SoftMaple 2002 litter

Will your curly be a Show dog? A Hunting companion? A field trial winner? An obedience dog? An agility dog? Therapy Dog? Cherished family pet? I hope they all end up as beloved family members first and foremost. If they go on to do other things, that is great. If the only award they ever win is a CPE title (Couch Potato Excellent) that's great too!

Agility In short, Agility is a sport in which a dog runs through a timed obstacle course under the guidance of the handler. Agility training strengthens the bond between dog and handler, and provides fun and exercise for both. Originally loosely modeled on equestrian stadium jumpers competitions, the sport has evolved its own additional obstacles, scoring systems and performance ideals. (Both Seger and Jet are training in agility)

Obedience Trials: You and your dog work as a team, going through a series of exercises from the basic to the advanced. (recall, stays, sit, down, retrieve, jumps, directional retrieves, scent discrimination) Every dog should have at least some basic obedience instruction. Training can improve your relationship with your dog. Many people who start competitive obedience start by just taking the family dog to an obedience class. Then they get hooked, and are encouraged by how well they work as a team. (Jet has his AKC Companion Dog Obedience title and is currently working in the Open class. Jet and Seger both have AKC CGC titles)

Canine Freestyle: Canine Freestyle is a choreographed performance with music, illustrating the training and joyful relationship of a dog and handler team. Watch for the dog to be moving to the beat of the music and look for the bond between the dog and handler. You will see graceful and intricate maneuvers performed with precision and artistry. Every movement is accomplished through the subtle use of verbal cues and body language. The emphasis is always on the dog, with the handler completing the team creating a harmonious whole.

Showing in Conformation: The beauty contest of dogs. The dogs compete against each other to see which most closely resembles the Standard of the Breed. Most show dogs are competing for points toward their championship. To become an official AKC champion of record, a dog must earn a total of 15 points, which would include 2 major wins under 2 different judges. These points are awarded based on the number of dogs in actual competition--the more dogs, the more points.
The world of the dog showing is an interesting place to be. You can be a complete new person in the dog world and still able to compete with some of the top in the “business” and win. For most of us, however, showing dogs is not a business, but our true love and hobby in life. (Jet and Seger both have AKC Champion titles. Seger earned her AKC CH with 4 major wins)

Flyball: Flyball is a relay race with 4 dogs on a team. The course consists of a starting line, 4 hurdles spaced 10 feet apart and a box. The first hurdle is 6 feet from the start line and the box is 15 feet from the last hurdle for a 51 foot overall length. The dogs jump the hurdles and steps on a spring loaded box that shoots out a tennis ball. The dog catches the tennis ball and then runs back over the 4 hurdles. When the dog crosses the starting line the next dog goes. The first team to have all 4 dogs run without errors wins the heat.

Tracking; A dog is "tracking" when he is following the scent trail left by a human being (or other animal) that has passed along a certain route. Following a track is one of the many useful things dogs can do to help humans. Hounds track game, rescue dogs track lost children, police dogs track suspects, well trained pets can find lost items. Many dog owners are involved in tracking with their dogs as a hobby (for fun) or as a sport (to earn titles), or both. In the United States and Canada, tracking titles are offered by a variety of dog organizations.

Search and RescueSearch and rescue (SAR) dogs are motivated to locate human scent that moves around on air currents, and to follow that scent to its source - the victim. I use the word "motivated" because we don't train a dog to use its nose - it already knows how to do that - we just motivate the dog to use it, and to use it on command.
SAR dogs are employed in a variety of emergency circumstances, such as, urban and wilderness settings to locate missing persons, in situations following a disaster such as earthquake or hurricane, and following avalanche or drowning incidents. SAR dogs are also used for cadaver search and evidence search.

Skijoring Crossing Country Skiing with Your Dog Skijoring is cross country skiing with one to three dogs tied to your waist. You wear a wide belt around your waist or hips and connect to the harness on your dog or dogs with a 3 to 4 meter long line that has a bungee cord built in to absorb the jerking. You ski, skating works best, while the dogs run along in front pulling on the line. If you don't have snow, it is a great way to go running with the safety of your dog accompanying you. You both get great exercise, have fun, and develop a strong bond. (Jet does Skijoring and Sled pulling)

Therapy "Visiting Pets" "Therapy Dogs" "Therapy Pets" are just some of the names given to describe programs in which animals help people just by visiting with them. The benefits of interaction with pets are many. Visits with therapy pets encourage reminiscence and social interaction and result in stress relief and incidental physiotherapy. Medical studies suggest that blood pressure may be lowered and hospital stays shortened when patients have access to pets. Often, a visit with a pet can be the high point in a shut-in's day, bringing happiness and a sense of well-being. (Jet does pet visitations )

Hunting The Curly is a hunting dog for the person who likes variety: ducks, pheasant, grouse and a dog who can also be a companion to children and a family friend. Though he is designated as a retriever, the Curly is also an outstanding upland game dog on pheasant, grouse, quail, etc. Curlies are currently being hunted throughout North America, and are used extensively for hunting in New Zealand (where they are the hunting dog of choice) and Australia. Many, if not most, of the people hunting Curlies are family-oriented who just want a dog that hunts and can be a companion so hunting Curlies is rather a silent revolution.

Field trial, hunting test, working trials. Are all different levels of competition in the field.

Field Trials offer practical demonstrations of a dog's ability to perform, in the field, the functions for which it was bred. In Field Trials, the dogs compete against each other for placements and points toward their championships.

Hunting Tests evaluate a dog's hunting abilities on different elements of pointing, retrieving or flushing. The dog's ability to perform is judged against a standard of perfection established by the AKC Regulations; theoretically, every dog can be a winner! Dogs receiving Qualifying Scores at a number of tests achieve titles of Junior Hunter (J.H.), Senior Hunter (S.H.) and Master Hunter (M.H.); each successive title requires more skill. If you have a good hunting dog, you probably would be able to earn a Junior Hunter title with only a moderate amount of work. Your success in Hunting Tests should lead you further into the sport.(Jet has his Junior hunter (JH) and Senior hunter (SH) titles)

CCRCA - Curly Coated Retriever Working Tests The purpose of the Curly coat retriever working certificate program is to foster and encourage the natural retrieving abilities of the breed. It is designed to prove effective use of nose, marking ability, swimming, perseverance and the ability to work with the handler. (Jet has his CCRCA WC and WCX)