ABOUT VIKINGLAND RETRIEVER CLUB
Vikingland Retriever Club
is a non-profit, licensed American Kennel Club (AKC) organization
formed in 2017 whose purpose is to further the advancement
of purebred retriever breeds through training, education
and sporting events for amateurs and youth handlers, while
promoting sportsmanlike conduct.
Most club members are retriever
enthusiasts in the Alexandria/Lowry area who enjoy training,
hunting, and competing with their dogs, while also sharing
their time and talents with other members and area youth.
Other club members are professional trainers and amateur
handlers from farther away who enjoy training and competing
when they are in the area.
Member activities include
training opportunities, AKC licensed field trials and hunt
tests, informal field trials, seminars, youth events, and
other social club activities.
Training opportunities are
available to all paid club members. Group members get together
to train dogs on marks and blinds. These are great opportunities
to train your dog and become a better team while having
some fun with other retriever enthusiasts.
AKC field trials will bring
approximately 200 entries from all over the country. Many
of the professionals handling on those weekends are the
top professional retriever trainers in the country. This
is a great opportunity to see the top dogs in the country
competing against each other. Club members host/work during
events to make everything go smoothly but are also able
to compete in the stakes. Field trials include Open All-Age,
Amateur All-Age, Qualifying, and Derby Stakes. Our first
field trial was held July 27-29, 2018. At field trials,
rosettes and trophies are awarded to the top 4 finishers
in each stake, and other top finishers receive rosettes.
AKC Hunt Tests judge each
dog against a standard, so the handler/dog are not competing
against each other but rather on the merit of the dog's
abilities, both natural and trained. Judged areas include
a dog's natural ability to mark, remember a fall, hunting
style, perseverance, and courage. Trained abilities include
such areas as steadiness, control, response, and delivery.
Hunt tests have Master, Senior, and Junior stakes. Rosettes
are awarded to all dogs finishing with a qualifying score.
Informals are fun events
with minimal entry fees.
Each year, the club's goal
is to host at least one seminar, usually given by a professional
dog trainer. Anyone, not just club members, can attend these
seminars. Seminar details will be on the "Events"
page.
Youth events are planned
each year to encourage and help youth in the area to train
their hunting dogs.
Please consider becoming
a Vikingland Retriever Club Member and have the opportunity
to be involved in a very rewarding sport while becoming
a better dog/handler team.
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