A note about volunteering. If you’re not ready to enter, or if you would like to learn more about sporting dog events, a great way to do that is to volunteer! Whether you’re an old hand or a total newbie, there is always something to do. At a field event, for example, even a complete beginner can carry the basket for the shot birds (“shagging”). You get to walk just behind the judge(s) and get an upfront view of all the action. You could also sign people in or help with lunch. Clubs cannot put on these events without volunteer workers, so please consider contacting the sponsoring club and offering to help out.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Here’s a PDF with a listing of more than 80 events (hunt tests, training days and others) for retrieving breeds as planned for 2024. This is assembled each year by the Capital Region Flat-Coated Retriever Club (CRFCRC).
Thursday evening, August 8. MSDA Board Meeting. All MSDA members are welcome to attend and participate. This meeting will be held via Zoom, starting at 7:30 pm. Contact the Secretary, Melissa McMunn, via Secretary@mdsportingdog.org for more information.
Thursday-Sunday, August 15-18 (Allegany County Fairgrounds, Cumberland MD). Four days of all-breed dog shows and obedience trials sponsored by the Laurel Highlands Kennel Association (Thursday and Saturday) and the Upper Potomac Valley Kennel Club (Friday and Sunday). Premium and other information and entries are via MB-F. Entries close July 31.
Saturday, August 31 (Mt. Ararat Farm, Port Deposit MD) Flushing Dog Training Day.
Friday-Sunday, September 13-15 (Rebel Ridge Farms, Elkton MD). MSDA’s annual Fall Hunt Test Weekend, including: three days of AKC Spaniel Hunt Tests PLUS an in-person seminar on Friday for AKC hunt test judges, prospective judges, and handlers. On Saturday, there also will be one day of Mock Junior Hunt Tests for Pointing Breeds.
Thursday, October 3 – Sunday October 6 (Mt. Ararat Farm, Port Deposit MD). Poodle Club of America (PCA) National Hunt Tests. Training day on 10/3; AKC Spaniel Hunt Tests on 10/4, AKC Retriever Tests on 10/5 and PCA Certificate Program WC/WCX on 10/6. MSDA will be assisting with the training day on Thursday 10/4 and the spaniel hunt tests on Friday 10/4, for which entries are scheduled to open August 15.
Want to see your club’s sporting dog event listed here? Contact Pamela DeSmidt via admin@mdsportingdog.org to be included on this calendar page and in our monthly newsletter. Of course, if you’re a member of Maryland Sporting Dog Association’s Facebook Group, you’re also welcome to share your event information there.
Stay up to date on MSDA activities that interest you by signing up for our e-mail list.
PAST MSDA EVENTS:
Friday, June 21 (Mt. Ararat Farm, Port Deposit MD). Seminar: Retrieving for Upland Dogs.
Saturday, May 18 (Rebel Ridge Farms, Elkton MD). MSDA’s annual Field Day – a full FUN training day for all bird dogs. Training groups for flushing, pointing, retrieving breeds as well as CGC and TKN testing and our famous potluck buffet lunch. Registration has closed for this year.
Four Saturdays, May 4 – June 1 (Dickerson MD). MSDA Field Obedience classes for flushing dogs. These introductory classes provided foundational training for upland hunting and AKC hunting tests, teaching basic commands and obedience skills needed in the field.
Saturday, April 13 (Mt. Ararat Farms, Port Deposit MD). Flushing Dog Training Day.
Friday-Sunday, March 1-3 (Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship MD). MSDA’s annual “Spring Event” including three days of Sporting Group dog shows, all-breed obedience & rally trials, Bird Instinct Clinics and much more!
Saturday, February 24 (Mt. Ararat Farms, Port Deposit MD). Flushing Dog Training Day.
Friday-Sunday, January 26-28 (State Fairgrounds, Timonium MD). MSDA hosted a booth at the World of Pets Expo.
Friday, November 10 (Mt. Ararat Farm, Port Deposit MD). Training Day for Flushing Dogs .
Saturday, October 7 (Carousel Dock Diving, Mt. Airy MD). Dock Diving Seminar.
Saturday-Sunday, September 16-17 (Rebel Ridge Farms, Elkton MD). AKC Spaniel Hunting Tests. Info available at HuntSecretary.com.
Saturday, September 16 (Rebel Ridge Farms, Elkton MD). Pointing Mock Junior Hunt Test
Saturday, September 9 (Mt. Ararat Farm, Port Deposit MD). Training Day for Flushing Dogs .
Saturday & Sunday, July 29 & 30, 2023 (Dickerson MD). MSDA Annual Summer Pool Party for members (and prospective members) & guests, including dogs.
Saturday, July 8, 2023 (Mt. Ararat Farm, Port Deposit MD). Training Day for Flushing Dogs .
