The test season began in May in Western Illinois hosted by Mississippi Flyway Retreiver Club. Dan ran Teke for owner Mike Greenwald and Fitz, owned by Keith Hearns. Both dogs had already acheived their finished title last season and passed 2 for 2. Deb Smith ran her dogs, Jordan, Payton and Styx, as well. Jordan and Payton have been working toward their 500 point acheivement and passed the finished testing 2 for 2 as well. Styx is Jordan's daughter and had recently received her title at the end of last season; she passed 1 for 2.
Dan hit the training schedule hard after that test......
The next weekend Deb was at it again at a test hosted by Illinois River Retreiver Club. Jordan and Payton both received 2 Finished passes.
Wisconsin was the next destination for some of Dan's training clients that have learned to handle their own dogs at hunt tests. The next test hosted by Horicon Marsh Retreiver Club was in Wisconsin. A few others that Dan has worked with ran at the test at the Finished level. Scott Panozzo ran his dog Dude and Duncan, 2 for 2. Roger Smith with Wind and Nelli went 2 for 2 and Deb was at it again with Jordan, Payton and Louis, 2 for 2.
Kankakee River Retreiver Club Hosted the next test outside of Lowell, Indiana. Dan was doing training seminars in Minnesota at the Game Fair for D.T. systems collar company. One of our member's, Derek Van Tichelt, who had worked closely with Dan throughout the summer to learn how to handle his dog, Dixie. Dixie is a pup out of Dan's breeding program at Green Acres Sportsman's Club. Derek ran Dixie at the seasoned level and passed 2 for 2. His 6 year old daughter also ran Dix in the Junior Handler test and passed! Mark Grandbois, who has also worked closely with Dan ran his dog Tripp, Dixie's brother, at the seasoned level here too. This was Tripp's big weekend 2 for 2 and a Seasoned Hunter Title! Great Job.
Deb, Roger, and Scott ran their dogs at the finished level. Deb had 2 for 2 with Jordan and Payton and 1 for 2 with her dog Louis. Roger had 2 for 2 with Wind and Nellie and Scott, who is now a Judge, ran Dude and Duncan 1 for 1. Great weekend!
Wisill/ Badger held a test in Wisconsin the next weekend. Derek took Dixie back and achieved her Seasoned Hunter Title! His daughter ran in the Jr. Handler test and passed again earning a trophy.
By September, Dan was ready to get back to testing but this time he had a lot of beginners in the wagon.
He headed off to Kentucky for the Inducky HRC test. The wagon was loaded with young dogs going off to their first tests as well as veterans getting ready for the challenge of the International Grand Hunting Retreiver Test.
Tess owned by Jason Albertini, Remi owned by Hans Christensen, and Arco, a German Shorthair, owned by Mike Greenwald were going to test at the seasoned level. All made it through the weekend 2 for 2. 
Finished dogs were Izzie, owned by Robert Zima, Fitz, Dude, and Teke. Deb had her 4 dogs too. All passed 2 for 2. It was a good ride home!
The last test before the Grand was held in Wisconsin by Fox River Valley HRC. Dan had his work cut out, if the seasoned dogs passed both days they would earn their titles. He also had Bindi a new tester at the seasoned level and Fitz, Dude and Teke at the finished level. Another productive weekend! Congratulations to Tess, Remi, and Arco on their seasoned titles! Bindi went 1 for 2 and the finished dogs all went 2 for 2.
Now the fun begins....the next few week Dan and the dogs that were going to the Grand trained for the Grand, 5 days of testing for 400 entries. The test was held early October in Georgia. Dan left 5 days early to train on they way down. Callie & Heather owned by Dan, Jaeger owned by Fred Vogelman, Teke owned by Mike Greenwald, Izzie, daugter of Callie, owned by Robert Zima, Dude, son of Heather, owned by Scott Panozzo, Payton owned by Deb and Dan, and Fitz owned by Keith Herns. Deb was also going with Louis, Jordan and Styx. This proved to be another challeging series of tests. If they weren't it wouldn't be the Grand! Jaeger, Fitz, Dude, Styx and Jordan went out on the blind on the first day. Izzie, Callie and Louis made it through to the 4th day. and Payton, Teke, and Heather made it all the way. Teke and Heather acheived their Grand Titles and Payton acheived her first Grand pass and 500 points! Great accomplishment!
On the way home Deb stopped and ran a test in Rend Lake hosted by Southern Illinois HRC. She ran Jordan and Payton and passed Jordan 2 for 2 and Payton 1 for 2. With these Jordan acheived her 500 points! Congratulations! Scott ran Duncan and Dude and passed Duncan 2 for 2 and Dude 1 for 2.
More Pictures to Follow.........