Continental Kennel Club

Advanced Retriever

I. Conditions

The CKC General Rules for Competition apply to all Advanced exercises. Please refer to a separate publication for more details.
All dogs must compete without any collar.
In the Advance retrieving tests, any type of cover may be used. Open fields, taller grass field, light wooded areas to heavy wooded areas, are all acceptable ground covers.
For this level of competition a pond or a small lake will be used for the water work. Rivers may not be used.
All Advanced retrieves will be 10-100 yards.
All angles and distances are based on the starting line or the position of the dog.
Depending on how the judge’s layout, there may be several assistants needed to throw the birds. All assistants will be seated behind a blind.
The retriever will retrieve all birds to hand.
Hard-mouthing and slow to release will be heavily penalized.
A Gunner will be used to fire all shots. Shots for this level will be a 410 gauge (on the 1 st leg) and a 20 gauge (on the 2 nd & 3 rd legs) or the equivalent.
The handler will position the gunner either to the left or right of starting line and will be no more than 10 feet away.
Handlers are encouraged to handle the dog with a whistle. Points will be deducted for over-handling the dog.
An on-deck station and an off-deck station will be used for this level of competition.
The distance of the on and off deck stations will be set by the judge.
The first passing dog to complete will honor the last the last dog to compete. The last dog to compete will honor the first dog in the off-deck circle.
Breaks and Controlled Breaks: A Break is when a dog moves off of the starting line and cannot be controlled by the Handler. No Breaks are allowed. Controlled breaks are when the dog breaks but the handler stops the break. If is the controlled break is stopped within 3 feet of the starting line. The handler may restart the dog. Only one Controlled break is allowed on the 1 st leg. After the first leg, no controlled breaks are allowed.
The Judge shall set-up the course and will not disclose the lay-out to any competitor until the handlers meeting.
All three legs must be run at three different events, on three different days.
Switching is not allowed. Switching is when the dog switches from one bird to another in mid retrieve.
The retriever will deliver to hand in the finish position only. The finish position is defined as the basic position or with the dog sitting at the side of the handler as though they were about to heel.
As a prerequisite, all dogs must first pass the CKC Intermediate Retrieving. Additionally, the dog must have passed at least one leg in the Intermediate level of Obedience, Agility and Tracking and Article Search prior to competing in this event.
The judge will set the allotted time to complete each exercise based on the factors affecting each test. This will be announced at the handler’s meeting.
The hosting affiliate club is responsible for providing appropriate safety equipment to prevent the over heating of contestants. This should include but not be limited to at least 3 tubs, large enough in which a dog could be submerged should the need arise.
In extreme weather conditions, a time out may be requested by the handler to water/cool –off the dog.

II. Testing

On signal from the judge, the handler will move the dog to the on-deck circle. Once in the on-deck circle, the handler will remove the lead put it away. The dog and handler will remain in the on-deck circle until the dog in front of them has completed their task. The handler may offer mild encouragement to assist with the honor.
The handler will then heel the dog to the starting line at the Judge’s signal.

Exercise 1 – Land Single

On signal from the Judge, the shooter will fire a shot. Immediately afterwards, a bird will be thrown by an assistant from behind a blind at no less than 70 yards no more than 75 yards.
The judge will signal the handler to send the dog.
The dog must leave without hesitation, go straight out to the bird, pick it up, and return directly to the handler.
Upon returning to the handler, the dog will present the bird in the finish position.
The dog must release the bird without resistance.
The handler will give the bird to the Judge.
On signal from the judge, the exercise will be complete.

Exercise 2 – Land Single

The exercise shall be conducted in the same manner as Exercise 1 except the distance shall be no less than 90 yards and no more than 100 yards.