Saturday, June 10, 2023 (Mt. Ararat Farm, Port Deposit MD). Training Day for Flushing Dogs .
Saturday, April 15, 2023 (Rebel Ridge Farms, Elkton MD) MSDA’s Annual Field Day – a FUN field training day for all bird dogs at all levels.
Friday, March 24, 2023 (Chambersburg, PA). Training Day for Flushing Dogs .
Thursday, March 23, 2023 (via Zoom). MSDA Annual Membership Meeting.
Friday-Sunday, March 3-5, 2023 (Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship MD) Spring Event: Sporting Group Dog Shows, Specialties and All-Breed Obedience & Rally Trials. Bird Instinct Clinics, too! The public was welcome to attend and watch all events.
Friday-Sunday, January 27-29, 2023 MSDA hosted a booth at the World of Pets Expo (State Fairgrounds, Timonium MD).
Saturday-Sunday, September 17-18, 2022 (Rebel Ridge Farms, Elkton MD) Fall Hunt Test Weekend: Two days — two separate events — of AKC Spaniel Hunting Tests (for all flushing breeds). Also mock junior pointing and retrieving hunt tests, open house on Saturday, and WD tests for spaniels on Sunday.
Friday, June 17, 2022 (Mount Ararat Farm, Port Deposit MD). Training Day for Flushing Dogs.
Friday, May 20, 2022 (Mount Ararat Farm, Port Deposit MD). Training Day for Flushing Dogs.
Saturday-Sunday, May 7-8, 2022 (Rebel Ridge Farms, Elkton MD) Two days — two separate events — of Spring AKC Spaniel Hunting Tests (for all flushing breeds).
Friday, April 29, 2022 (Thornhill Farm, Woodbine MD). Training Day for Flushing Dogs.
Saturday, April 23, 2022 (Superpup, Severn MD) A full day Barn Hunt Seminar.
Saturday, April 9, 2022 (Rebel Ridge Farms, Elkton MD) MSDA’s Annual Field Day – a FUN day of field work for bird dogs of all experience and skill levels.
Friday, March 18, 2022 (Thornhill Farms, Woodbine MD). Training Day for Flushing Dogs. This was the first of a series of such training days held in 2022.
Thursday evening, March 10, 2022 (Virtual). MSDA Annual Membership Meeting.
Friday – Sunday, March 4-6, 2022 (Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship MD) MSDA’s annual Spring Event: Sporting Group Dog Shows and All-Breed Obedience & Rally Trials. Bird Instinct Clinics, too! These events were open to the public.
Friday – Sunday, January 28-30, 2022 (State Fairgrounds, Timonium MD) World of Pets Expo. MSDA had a booth and enjoyed a fun weekend at this event with lots of information and activities.
Saturday 12/4/2021 (Pylesville, MD) MSDA had an information table at Youth Hunt Day by Mason Dixon Game Outfitters.
Saturday 9/18/2021 (Rebel Ridge Farms, Elkton MD). Members’ Open Day. For current and prospective MSDA members, their families, guests, and dogs (of course!)
Friday 9/17/2021 (Rebel Ridge Farms, Elkton MD) AKC Spaniel Hunt Test Seminar for Judges and Handlers (with an associated hunt test).
Saturday 9/18 & Sunday 9/19/2021 (Rebel Ridge Farms, Elkton MD). Two days (two events) of AKC hunting tests for all flushing breeds.
Saturday 7/24/2021 (Dickerson MD). MSDA Annual Summer Pool Party for members only (and their family/guests) and their dogs.
Saturday 6/19-Sunday 6/20/2021 (Thornhill Farm, Woodbine MD) Upland Dog Fundamentals Workshop with Jordan Horak. Also, optional private training sessions on Monday June 21.
Sunday evening 6/13/2021 (Virtual) Westminster Dog Show virtual watch party.
Saturday 5/8 & Sunday 5/9/2021 (Rebel Ridge Farms, Elkton MD) Two days of spring AKC Spaniel Hunting Tests for all flushing breeds.
Saturday 4/17/2021 (Rebel Ridge Farms, Elkton MD). MSDA’s Annual Field Day – a full day of FUN in the field for bird dogs of all levels from true beginners to master hunters.
Saturday 3/6/2021 (Virtual). Due to the pandemic, MSDA’s Spring Event was canceled this year, but the Annual Membership Meeting was held virtually. Members received an update on club activities and enjoyed a guest speaker’s introduction to Nosework/Scent Work.
10/24 and 10/25/2020 10 am – 3 pm (Dickerson MD). Field Training Basics for all sporting dogs.
Saturday 7/25 & Sunday 7/26. Annual Pool Party for club members, guests, and (of course) dogs!
