2026 American Chesapeake Club National Show Specialty

AKC Fetch

October 6, 2026

Day of Entry begins at 8:00 AM

Trial will begin at 9:00 AM.

We will be offering Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced.

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    General Eligibility & Title Requirements

    • Eligibility: Dogs at least 6 months old with an AKC, PAL, or Canine Partners registration number.
    • Title Qualification: Requires 2 qualifying passes under 2 different judges for each level.
    • Sequential Testing: Dogs must start at Novice and advance in order (Novice > Intermediate > Advanced > Retriever).
    • Steadiness Rule: The dog must wait until the fetch item lands before being sent for the retrieve.

    Level Breakdown

    LevelDistanceTest Configuration & DistractionsAllowed ItemsRestraint & Delivery
    Novice (FTN)30 ft
    3 single retrieves
    4 distraction obstacles (boxes/crates)
    		Ball, bumper, or approved toy
    May hold collar physically.
    Deliver within 3 feet of handler.
    Intermediate (FTI)50 ft
    4 single retrieves
    8 distraction obstacles
    		Ball, bumper, or approved toy
    May hold collar with one finger.
    Deliver within 2 feet of handler.
    Advanced (FTA)70 ft
    2 single retrieves + 2 double retrieves
    3 visual blinds/screens
    		Ball or bumper only (no toys)
    No collar restraint (off-leash/unrestrained).
    Delivery close enough to hand/deliver to hand.
    Retriever (FTR)80 ft
    2 double retrieves + 1 triple retrieve
    3 visual blinds/screens
    		Ball or bumper only (no toys)
    No collar restraint.
    Delivery close enough to hand/deliver to hand.

Key Handler Dos & Don’ts

Dos

  • Keep your dog steady until the item lands and the judge instructs you to send them.
  • Give clear send cues once released by the judge.
  • Use soft encouragement to call the dog back to the delivery zone.
 

Don’ts

    • NO Food in the Ring: Check your pockets, bait pouches etc. 
    • No Tug-of-War: An extended game of tug or refusal to drop the item will lead to a non-qualifying score (NQ).
    • No Early Release: Breaking or running before the item lands results in an NQ.
    • No Collar Touching in Advanced/Retriever: Handlers must remain completely hands-off the collar during higher levels.
    • No Toys in Upper Levels: Ensure you switch to standard bumpers or tennis balls once competing in Advanced or Retriever levels.