Fullerton hosting dog trials this weekend

Prairie Pothole Lodge will be hosting many of the top hunting dogs in the region this weekend.

Trial chairman Jason Norton expects 128 dogs to compete in the National Shoot to Retrieve Association event, which will be held on Saturday and Sunday at the lodge, located at 9212 1000th Avenue Southeast in Fullerton, N.D.

The event traditionally draws dogs from North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Montana. All recovering and pointing breeds from the American Kennel Club are eligible to compete.

“Basically, it’s dog trials for hunting dogs after the hunting season ends to keep the dogs in shape and to extend the hunting season,” Norton said. “It usually draws a lot of quality dogs.”

The event is open to the public and begins at 7:30 a.m. each day. A lunch will be served around noon with an evening meal also planned after the competition concludes on Saturday night.

Cost is $38 per run. The event will be held in double-double format, meaning two dogs will be retrieving in each field at one time, or a total of 32 dogs each day in each field.

“These dogs are really good at what they do,” Norton said. “It’s something people take pretty seriously.”

Norton certainly does. He owns five dogs himself, all German Short Hairs and German White Hairs, and has been training for eight years.

Plaques will be awarded to the top dogs. Points are also accumulated from each trial, and are put towards advancing to the regional competition.

The NSTRA has trials also scheduled for the Prairie Pothole Lodge May 2-3 and then the Mid-North Regional competition, consisting of dogs from North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota on Memorial Day weekend.

For more information on the event, call Jason Norton at (701) 783-4323.

Sun sports writer Dave Selvig can be reached at (701) 952-8460 or by e-mail at daves@jamestownsun.com

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