Hunting dogs skill test

Most youngsters dread a test, but Saturday morning young Misty Noelle was up for the challenge, pacing impatiently, talking a bit, her long tail snapping side to side.

The 3-year-old yellow Labrador retriever is one of more than 80 dogs gathered near Cheney Reservoir this weekend for the Sunflower Retriever Club's annual spring hunt test.

Dogs at the event came from all across Kansas and most surrounding states, as well as Texas and Alaska.

Debbie McCurry, club president, said the tests are set up to replicate conditions retrievers often find in the fall hunting fields.

"Most of the birds are around 100 yards at the most, like hunting," she said. "At true field trials they may be 300 or 400 yards away. This is set up to be realistic."

Most of the people entering the competition are avid hunters.

Robert McDowell enjoys waterfowl hunting with his female chocolate lab, Baylee, about 20 days a year. But that's not enough.

"I just love to watch the dogs work, and this gets us out more often," he said, scratching the ears of the dog, who's often in the house. "I'm an avid hunter, love dogs, so I've really gotten hooked on it."

Baylee was at the first of a hunt test's three levels -- junior, senior and master. The tests are pass/fail, with no best-dog ranking at the end. A dog must pass four tests within one division before moving toward a more advanced title.

The challenges become more difficult as dogs advance.

Watching the junior class Saturday morning, McDowell explained that handlers could use a leash to get their dog to the starting point, and put a hand on their collar as dead ducks were tossed for two separate retrieves.

Duck calls were blown and shotguns fired from the blinds from which the birds were thrown for added realism. Goose decoys dotted a small clearing where many ducks fell. Dogs were released at a judge's command.

Junior dogs that passed the dry-land test in the morning faced similar challenges at a nearby pond in the afternoon.

A half-mile away, dogs competing at the master level had much tougher duty.

What McDowell called "a poison bird" -- meant to distract the dog -- was tossed out and a shot fired as dog and handler neared the start. Two ducks had already been hidden in tall grass more than 100 yards away.

Handlers pointed the dogs toward the hidden birds and sent them forward, stopping them with a loud whistle if they got off line. Hand signals were used to send dogs left, right or farther back.

The dogs had to be directed away from the tempting scent of the "poison" bird.

Two more ducks were also tossed, with shots fired, for the dogs to see. Handlers sent them first to fetch one bird to them, then the other.

As with juniors, dogs that passed the land test in the morning faced a similar test on water in the afternoon.

Ron Wehner, a hunt judge from Springfield, Mo., said judges are less patient at senior and master level tests than juniors. Junior dogs could drop retrieves, spend quite a bit of time looking for birds and ignore a few commands at the entry level. Near perfection is expected at the master level.

"We're looking for obedience skills as well as the retrieving skills, so the handlers have to know what they're doing," Wehner said. "The first time I (entered) one of these my dogs were all over the place. It wasn't good."

Many of the dogs were being handled by their amateur owners rather than professionals. Often it was a case of man and dog learning together.

"There's no question getting ready and doing these make your dog a better hunting dog," said Mike Fisher, an avid waterfowl and pheasant hunter from Decatur, Texas. "But it really helps you understand what your dog can and can't do and what (the trainer) needs to get better at. It certainly helps you work together as a better team when you're hunting in the fall."

Today, senior and junior events will run from about 8 a.m. until midafternoon. The tests are about nine miles west of Andale, 1 ½ miles north of the intersection of Silver Lake Road and Willison Road.

The public is welcome at no charge. Those unfamiliar with hunt tests are urged to visit with participants to learn where spectators are allowed.