9/12-13/2020 (Rebel Ridge Farms, Elkton MD) Hunt Test Weekend. Canceled this year due to the impact of Covid-19.
5/2/2020 Field Day (Rebel Ridge Farms, Elkton MD) Canceled this year due to the impact of Covid-19. Looking forward to seeing everyone again in Spring 2021!
2/28 – 3/1/2020 (Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship MD) MSDA’s annual Spring Event: Sporting Group Dog Shows and All-Breed Obedience & Rally Trials. Bird Instinct Clinics, membership meeting, and plenty of other activities.
1/24-26/2020 (Timonium, MD) MSDA hosted a booth at the World of Pets Expo at the Maryland State Fairgrounds.
9/14-15/2019 AKC Spaniel Hunting Tests and Working Dog Certificate Testing (Rebel Ridge Farms, Elkton MD). Two days (two events) of hunting tests for all flushing breeds. Junior, Senior, and Master stakes. Also Working Dog tests and CGC evaluations on Saturday.
8/17/2019 1:30-4:30 pm (North Laurel Community Center, Laurel MD) MSDA Introductory Seminar for Conformation and Obedience Stewarding.
7/20/2019 MSDA Summer Pool Party (Dickerson MD). A fun day for MSDA members, family, guests, and dogs!
5/4/2019 MSDA Field Day (Rebel Ridge Farms, Elkton MD). A fun day with training opportunities for all levels of flushing, pointing, and retrieving bird dogs.
3/1-3/2019 MSDA Spring Weekend Sporting Group Conformation, All-Breed Obedience & Rally Trials, Bird Dog Instinct Clinics, and more! (Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship MD).
3/2/2019 MSDA Annual Membership Meeting. (Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship MD) After completion of best-in-show. MSDA board of directors meeting was held immediately following the membership meeting.
12/16/2018 1:00 pm MSDA Holiday Party for members and their guests (Bayside Inn, Edgewater MD).
9/15-16/2018 AKC Spaniel Hunting Tests and Working Dog Certificate Testing (Rebel Ridge Farms, Elkton MD)
7/21/2018 MSDA Picnic & Pool Party (Dickerson MD). Lunch and fun for people & dogs. This event was limited to MSDA members, their families, and guests.
6/16/2018 MSDA Summer Field Day (Rebel Ridge Farms, Elkton MD). Training opportunities for all levels of flushing, pointing, and retrieving bird dogs.
4/21/2018 MSDA provided a Sporting Dog Demonstration for 300 scouts at a Mountain Man Camporee for the Boy Scouts in the FSK District (Thurmont Conservation and Sportsmen’s Club, Thurmont MD).
3/2-4/2018 MSDA Spring Sporting Group Dog Shows and All-Breed Obedience & Rally Trials (Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship MD)
3/3/2018 Sporting Dog Instinct Clinics, at the site of the MSDA spring show (Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship MD).
3/3/2018 after completion of Best-in-Show. Annual membership meeting, at the site of the MSDA spring show (Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship MD).
2/18/2018 AKC Spaniel Hunt Test Seminar (Mason Dixon Hunting Farm Inc., Glen Rock, PA). The Hunt Test Seminar was held in conjunction with a Grouse Trial sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Hunting Spaniel Club on Saturday, February 17th.
10/8/2017 1:00 pm (South Carroll Swim Club, Westminster, MD) MSDA’s Annual Crab Feast.
9/23/2017 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (Izaak Walton League of America, Clear Spring MD). 11th Annual Maryland celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day. Free, family-friendly event.
9/15-16-17/2017 AKC Spaniel Hunting Tests and Working Dog Certificate Testing (Rebel Ridge Farms, Elkton MD) sponsored by MSDA and The Susquehanna Valley English Springer Spaniel Club.
7/29/2017 MSDA Summer Field Day (Rebel Ridge Farms, Elkton MD). Training opportunities for all levels of flushing, pointing, and retrieving hunting dogs.
6/17/2017 7:30 am – 4:00 pm MSDA Summer Field Day (C&R Center at Norman G. Wilder Wildlife Area, Felton DE). Training opportunities for all levels of flushing, pointing, and retrieving hunting dogs.
3/3-5/2017 MSDA Sporting Group Dog Shows (Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship MD) including MSDA’s first Instinct Clinic for dogs without any field training or experience.
3/4/2017 after completion of Best-in-Show. Annual membership meeting (Hospitality Area of the Main Hall at the Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship MD). Light dinner and other refreshments included.
9/10-11/2016 MSDA Spaniel Hunting Tests (Rebel Ridge Farms, Elkton MD)
8/7/2016 11:00 am Membership meeting with training opportunities following the meeting (Rover’s Content, Brandywine MD)