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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News AP Entertainment Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Holiday Guide Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend January 2, 2007 Born to fetch Joe and Connie Beitler mix companionship and competition by training their Labradors in the fine art of finding things By sanne specht Mail Tribune The pistol's sharp crack cocks the jet-black Labrador's ears forward, her brown eyes eagerly scanning the blue sky. The splash sets her haunches quivering. Finally, at the whisper of her name, Ouzel streaks across the wet green grass and launches herself into the icy water. "You're not pushing them or sending them," says Joe Beitler. "You're releasing them to do what is in their DNA." Beitler stands quietly as the Lab bounds out of the pond and races back with her prize. Beitler takes the white bumper from his excited dog with a murmured word of praise and a soft touch. "Ouzel is a power dog. She charges and muscles her way through. Tiny is an acrobat. She spends half her time in the air," Beitler says, reflecting on the differences between his two female Labrador retrievers at his 40-acre property near the Rogue River. Two-year-old Tiny, also known as "Little Bit Dangerous," is the 2006 National Retriever Field Trials "Derby Dog" award winner, he says. The award is given each year to the dog — age 2 and under — that scores the highest points in marked retrieval trials. Advertisement "She's a pretty neat little dog," Beitler says. Three-year-old Ouzel is a very competitive dog, but she is still working towards her championship, he says. "At this point she's not a dog of any great distinction," says Beitler. "Other than that around our house she's kind of special," he adds with a laugh. His wife, Connie Beitler, is his training and traveling partner. She is the one who trots across miles of muddy fields and winds her way through swampy cattails and pussy willows to toss or hide the dogs' dummies for both blind and marked retrieves, he says. "We are truly insane," says Connie, with a fond smile at the man she met in kindergarten. The Beitlers, both 58, moved to the Rogue Valley from Bend in 1990. He is retired from the wood products industry. She is a poet. Both say canines came early in their relationship. Connie gave Joe a golden retriever puppy as a college graduation present. "That's when I started training to have a hunting dog," he says. "And that evolved into an interest in field trials." To participate at championship levels requires long hours and lots of money, Beitler says. Travel, training and supplies can add up to many thousands of dollars a year. "You burn up two or three hours a day training," he says. And then there is the travel. Tiny's derby events have taken the Beitlers from Bakersfield, Calif., to Bellingham, Wash., "and all points in between," he says. Joe Beitler first pursued his passion from 1969 until 1978, but took more than a decade off after the couple's three sons were born to become a soccer dad. Once the boys were grown, Connie encouraged Joe to get back in the game. "He is truly my best friend," says Connie. "And you want your best friend to do what he wants to do." The Beitlers bought Ouzel's mother, Purple, in 1995. Purple went on to become a field champion before she died from cancer. During the time she was with the family, she gave them Ouzel and Fen, a third dog, says Connie. Top dogs not only display superior athleticism, they must also demonstrate intelligence, courage and perseverance, says Joe Beitler. For this afternoon's training session, Ouzel has successfully completed her "marked" retrieve (where the dog sees the target fall before heading off to fetch.) Now comes a more challenging exercise. Connie Beitler calls the dog and distracts her as Joe sets the stage for Ouzel's dual "blind" retrieve. After planting two training dummies on the ground, one in the willows at the edge of the pond and another far to the right in the deep grass, Joe Beitler returns and collects Ouzel. The dog has no idea where the dummies are located. She will rely upon Joe Beitler's hand signals and a series of whistle toots to find her quarry. "You release (the dog) to do what you hope she'll do," he says. "Then it's either back to the drawing board or you draw a sigh of relief." Ouzel is sent out, then stopped from her dead run after about 75 yards by the blast of the whistle. She turns to face Beitler, then sits and watches. As his right arm extends, Ouzel races off. But she overshoots her mark. He stops her again with the whistle and redirects. This time Ouzel finds her target. She races back to Beitler, drops her bumper and heads out again. She finds the second mark more quickly. "I'd give her a 'B'," he says. Field champions reach their peak at age 5 or 6; they are highly prized, he says. For instance, the National Derby Champion dog for 2005 was sold twice, "and the second time was for over $200,000," he says. But Tiny — who came to the Beitler household at age 6 months from John Heninger and Amie Duke of Truline Kennels in Jefferson, Oregon, is not for sale. She is a part of the family, he insists. "We're keeping her," Beitler says. "She'll continue her field trial career." Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail [email protected] . 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