Exercise 3 – Land Single with Diversionary bird

On signal from the Judge, the shooter will fire a shot. Immediately afterwards, a bird will be thrown by an assistant from behind a blind at no less than 60 yards.
The judge will signal the handler to send the dog.
The dog must leave without hesitation, go straight out to the bird, pick it up, and return directly to the handler.
On the way back, the Judge will signal for another shot to be fired. An assistant will then throw a bird in a diagonal across return path of the dog. The bird should land at approximately 10 yards behind the dog. The dog must not switch to the diversionary bird. The dog must return to the handler and present the bird in the finish position.
The dog must release the bird without resistance.
The handler will give the bird to the Judge.
The judge will signal the handler to send the dog.
The dog must leave without hesitation, go straight out to the diversionary bird, pick it up, and return directly to the handler.
The dog must return to the handler and present the bird in the finish position.
The dog must release the bird without resistance.
The handler will give the bird to the Judge.
On signal from the judge, the exercise will be complete.

Exercise 4 – Land Double

On signal from the Judge, the shooter will fire a shot. Immediately afterwards a bird will be thrown by an assistant from behind a blind at no more than 60 yards.
The judge signals another shot to be fired. Immediately afterwards a bird will be thrown from a blind at no more than 80 yards and at a 45 degree angle from the first bird.
The Judge will signal the handler to send the dog.
The dog must leave without hesitation, go straight out to the last bird or dummy, pick it up, and return directly to the handler.
Upon returning to the handler, the dog must present the bird in the finish position.
The dog must release the bird without resistance.
The handler will give the bird to the Judge.
The Judge will signal the handler to send the dog.
The dog must leave without hesitation, go straight out to the first bird, pick it up, and return directly to the handler.
Upon returning to the handler, the dog must present the bird in the finish position.
The dog must release the bird without resistance.
The handler will give the bird to the Judge.
On signal from the judge, the exercise will be complete.

Exercise 5 – Land Triple

On signal from the Judge, the shooter will fire a shot. Immediately afterwards a bird will be thrown by an assistant from behind a blind at no more than 60 yards. This is considered a memory bird.
The judge signals another shot to be fired. Immediately afterwards a bird will be thrown from a blind at no more than 80 yards and at a 45 degree angle for the first bird.
The judge signals another shot to be fired. A bird is thrown from a blind at no more than 50 yards and at a 45 degree angle for the second bird and 90 degrees away from the first.
The Judge will signal the handler to send the dog.
The dog must leave without hesitation, go straight out to the last bird, pick it up, and return directly to the handler.
Upon returning to the handler, the dog must present the finish position.
The dog must release the bird without resistance.
The handler will give the bird to the Judge.
The Judge will signal the handler to send the dog.
The dog must leave without hesitation, go straight out to the second bird, pick it up, and return directly to the handler.
Upon returning to the handler, the dog must present the bird in the finish position.
The dog must release the bird without resistance.
The handler will give the bird to the Judge.
The Judge will signal the handler to send the dog.
The dog must leave without hesitation, go straight out to the first bird, pick it up, and return directly to the handler.
Upon returning to the handler, the dog must present the bird in the finish position.
The dog must release the bird without resistance.
The handler will give the bird to the Judge.
On signal from the judge, the exercise will be complete.

Exercise 6 – Blind retrieve

The judge will begin this exercise by requiring the handler and the dog to turn around, so that their back is to the field.
An assistant will place a bird in a predetermined spot, not more than 80 yards.
The judge will then instruct the team to again face the field.
On signal from the Judge, the shooter will fire a shot.
The judge signals the handler to send the dog.
The handler sends the dog out in the direction of the fallen bird.
The dog must go out without hesitation, go straight out, retrieve the bird, pick it up, and return directly to the handler.
Upon returning to the handler, the dog must present the bird in either the service position or a finish position.
The dog must release the bird without resistance.
The handler will give the bird to the Judge.
The judge will signal this exercise is done.

