Puppy Stakes

[puddleduck]

Question - do you think they should still have puppy stakes at field trials?
I say yes they should. I have been out of it for twenty years and got a puppy last year. I ran the only puppy stake in the area at Long Point. It was fantastic, got to meet new people and got hooked on field trials again. I think it is good marketing to have these trials to get young people involved,

Dennis

[ducksoup]

I agree with you there should be more Puppy Stakes -- Long Point has one and also believe Montreal and York have one each this year too. It does give the newbie an introduction to our sport. Besides it's FUN!!!!!

[krakadawn]

Pine Ridge also held a puppy stake and will have one again. It would be a positive step if more clubs offered this event but let's be sure we put some good judges in place to allow any new folks a good start to the F.T. game.There is an old 'unofficial' set of guidelines still available that were written and developed by the old ORFTA organization-we shared these with our Puppy Judges last year prior to holding the stake to give them a sense of fair expectations for this level.
Jim

[Lpgar]

Indeed...the Long Point Retriever Training Club will be hosting a Puppy Stake at our June trial again this year on Saturday June 14th. This is the now the third year We have had the stake and it is a blast for all the come out. We feel it welcomes the newcomer to the game...they can come and watch the other stakes and partake in the fantastic food and good times of the Tail Gate at BayPoint.

We also are hoping that the club gets some support for our new Minor Stake weekend on Thanksgiving Weekend this Year. The intent here is to offer opportunity to try Feild Trialing at the beginning level of Junior and Qualifying and maybe take some of the pressure off the competition. Maybe without the Big Stakes going on We can attract some new folks with there primed Up trained Hunting Dogs to the competitive side of the Retriever Game.

Gar

[Jojoe]

Puppy stakes gives pup owners like me an excuse to make the treck to the Trial Grounds, not to mention the Tail Gate....MMMMmmmm Tail Gate. I can't wait to begin sucking up to my future judges, rubbing shoulders with this stuck-up cliquish group, seeing first hand the 'win at all cost' attitudes and...oh ya saying hi to the majority of players there that I have trained with...:bleh:

I can't imagine getting 'wound up' about my pups performance at such an event but it should be good fun all the same. :spoton:

Cheers,

[ducksoup]

Jim, glad to hear that Pine Ridge is holding a Puppy -- and Gar, great idea for the Thanksgiving weekend with Junior and Qual

[Misty Marsh]

Great idea!