Photo by Kim Fundingsland/MDN Ptarmigan, owned and handled by Doreen Comrie-Bristol, won the 2021 National Amateur Field Trial Championship held June 19-27 at Mondovi, Wis. Comrie-Bristol lives in Garrison.

A handler in a familiar white jacket places a whistle in her mouth. At her side a glistening black Labrador glances at the movement, eyes gleaming and bright.

About 125 yards distant an assistant tosses a bumper high into the air. The dog’s muscles begin to tense, a spring about to unwind, but there’s discipline there too. As the first bumper splashes into the water a second bumper is tossed onto a shore lined with high reeds. It doesn’t escape the Lab’s keen eyes.

Seconds must seem like hours to the dog, but he never loses focus on his mark. Quivering slightly, he sits as patiently as possible, never moving from his handler’s side. When he’s released he takes a direct line to the first bumper and leaps off a bank into the water below.

For a few moments the dog disappears from view. The sound of a splash when the Lab hit the water assures the handler that the dog is in the water, out of sight beneath a high bank. Then the Lab comes into view, swimming with obvious enthusiasm and purpose. His mark is true. His path is arrow straight.

As the dog turns in the water, with the bright bumper visible and held softly in his mouth, he takes the same straight path back toward his handler, emerging from the water in virtually the same footprints he made going in.

Water flies from the dog as he bounds up onto land. No time to stop and shake the excess water from his coat. His handler is waiting for the bumper and that, above all else, takes priority. If a dog can smile, this one does, all the way back to his handler’s side.

There he sits, bumper in mouth. Proud. Eyes bright. On command he willingly drops the bumper into his handler’s outstretched hand and immediately is fixed on the distance once again. This time his goal is the bumper lying somewhere in the reeds or grass. There’s more fun to be had. It’s precisely the kind of challenge this dog enjoys, relishes. And it shows.

With a motion of an arm the dog sprints directly on line, swims the same water, and emerges on the distant shoreline. There he turns, sits, and stares at his handler for direction. A wave to the right is all it takes. The dog follows the instruction exactly and picks up the previously hidden bumper. Moments later he is sitting by his handler’s side, full of controlled energy and excitement. It’s perfection.

The dog is Bristol North Slope Ptarmigan. The handler/owner is Doreen Comrie-Bristol. The place was the Minot Retriever Club grounds west of Minot. The duo was preparing for November’s National Retriever Open in Cheraw, South Carolina where the top professional and amateur trainers and retrievers in the business will lock horns for the coveted title.

“My goal is to do better than last time at the nationals,” said Comrie-Bristol. “I did five series last time. This time I want to do a few more.”

Dogs can advance up to 10 series at the national event, but only the most elite of dogs reach that high honor. Don’t count out “Ptar” and Comrie-Bristol. They have all the credentials and history to tangle with the best-of-the-best.

“This is a very smart dog. He figures things out quickly,” remarked Comrie-Bristol. “When we were doing the basics, he told me what things he was good at and what things he was going to be hard-headed about. You have to learn to communicate what you want for the desired response from the dog.”

And, my oh my, how they communicate!

This past June the two teamed up to win the largest National Field Trial Championship ever held. The field of 148 dogs was culled from the original 193. When the eight-day trial was complete, Ptar emerged as the 2021 National Amateur Champion. Comrie-Bristol was ecstatic, happy for Ptar, an 8-year-old full of heart, drive, desire, remarkable spirit, and very, very competitive.

“It worked out well that I was able to do that with this dog because he’s an exceptional dog,” said Comrie-Bristol. “You don’t get a dog of his caliber but maybe once in a lifetime, if you’re lucky.”

Comrie-Bristol owned the mother of Ptar, picking him from the litter.

“I chose him because of some of the traits I saw as a puppy, just very bold jumping into cover or into the water, and he has a lot to say,” said Comrie-Bristol.

Comrie-Bristol, her husband, and four dogs live in Garrison. They moved there a few years ago after Comrie-Bristol retired from her veterinary practice in Michigan.

“I knew as a child I was going to be a veterinarian. I just love being around dogs,” said Comrie-Bristol. “My first Lab was donated. I walked him on my lunch break from school. He turned me on to retrievers. I’ve been in the sport since the early 90’s.”

Her gentle demeanor went a long way toward Ptar’s national championship, believed to be the first ever for North Dakota.

“He lives in the house with me. We hunt together. It enables us to have a lot better communication. We communicate well together. I’m fascinated by the ability of these dogs to understand what we want of them,” said Comrie-Bristol.

Ptar’s titles are now National Amateur Field Champion (NAFC), Field Champion (FC), and Amateur Field Champion (AFC). And even though she is an amateur handler, Comrie-Bristol has become well known. When she brings Ptar to the line, professional and amateur trainers alike carefully watch her and her dog.

“I do visit pros and train with them when I can,” said Comrie-Bristol. “For the most part though, I train by myself. I’ve done all of Ptar’s training from puppyhood on.”

Even with a full-time veterinary practice Comrie-Bristol found time for her emerging passion.

“I’ve had some very good dogs but didn’t always have the time to go to trials,” explained Comrie-Bristol. “I’d train in the morning before office hours or after work. I just couldn’t travel and be away from my practice to campaign the dogs I had.”

Now she has the time, and a terrific dog. Don’t be too surprised if Ptar adds NFC, National Field Champion, to his list of accolades in November.