By Garrett Kroeger

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — For the second year in a row, Natchez will get more than a handful of four-legged tourists as the Super Retriever Series returns today through Sunday for one of its qualifying competitions.

The competition will feature teams of trainers and dogs in amateur and professional divisions from around the nation including competitors from Arkansas, Kansas, South Carolina and Texas.

Dogs will run a series of four tests and will be evaluated on how well they are able to hunt fake ducks.

“(The dogs) are doing a hunting scenario,” said the owner of Super Retriever Series Shannon Nardi. “We use plastic ducks, so it’s like they are going hunting. So the test is set up for bird placement and distance. The dogs are primarily graded on marking the bird and remembering where it’s at. Also, along with their line manners.”

Every competitor will compete the first two days of the event. The field will shrink to the top 12 in each division on the third day and then to the top six for the finale.

The top three dogs in each division will take home a cash prize along with earning an invite to the overall Crown Champion competition later this year in November in Huntsville, Ala.

Admission is free to this weekend’s competition, and the SRS asks spectators to not wear white clothing.

“The handlers wear white,” said local Natchez competitor Leo Joseph III. “They want them to be the only one wearing white. So when the dog looks back, they stand out immediately.”

The event will run rain or shine from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Each day will be at a different location. Today’s location will be at 1 Oakwood Plantation Road with the other locations to be announced after. The best way to keep up with information and scores is to follow the SRS Classic Event – Natchez, Ms Facebook page.

“This is one of these events that you really don’t know if you are totally ready or not,” Joseph said. “But, it’s going to be exciting.

“We encourage everyone to come out and watch. It will be really interesting. A friendly environment with a lot of people to talk too.”