Exercise 7 – Water singles

On signal from the judge, the handler will move the dog to the on-deck circle. Once in the on-deck circle, the handler will remove the lead put it away. The dog and handler will remain in the on-deck circle until the dog in front of them has completed their task. The handler may offer mild encouragement to assist with the honor.
The handler will then heel the dog to the starting line at the Judge’s signal.
On signal from the Judge, the shooter will fire a shot. Immediately afterwards a bird will be thrown by an assistant from behind a blind at no less than 30 yards and no more that 70 yards.
The judge will signal the handler to send the dog.
The dog must leave without hesitation, go straight out to the bird, pick it up, and return directly to the handler.
Upon returning to the handler, the dog must present the bird in either the service position or a finish position.
The dog must release the bird without resistance.
The handler will give the bird to the Judge.
The judge will signal this exercise is done.

Exercise 8 – Water singles

The exercise shall be conducted in the same manner as Exercise 7 except the distance shall be no less than 70 yards and no more than 100 yards.

Exercise 9 – Water singles bank to bank

On signal from the Judge, the shooter will fire a shot. Immediately afterwards a bird will be thrown by an assistant from behind a blind onto the opposite bank or shore, no more than 10 yards on to the bank. The opposite bank should not be more than 50 yards across.
The judge will signal the handler to send the dog.
The dog must leave without hesitation, go straight out into the water, swim across, get out on land, pick the bird up, and return directly to the handler following a similar, reverse path.
Upon returning to the handler, the dog must present the bird in either the service position or a finish position.
The dog must release the bird without resistance.
The handler will give the bird to the Judge.
The judge will signal this exercise is done.

Exercise 10 – Water Double

The exercise shall be conducted in the same manner as Exercise 4—Land Double except that it will occur in water.

Exercise 11 – Water Triple

On signal from the Judge, the shooter will fire a shot. Immediately afterwards a bird will be thrown by an assistant from behind a blind at no more than 60 yards into the water. This is considered a memory bird.
The judge signals another shot to be fired. Immediately afterwards a bird will be thrown from a blind at no more than 80 yards and at a 45 degree angle for the first bird, into the water.
The judge signals another shot to be fired. A bird is thrown from a blind at no more than 50 yards and at a 45 degree angle for the second bird and 90 degrees away from the first, and into the water.
The Judge will signal the handler to send the dog.
The dog must leave without hesitation, go straight out into the water, to the last bird, pick it up, and return directly to the handler.
Upon returning to the handler, the dog must present the bird in the finish position.
The dog must release the bird without resistance.
The handler will give the bird to the Judge.
The Judge will signal the handler to send the dog.
The dog must leave without hesitation, go straight out into the water, to the second bird, pick it up, and return directly to the handler.
Upon returning to the handler, the dog must present the bird in the finish position.
The dog must release the bird without resistance.
The handler will give the bird to the Judge.
The Judge will signal the handler to send the dog.
The dog must leave without hesitation, go straight out to the first bird, pick it up, and return directly to the handler.
Upon returning to the handler, the dog must present the bird in the finish position.
The dog must release the bird without resistance.
The handler will give the bird to the Judge.
On signal from the judge, the exercise will be complete.

Exercise 12 – Water Blind Retrieve

The judge will begin this exercise by requiring the handler and the dog to turn around.
An assistant will place a bird in a predetermined spot, not more than 80 yards.
The judge will then instruct the team to again face the field.
On signal from the Judge, the shooter will fire a shot.
The judge signals the handler to send the dog.
The handler sends the dog out in the direction of the fallen bird.
The dog must go out without hesitation, go straight out, retrieve the bird, pick it up, and return directly to the handler.
Upon returning to the handler, the dog must present the bird in either the service position or a finish position.
The dog must release the bird without resistance.
The handler will give the bird to the Judge.
The judge will signal this exercise is done.
The judge signals and this exercise are done.
On signal from the judge, the handler and dog will move to the off deck circle where they will both remain until the next dog completes his exercises. Once the competing dog completes his exercises, the handler in the off-deck circle will attach the lead and move off the course. The day is done.

For information on competing or hosting events contact

CKC Events Department at 1-888-CKC– 8042 or visit us at WWW.CKCUSA.COM

Continental Kennel Club, Inc. reserves the right to amend these rules at any time.

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