"If there are no dogs in Heaven,
then when I die I want to go where they went."
Will Rogers

Training Clinic

June 17-19

The Greatland Chapter is planning to host a VHD field work training clinic led by John and Cindy Hahn in Cantwell from Friday evening, June 17th, through Sunday afternoon, June 19th. The clinic will cover basic training techniques and more advanced field skills (no water work) for VHD handlers and your dogs.

John and Cindy are exceptionally skilled training instructors who have conducted these clinics across the country for many years. The techniques they teach would be valuable for anyone from beginning handlers with your first pup on through experienced handlers who are trying to refine your skills and those of your advanced, UT-ready dogs.

The cost of the clinic will be $350. The size of the clinic will be limited to 20 people, in order to ensure everyone a share of individual attention along with the group work. The Chapter is accepting registration now, through Judy Deaver, and we already have around ten people.

Clinic attendees can be a handler with a dog, a family member of a handler without an additional dog, or a handler without a dog that wants to learn by observing. The fees may vary depending upon which of these categories you fall into.

The clinic will be held in Cantwell, just south of the Denali Park entrance on the Parks Highway. This lets us split the loigistics burden evenly between our Anchorage-area members and folks from the Fairbanks area.

Don Holum is arranging for the grounds, identifying accommodations for anyone who needs them, and arranging for pay-as-you-go meals for the entire weekend. People who want to bring a trailer or camper and fend for themselves are welcome to do so.

2011 NAVHDA Tests

The Greatland Chapter has made the commitment to hold a 3-day series of NAVHDA-sanctioned tests again this year. The tests will be held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 5-7 August, at Falcon Ridge. We have submitted the test fees to NAVHDA International and we have three judges already assigned to our tests.

We have a few registrations, but there are slots available on all three days for all three test categories (Natural Ability, Utility Preparatory and Utility). If you plan to run a dog this year, please submit your test registration fee as soon as possible. We will need to have an adequate number of entries to cover the cost of the tests by the end of March, or we will face the possibility of canceling the tests.

Our test registration fees are higher than Chapters are able to charge in other states, as they have been in past years, but it is an unavoidable consequence of having no local judges and a limited number of tests each year. Over the past couple of years, thanks to superb efforts by several of our members in conducting fund-raising activities, we have begun to build a cash reserve that allows us a bit more flexibility in scheduling tests in advance of receiving the year's test registration fees.

Fees are as follows:

(Greatland Charter Members subtract $5)

Applications for tests must be made using the standard NAVHDA Test Entry form found on the NAVHDA web site at NAVHDA Forms. Please print and complete the form, then mail with the necessary supporting paperwork, along with your entry fee, to the Test Secretary.

The Chapter does zero-based budgeting every year. We only have enough cash reserves to keep a bank account open ... about enough to buy lunch. Each year the tests we run are entirely funded by annual membership fees, test entry fees and donations from individual members. The cost of running a test is substantial. We pay our annual insurance premium to NAVHDA International, pay for the judges to travel to Alaska, pay a fee to NAVHDA for holding the test, pay for the birds, and pay for the grounds we use, along with incidentals like shells and bottled water. Many of those expenses are paid well in advance of the test weekend, and can't be refunded.

Please remember, to keep us from running into an unworkable financial situation, the entry fees we receive are non-refundable. If you do enter and, for any reason, you aren't able to run the dog in August, there are a few options.

• Consider the entry fee to be a contribution to the Chapter and a scholarship for the other dogs that do run

• Run another dog that wasn't previously entered

• Find another handler and dog to run in your place, that weren't previously entered. We'll transfer the registration and the two of you can settle up between yourselves. We can probably change the test type, if necessary.

When we make the commitment to run the tests and pull the trigger on our expenditures, the non-refund rule applies even for a dog that dies, runs off or doesn't shape up quite like you expected during summer training. Trust me, it happens.

We'd like you to join the Chapter, but it isn't required. Your test fee is cheaper if you do.  The fees are listed on the form. It would sure help the Chapter if you did join.

We'd also like to see you join NAVHDA International, but that isn't required either. That membership gets you a good magazine, access to test scores and litter registration info, the privilege of being a Chapter officer and the opportunity to run your dog in the Invitational if it's accompanied by a UT Prize I score on your dog. I'd do it.

We appreciate the interest in participating in these tests, and the willingness to commit early enough in the year to let us get the logistics accomplished in time.

We were fortunate last year to have strong sponsorship support from several Alaska businesses, like Sportsman's Warehouse, and from NAVHDA's sponsorship partners like Purina, Sierra Trading Post, Tri-Tronics, Garmin, Cabela's and Ugly Dog Hunting. We trust that you have seen fit to patronize these folks throughout the year for your dog care, training and hunting needs.

Photo Books

In 2010, we produced hard-cover, illustrated books using photos taken of each dog and handler during the tests. We made them available to all the handlers at a cost a little over the cost of production. We produced a book custom-tailored to each handler and dog, and one that covered the entire test with shots of every dog and handler and descriptions of the tests. The books sold reasonably well and provided a positive return as an addition to the Chapter's treasury. We'll plan to do the same thing at our 2011 tests, so you can expect to see a photographer tagging along at a distance during each event. Finished books will be available within a couple of weeks after the tests.

2010 NAVHDA Tests

2010 August tests ... success!

The Greatland Chapter held the 2010 NAVHDA-sanctioned tests in August as planned. We filled all three days of tests with the maximum number of dogs allowed by NAVHDA, based on the combination of test types each day. The test entries were:

The tests were held on Friday through Sunday, 6-8 August, 2010, at Falcon Ridge.

We had several sponsors for the event, which were a huge help in making the event happen. Sportsman's Warehouse stepped up big time with items for our raffle, dog training items for the handlers at the test itself, and in other ways. We really encourage you to return the favor by thinking about Sportsman's Warehouse first when you need good quality dog training and hunting supplies at good prices.

We had 17 paid entries: 13 NA, 1 UPT and 3 UT representing five VHD breeds. We did the test day slotting to stay under the combined total for each test day that NAVHDA allows us to run.

We found it necessary to increase the fees for the tests to break even on the cost for judges, accommodations, birds, test registration and other unavoidable expenses. Thanks to all the handlers who stepped up to pay what is still a substantial savings over the cost of traveling Outside to test your dogs.

We conducted a raffle on a couple of really decent guns and artwork to help offset the cost, and we successfully pursued several sources of sponsorship from Alaska businesses.

We had a table for the Greatland Chapter at the Palmer Gun Show in 2010 where we talked to folks about versatile hunting dogs, and stimulated interest in the Chapter and our test program among the attendees. In the spring, we held a Saturday demo at Sportsman's Warehouse in Wasilla.

If you haven't entered the August Tests and would like to try for the one NA slot or put yourself in a position to take a slot if somebody has to back out, the Test Entry Form is linked from the upper left corner of this page and here. Print it, fill it out and mail it with your check to Judy Deaver (address on the form).

Judy Deaver served again as Test Secretary, which is an enormous amount of work. She and Jeff Daigneau assisted with running the tests, and other served as field marshal, bird planters, gunners, snack and drink arrangers, raisers of ducks and other essential tasks. Many of you were asked to assist on a day when you weren’t running a dog … and it sure was helpful.

Gary Thompson at Falcon Ridge provided the chukkar and pheasants for the tests, and we used his grounds. We encourage you to join Falcon Ridge and use it for your individual training needs throughout the year if you are working your dogs in this area.

Thanks, and good hunting,

                Roger