Update: 7:00 pm – Callbacks to series 6: 45 dogs

Series 5 Moves to McParland Farm

By early afternoon, Day 3 had shifted to the gorgeous McParland Farm in Tay Valley, halfway between Perth and Westport along Highway 10. The venue offered a classic National setting: more than 800 acres of rolling green fields, broken up by stands of maple, oak, and alder trees. It was a fresh location, a fresh look, and a new opportunity for the dogs to show how they could handle changing terrain.

Series 5 Sponsor

Series 5 is sponsored by Laura Jane’s Pet Food & Supplies, the official supplier of EORC pet supplies in Perth. Many thanks to Laura Jane’s for supporting this afternoon’s land blind.

A thank you to A&B Ford of Perth for providing a judges vehicle to keep the Championship moving in style!

Series 5 Land Blind Setup

The Series 5 test is a 295-yard land blind running down a soft slope through a narrow corridor, then opening up into a long narrow field. The mat is oriented south-southwest, with the wind moving left to right across the test. The blind planter is brushed in on the right side in tall dead grass, and the blind itself is marked by a small tree set about 30 yards in from the back of the field.

Up front, cut alder saplings have been set into the ground to push dogs off line, while small fir trees dot the corridor like natural goal posts. Once the dogs roll down the slope, the field opens up dramatically to both the left and right, with a heavy line of trees running up the middle. The desired line keeps dogs close to the left side of the field and near the tree line, making this a blind that rewards momentum, control, and confidence.

Test Dogs Reveal the Traps

Test dog “Tex,” handled by Dennis Harwood, came to the line at 1:36 p.m. and quickly showed how much influence the slope and tree lines could have. Tex started left of the line, then, as he rolled down the slope, needed a few whistles to bring him back from the right side. He reached the point of trees on the left, curled left behind them and briefly went out of sight, requiring several more whistles to return to line.

Once back up the middle, Tex got deep of the bird and out of sight again before reappearing and being handled to the blind. After his run, the blind marker was brought in 15 yards to improve visibility for handlers if dogs carried too deep beyond the blind.

Test dog “Tule,” handled by Mark Jemison, came to the line at 1:49 p.m. Tule took a good initial line and received a whistle before she went over the knoll. She carried the line until the corridor opened up, then slipped off to the right. Visibility added another wrinkle, as she appeared to have difficulty seeing Mark with handlers positioned behind him.

Once Tule got rolling again, it took several whistles to move her past the point of trees, but she finished with a nice angled line across the field to the bird. Between Tex and Tule, the message was clear: this land blind is not only about distance. It is about holding the corridor, reading the slope, and keeping your lungs full!

Afternoon Conditions

By the time Series 5 began, the skies had turned overcast, the temperature sat at 16°C, and light rain was spitting periodically. There was no real accumulation, just enough moisture in the air to make a jacket feel worthwhile. Winds were variable at 13 to 20 km/h, but with so many openings, pockets, and stands of trees across the property, the wind was likely anything but simple out in the field.

The First Dog to the Line

Dog #25, Oscar, handled by Dan Danforth, was called to the line at 2:00 p.m. Dog-to-dog timing is expected to run at approximately three minutes, setting up a fast-moving afternoon as teams work through this rolling, technical land blind.

Looking Ahead to Dinner

After a full afternoon at McParland Farm, everyone is looking forward to tonight’s EORC-sponsored spaghetti dinner. It should be a welcome chance to warm up, catch up, and talk through another demanding day at the National.

Update 12:15 pm  – 50 dogs called back to series 5, single land blind. Dogs called back:

1,2,3,5,6,7,8,10,12,13,15,16, 18,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,28,29,30,31,32, 33,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44, 48,49,51,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60, 61,62,64,65.

Dogs not back: 4, 9, 47

Dog #25 starts series 5.  Caravan leaves at 1:00 pm for McParland Farm off Scotch Line Rd (Hwy 10).

Update 11:40 am – the last dogs are running series 4.  Callbacks to follow.  Series 5 will be a single land blind at the McPharland farm.  Caravan leaves @ 1:00 pm.

The Daily Report is brought to you by  Banded – Avery Sporting Dogs (ASD) official sponsor of the National Retriever Club of Canada.

Day 3 Brings a Chilly Start, a Technical Water Blind, and a New Challenge at the 2026 Canadian National Retriever Championship

Series 4 returns to the Sullivan property, where two ponds, points, decoys, and yesterday’s lines combine into a demanding 224-yard water blind.

Morning Back at Sullivan’s

Welcome to Day 3 of the Canadian National Retriever Championship. The morning opened with a beautiful sky and a definite bite in the air: just 4°C at 6:45 a.m. Competitors and spectators are back at the Sullivan property for Series 4,  water blind, with variable sun, high cloud, and almost no wind on the grounds. If there is a puff of wind, it is coming lightly from the southeast.

The forecast calls for a high of 18°C, with a 60% chance of rain moving in around 1:00 p.m. For now, the setting is calm, cool, and full of possibility as the dogs prepare to take on a blind that asks for precision, commitment, and plenty of teamwork between handler and dog.

Series 4 Sponsor

Today’s Series 4 sponsor is Pine Ridge Retriever Club. Many thanks to Pine Ridge Retriever Club for supporting this morning’s test and helping make the National possible.

Series 4 Water Blind Setup

The blind is set at 224 yards, near the base of a small maple tree. The mat is oriented north, and the line to the blind intersects two ponds before finishing on land. The first water is a skinny corner slice, asking dogs to take just enough pond early before climbing back onto land. From there, they pass four goose silhouette decoys before entering the second pond, crossing a point, re-entering the water, and then driving roughly another 100 yards on land to the blind.

Adding to the interest, the blind crosses the paths to yesterday’s Series 3 water triple marks, with the end of the blind sitting to the left of yesterday’s long-retired gun. That overlap gives handlers and dogs plenty to sort out: old factors, familiar routes, points, water entries, and the pull of the trees on the left. The test is expected to run at approximately three minutes per dog.

Test Dogs Show the Challenges

Test dog “Tule,” handled by Mark Jemison, came to the line at 7:33 a.m. and gave the gallery the first real look at the water blind. Tule needed an early whistle to take the first corner and came out a little left. Mark used another whistle and cast to put her into the second water, then had to help her again off the next point when she drifted left once more.

Once Tule was back on line and out of the pond, the left-side trees again became a factor. A couple more whistles brought her through the final stretch and onto the bird, clearly showing how much influence the terrain and yesterday’s picture may have on today’s blind.

Test dog “Tex,” handled by Dennis Harwood, came to the line at 7:38 a.m. Tex wanted to flare right of the first water and needed a couple of whistles to get back on line. He took another whistle before the second water and one more on the first point. Like Tule, Tex came out of the water to the left and headed toward the trees, requiring a couple of whistles at the end to put him on the bird.

The First Dog to the Line

Dog #12, Floyd, handled by Amie, was the first competitive dog to take on Series 4, coming to the line at 7:53 a.m. With the test dogs having shown both the right-side flare early and the left-side pull late, the stage was set for a morning of handling decisions and dog work. 53 dogs will come to line this morning.

Breakfast and What’s Next

Today’s breakfast sponsors are Long Point Retriever Club and Niagara Retriever Training Club. Thank you to both clubs for their support and hospitality on this cool Day 3 morning.

After callbacks from Series 4, the Championship will head to a new location for Series 5. Stay tuned — the next chapter is coming quickly.

Official Sponsors