America," says Tyler. He notes that this year's attendance was likely the best since the 1980s.
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