Retreiver Water Test
The Retriever water test consists of the following tests
- Heeling: Walk 50 meters out on leash, turn around, take leash off and walk 50 years back to the judges. You must use an over the shoulder leash so that your hands are free. You must not hold the leash at any time other than to take it off when turning around.
- Marking: This will typically be a single mark thrown with a shotgun shot. Wait for judge to touch you on the shoulder and send. Dog must go straight to the fall, pick it up quickly, not mouth or shake, bring it back to the front, not the side. You must not move, whistle or speak at any time.
- Marking in Water: Mark thrown into water with shotgun shot. Fetch and bring back to front. You must not move, whistle or speak at any time. Must deliver to front.
- Double Blind in Water: You can choose what bird to get first. Once the dog as the bird, you must not move, whistle or speak at any time. Must deliver to front.
- Hunting: Send dog into grass with a single command (hunt), and let the dog find the bird that is about 40 yards away. If the dog finds the bird in under 5 minutes it is 4 points, 10 minutes it is 3 points. If you have to handle the dog in any way, you will loose points.
- Hunting in Tall Grass: Send your dog straight into tall grass to hunt. They want the dog to quarter out and back as you walk walk along slowly, after about 50 meters they will either throw a bird in the grass when the dog is not looking, or it will already be there. The don't want the dog to scent the bird too soon, they want to see the dog work the reeds before finding it. It is find to handle the dog to quarter back or come in, but you can never give a hunt whistle.
- Shooting: Typically all dogs/handlers line up about 15 meters apart in a line. Guns my be mixed in the line and or also in front of the line. Dog sits either on leash or off. If on leash the best score is 3 points. Guns start shooting, and don't stop for 10 straight minutes. Dog must sit still, not move, and not whine at all. Some times they will do this as a drive where the line of dogs/handlers watch people walking through the woods shooting and making noises.
This test uses dead ducks and pheasants