Big Dogs, Big Air

The Super Retriever Series isn't only about dogs running out and fetching things for their handlers. Not only do they get to run, but they also get to jump — in the Big Air competition.

The Big Air competition qualifying round will be held on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The competition has become so popular that last year during the finals at the ESPN Great Outdoor Games, organizers tripled the seating and brought in a Jumbotron just to accommodate the tens of thousands of spectators.

In Big Air, dogs jump off a dock while fetching a ball. The object is to jump the furthest. In fact, the world record is 26 feet.

Why is Big Air becoming so popular? Shad Field, from DockDogs, said, "Anyone with a dog and a ball can compete. You don't need a $15,000 professionally trained retriever to compete at even a national level."

Field feels that the simplicity and national recognition make Big Air popular as well.

Top dogs from the competition will advance to the 2003 ESPN Great Outdoor Games.

Which way do I go?

Retriever trials like the Super Retriever Trials often boil down to split-second decisions by handler or retriever. But most of those are made on the course.

This Super Retriever Series event, though, could boil down to decisions made well after the second-day competition was over.

Already, two handlers, Paul Jackson and Keith Allison, have had to make a tough decision. The handlers each qualified two retrievers for the semi-final 12-dog field. Super Retriever Series rules dictate that handlers can run as many dogs as they can in the series, but can only carry one to the semi-finals.

Oddly enough, it's not the first time that two handlers were faced with that decision.

Arman Fangsrud and John Terriciano were both faced with the decision at the Missoula Super Retriever Series event.

Fangsrud qualified Ninja in second and Mahfi in 12th place, while Terriciano qualified Sundown in fourth and Titan in ninth.

Fangsrud opted to advance Ninja, the youngest dog at 2 1/2 years in the field, instead of the more experienced Mahfi because the younger dog was competing so well.

Jackson and Allison both made similar decisions based on their dogs in this event. But their thinking wasn't shared by Terriciano.

Although Terriciano's Sundown qualified higher, he picked Titan to advance based on the dog's experience.

"He felt like going with the experience was more important," Justin Tackett, series organizer, said.

As luck would have it Terriciano made the right decision. He and Titan went on to qualify for the ESPN Great Outdoor Games.

Partnership

Derek Randall and Keith Allison, number two and three qualifiers for the semi-final round of the Super Retriever Series, share more than a top seed.

Both of the handlers are from Arkansas. And each of them share a partnership in War Eagle Retrievers, a professional retriever training organization. It's a bond that has served the duo well. Their teamwork is a big reason both are doing so well in the Super Retriever Series.

"We work really well together, our styles and personalities compliment each other," Randall said.

The two, along with Johnny Kinzey, started the business almost two years ago, after becoming fast friends and training partners in their retriever club in Arkansas.

"It's kind of a unique situation," Randall said.

Normally professional training organizations are one-man operation, or at least headed up by one man. They have employees, but decisions are made by one voice. At War Eagle Retrievers, the three trainers handle 15 dogs each. But they become involved in all of the dogs.

"It helps when you work closely with someone and you respect their critiques," Randall said. "The openness allows us to better our dogs. We are able to evaluate a dog with three opinions."

Battle of the sexes

The semi-final round of the Super Retriever Series not includes two handlers who share a partnership in business, but there is also a partnership in marriage.

Marc and Dana Fritzmeier of Rochester, Minn., husband and wife, have both qualified for the round, setting up a little family oriented battle of the sexes.

Ironically, the two are tied in fifth place: Dana with her male Labrador, Bob, and Marc with his female Labrador, Emmy.