By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Chuck Cagle and his Labrador Retriever Doc have qualified for the 2017 National Retriever Derby Championship set for Oct. 15-19.

Cagle said the competitions simulate bird hunting where the dog is used to retrieve the bird.

As it stands now, Cagle is the only participant from Alabama.

“You have to have a win or five points to qualify,” Chuck Cagle said. “He (Doc) actually had 20 points.”

These points were accumulated by placing in a number of qualifier level competitions in various states. Doc has won one first place, three second places and three third places.

Each competition served as a way to identify what Doc still needed to work on.

More than 60 dogs from across the country have qualified for the national competition. More may be added as the deadline to reach the needed points is Oct. 8.

Robin Cagle said the couple is excited that Doc has done as well as he has.

In competition, two or three birds will be thrown into the air and then shot out of the sky. Dog s then have to remember where the birds landed and retrieve them. owners help the dogs with voice commands, hand motions and whistles.

The competition field also has obstacles that could make retrieving the bird more difficult, including hills, tall grass and water.

Dogs are also judged on if they go directly to the bird, how they handle obstacles, etc. The birds are usually 200 to 400 yards away from the dog.

Chuck Cagle has been training Doc since he was six weeks old. Doc is now almost 2 years old, making him one of the older dogs competing in the under-two category at the national championship.

Robin Cagle said dogs start with small birds such as pigeons. Chuck Cagle said Doc got his first pigeon when he was about eight weeks old.

Doc was in his first competition at 11 months old.

“He really started coming on, starting to win and place, I guess when he was 16 months old,” Chuck Cagle said.

The pair also goes on real hunts. This year they went duck hunting in Arkansas and Mississippi.

Ducks and pheasants are used in competition.

Chuck Cagle said he enjoys being in the field with his dog.

“It is amazing what you can teach them,” he said.

Once Doc turns 2, he will be in a new competition class. Dogs usually compete until they are 10 or 11 years old.