The Backwater Retriever Club

...is located in northern Indiana and is sanctioned by the American Kennel Club.  All recognized breeds of retrievers are welcome to participate in club sanctioned events, as specified by the AKC. We conduct two licensed hunt tests, per AKC rules, each year.  Our spring test is held in April, while our fall test is in September.  Typically, we run a double Junior, double Senior and a Master stake at each event.  We strive to conduct a high quality event in which participants are made to feel welcome and want to return each year.

We also conduct several fun days and training days throughout the year.  These events are intended to provide an atmosphere that simulates a hunt test environment.  The excitement of all the people and dogs provides a great opportunity to prepare your dog for those times when you cannot apply normal training corrections - at a judged test.  It is not unusual for us to have as many as 30 or more dogs at one of these special days.

We often host training seminars, in 2007 we held one by Evan Graham.  Evan is a renowned retriever trainer who has written several books and produced several DVD's on the subject.  Many club members as well as non-club members attended and found it to be very beneficial.  We came away with many great insights into retriever training and many new techniques to use with our dogs.

In 2008 we held an AKC judges seminar and will do so again in years to come.  Participation in one of these events not only keeps judges up to date on the AKC requirements, but provides non-judges insight into the AKC's intentions and interpretations of the hunt test rules.  All those who attend find this to be extremely useful.

All of these extra events are made very affordable to our club membership.  The goal is to provide the resources for improving our training techniques and we have done a good job at meeting that objective.

Some years we participate in the Fort Wayne Sport Vacation and Boat show in early March.  Not only has this provided the club the opportunity to let many people know we are out here, but it has also been great at letting many "uninitiated" people see what is involved in retriever training.  Everyone has a great time at this event and looks forward to it each year.

Lastly, between the many training groups that have evolved out of the club, the membership meetings and our annual banquet, there is great opportunity to make new friends.  Dog people are great and we hope you will join us and find out just how true that is!

All photos on this page by Barrie Fleetwood