Local Dog Competes for National Titles

After successfully completing two hunt tests, he seems well on this way to earning a coveted American Kennel Club (AKC) Junior Hunter title.

Scout is a familiar face around here. If you see Daniel Island Nursery owner Ted Andrae and his pickup, chances are, you’ll see his constant four-legged companion.

Last year Andrae, himself an experienced dog and horse trainer, went in search of the best dog he could find that could be molded into a championship retriever.

“I looked at 40 different puppies in four litters before finding Scout,” he said. “I was looking for a dog that could take me all the way to the Masters.”

Andrae then tapped champion dog trainer Ray Godwin to teach Scout the techniques of waterfowl retrieving. Godwin operates Webfoot Retrievers in Holly Hill, S.C. and is a nationally recognized expert in molding championship dogs. He’s been training Scout for four months.

“I met Ray at a wildlife expo where he had a booth and we hit it off,” Andrae recalled. “He is an extremely hard worker who cares deeply about the dogs he’s working with.”

During training, Godwin spends hours training his dogs as though they were in real-life competition. He’ll even go to a competition site early so that the animals will adjust to local conditions, Andrae said.

Scout’s most recent test was in Elkton, M.D. on Labor Day weekend, which he passed with flying colors. AKC Retriever Hunt Tests are designed to give the dog owner a good, basic hunting dog and provide a place to run and compete. Here the dog is not competing against the other entries, but against a “standard.” Only one-third of the 40 dogs at Elkton passed the competition.

“Scout’s a wonderful, eager dog,” said Godwin. “He’s a hard-charging dog. The biggest thing is holding him back. But he’s a loving, affectionate dog who gets along with people and the other dogs. He has a lot of heart.”

Scout’s next hunt test will be Oct. 1-2 in Patrick, SC. For more information on this event or about Webfoot Retrievers, e-mail ray@webfootretrievers.com.

Daniel Island Publishing

225 Seven Farms Drive
Unit 108
Daniel Island, SC 29492 

Office Number: 843-856-1999
Fax Number: 843-856-8555

 

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