Top Dog

The gleaming retriever sat quivering with expectancy as the shotguns shattered the stillness of the misty morning in Washington's rainswept Snoqualmie River valley. The first pheasant dropped behind the dog. The second, whirring off into the mist, wheeled at the shot and fell into the brush to one side. The third was brought down just across the river. Then the handler issued a sharp command: "Fetch!"

Off like an uncoiling spring, the dog dashed for the bird that fell behind him. Gingerly he nuzzled it, rolling the bird a bit so that he could pick it up without crushing it, raced back to his handler and dropped the unruffled pheasant into his outstretched hand. With a nod from his handler, he crashed into the brush and retrieved the second bird.

Panting, the dog paused for a moment. Then he plunged into the icy stream, heading toward the spot where the third bird fell. Head down, he began to range the area. The handler's whistle brought him up short. The retriever looked at his handler for guidance, watched the wave of his arm, and began his ranging again a bit to the left. A moment later he spotted the bird, picked it up, and, head high, breasted the river again to bring it back to his handler.

By most anybody's retrieving standards, the performance was exceptional. But last week at the National Retriever Field Trials it was barely above average. The cream of the nation's retrievers--Labradors, Chesapeake Bays and goldens --were on hand. All had gone through rigorous elimination trials to qualify for the big one.

The sober trio of judges was looking for the top dog, the one which could best meet the seven exacting requirements: nose for game, control and steadiness under the gun, ability to mark game, gentleness in "mouthing" the find, speed of retrieving and delivery, style and drive and, most important, "game sense."

After the rugged first day's trials, only eight of the 39 competitors were out of the running. Two days later, with the field narrowed to five (four Labradors and one golden), the judges called for one final test: a difficult double retrieve across the snow-fed Tolt River. The ruddy golden, Ready Always of Marianhill, against 4-1 odds and a standing tradition,* finally won with a flourishing, flawless finish. Happy Owner Mahlon B. Wallace of Clayton, Mo. was ready with Ready Always' reward: "Right now I think we'll feed him a steak."

* Over a is-year stretch, Labradors have won 117 trials, goldens, 38, Chesapeakes, 15.

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