Posted By av84fun on 09 Jan 2012 10:04 PM
DocFritz wrote...."Local clubs, or mini clubs within a NAHRA akc or heck club is a good way to keep newbies around. Distance will always be an issue."
I'm not going to be posting here much anymore...for various reasons. But as a newbie to both the PL world (or any pointing dog world) and to the "test" game, I thought my input would be of some value.
I think Doc Fritz is SPOT ON! At the moment, I plan to be one of those short term members who gets in for the CPR and then elects not to take the dog to higher levels.
Why? The main reason is DISTANCE. For me, in the Boise, ID area the closest tests (that I know of) are in Salt Lake City...a 9+ hour or so round trip.
Conversely, I could take my dog to the MH Hunt Test level through my local Retriever Club(or higher if there is any higher)without driving more than an hour from my front door. AND practice tests are also sponsored!
There is no chance, given my brand new exposure to the PL test world that I could possibly have any ideas that haven't already been thought of but it seems to me that JOB #1 for the APLA would be to get hooked up...somehow...with the other Retriever Club/Hunt Test organizations and...somehow...hold "PL Divisions" along with the standard retriever tests.
All you would need is an extra 10 acres to run the PLs on. I would have NO problem running my dog in a Hunt Test leg and then run him later (before) on a PL test.
But I'm not likely to make many 9 hour round trips to run him in anything. So, unless something changes, I'll just grab the CPR and be done with it.
Just my 2 cents.
Jim
Jim what about having a test up there?
Do you think you could round up enough dogs i know i have some up there and am sending some that way.....