Eligibility for RATG Events

[Alan Donovan]

Hi All
Perhaps it is time to consider widening the eligibility requirements for RATG events. It has been suggested that as dummies can be used and guns are not used there is no real purpose in restricting RATG events to Group 3 Gundogs. Currently most entries in Queensland are from owners who are already active in Retrieving Trials, and it seems that RATG has been rather unsuccessful in attracting new handlers.
The fun involved in retrieving tasks is already a part of obedience and flyball – so why should RATG eligibility not be expanded to include any dog on the Main, Limited or Associate Registers – naturally changing the name of the sport to “Retrieving Ability Tests”.
The advantages would be the introduction of more dog owners to “Retrieving” (with potential for encouraging them to make sure their next dog is a Gundog so that they may go further in the sport), and increasing the size of the entries.
No doubt there will be cogent reasons provided why it could (or should) never happen – but it is being proposed as an idea well in advance of the next 5 year rule review to provide plenty of time for consideration.

Cheers - Alan

[Peter Betteridge]

great idea Alan
i agree 100% it is a great way to grow our sport
unfortunately i fear u will be howled down by the group that wonts us to remain in the stoneage and sees innovation as a threat
i really hope i am wrong about that

[Roz Buckley]

Having been involved with dogs over quite a few years I have seen many changes. We have dogs that are involved in varied activities to suit their breeding. Do we really want to loose the specific area we can complete in which our gundogs were bred for.
RATG allows for non papered pure bred gundogs to apply to compete. This encourages these owners to purchase a papered dog in the future should they wish to compete in trials.
In Victoria we have some great people who are promoting this event and it is growing. Some competitors have or are still entering in retrieving trials.
Why is there no interest in Qld. Are there not enough people willing to get groups together to teach and promote the event.
The only downfall I have seen in the RATG is that some are using it as a way to obtain another title for their dogs name and not go any further. This is what I can see happening if any breed is allowed to enter this great event as it is now.
I for one do not see myself as being in “the stoneage” but as a person who would like to see our various gundog breeds being kept as the specialists in what they were bred for. There are other disciplines that all breeds can enter without changing RATG.