Team Wetland Retrievers

07/25/2026

Last Hunt Test of the year in AK.
Get your entries in if you plan to attend.

07/19/2026

Pal got mail while I was up in Fairbanks running this weekend. 😁

07/19/2026

Past two weekends at Fairbanks Retriever Club Qualifying stake. Thanks to all FRC members for their generous hospitality. Thanks to the judges for the challenging test and to all the help.
July 18 results: 1st Goat
2nd Pilot, Butch K
3rd Traeger, Doug M
4th Taika, Pete P
RJ Pal

July 11 results: 1st Pilot, Butch K
2nd Novi, Greg H
3rd Sam, Dan L
4th Maggie, Pat C
Congratulations to all finishers.
That's my last field trial for the year.
I've got young ones and hunt test dogs to focus on. Happy training to everyone.

07/07/2026

Promoting the Sport
"Your words matter"

It's a known fact that our sport is dwindling. Every year our entry numbers into our events get smaller and smaller.
I try to encourage folks from the very beginning. As an example ; If you're out in a public area training and someone is intrigued in what you're doing. They just got done playing with their dog. They walk up with their retriever in tow and they are carrying a chuck it handle and a bunch of tennis balls. How would you greet this person?
Or would you even put forth the effort?
If your answer isn't a friendly response, that's the problem right there. Your initial response is what people remember most about people that play this sport. You passed judgement on them before they could even learn the process.
I would encourage and then let them decide how far they want to go.
As a lot of you know my training groups are large. The reason is because I help them and I encourage them to keep achieving the next level. I don't care where they are in the process. It was just recently said to me by a friend of mine that it takes a village to get where he was today. That's so true. He got encouragement from many different directions along the way.
Your words really matter.
Some have forgotten what it’s like to have even small successes.
So performance driven that they've lost empathy for others.
They've let Ego get in the way of being helpful to those that are considered beneath their training level.
I may not be the best fit or the best trainer for someone. And I'm ok with that, but at least I put forth the effort to get them started for them to move on.

Remember to enjoy the journey and to pay it back to others along the way. That’s more important to the sport than ribbons or trophies.

07/05/2026

07/04/2026

I'm so sorry to share this heart breaking news. Rich Horn, our recent member of the retriever community and a long time friend was killed in the 3- car wreck at Potter's Marsh this past Wednesday, July 1. His new puppy Jet was in the vehicle with him, and survived. She is safe and in good hands.

Rich was new to the retriever sport but was all-in. He was looking forward to training his puppy and competing with her to reach her full potential in the years ahead. Rich loved his new found sport of retriever training and he was in it for the long-game. He enjoyed the camaraderie and meeting each one of you that he recently had the opportunity to connect with. Rich was excited for what lay ahead for him and Jet. He had found a home in the retriever community.

This season, Rich was most recently at both of RCA's Point Mackenzie field trials and last weekend at MSGDA Master hunt test event. He was there with his black lab puppy Jet. He had just returned from Texas where he traveled to pick her up.

When details of final arrangements for Rich are known, they will be shared.

Copied from a previous email.

06/29/2026

Daily routine here. 😬😁

06/29/2026

Congratulations to all qualifiers in the Midnight Sun Gun Dog Association AKC Hunt Test.
Doug and Traeger got 1st and Pat and Maggie got 2nd in the OH Qualifying Stake.
These other pics are from today's Junior.
A great bit of fun. Thanks to the judges and the help for supporting this event.

06/22/2026

Thanks to Retriever Club of Alaska for a great weekend AKC Hunt Test.
I appreciate all judges and the help for putting on this event.
Congratulations to all qualifiers.
Everyone keep RCA's August hunt test in mind.
Here's a few extra pics