MEMBERSHIP

Club Member Interview

Jerry Bozeman - Raising The Bar

I have been a hunter since I was old enough to accompany my father in the woods. I will be ever grateful for the time, training and experiences he gave me. Part of that experience was always having dogs, mostly pointers, beagles and hounds. Once out on my own I continued to have dogs of all types. My first Lab was a Chocolate named Buster. He was a great companion and a mediocre meat dog with no formal training. Our journey lasted 12 years and provides many good memories. When I had to put him down I chose not to get another Working Retriever and shifted away from hunting.

In the fall of 2005 I decided that I had had enough of golf and started looking to get back in the dog business. My first intention was to get another dog for hunting only. My expectations were to have another Meat Dog. My wife was partial to the Boykin Spaniel Breed and I was partial to the Labrador. She was kind enough to allow me to get one of each. While looking for the Boykin I contacted David McCracken and he recommended several good breeders for me to check out. David also recommended that I visit a HRC Hunt Test so I could witness the different levels of test and training. I attended my first hunt test in February 2006. I came away thinking it was interesting but still intent on only having meat dogs.

About the same time as I attended the hunt test I agreed to buy a six month old Boykin, Woody, and a ten week old Lab, Bobo. David was kind enough to ask me to begin training with him and his training group. It became clear early on that each of these dogs had the desire and ability to be special.

I ran my first competition in May of 2006 in Kinston, NC and I can honestly say when Woody and Bobo got back to the line on the final retrieve of the day I was hooked and the BAR HAD BEEN RAISED. I came home and sent my memberships applications off to HRC, Charleston Retriever Club, BSS, and the CBSRC. The amount of fun, fellowship and good dog work I have seen since joining these organizations and this game are immeasurable.

Try it. You also will be hooked.