Gundog Training For Fun Or Field
These classes and group sessions are designed for pet dogs alongside working dogs at the start. The skills required at the start of their training are the same : Good recall, lead walking, stopping and waiting, maintaining calm behaviour and having a safe and enjoyable time outside on walks.
Our training is currently referred to as R+ which means we never use punishment or aversive methods when working with our dogs.
Group classes are useful for those with young dogs to help them learn to work alongside others, respectful of space and honouring the other dogs retrieve, skills needed in the working field.
The Basics (Grade 1 UK Gundog Club grading) Pre novice, Novice (Grade 2) and Intermediate
These are for all breed types: Spaniels, Retrievers and pointing breeds and are held in our secure paddocks in Hatch Beauchamp.
We also run a breed type group sessions for Retrieving breeds and hunting breeds.
The session covers various aspects of gundog training without shot and in a safe environment.
Once your dog has grasped the basics they are eligible for any of our field sessions in various local venues. We hold both group and personalised one to one sessions.
Here we can work with shot, water, challenging environment, cold game where available and practise for UK Gundog Club grade 3 and 4.
The Basics/ Grade 1
Working towards our first level of Gundog challenges developing the skill, a good step on from a puppy class or one to one sessions
Course includes:
● Loose lead walking
● Retrieving short distances neatly
● Waiting increasing duration and distance
● Developing a willingness to hunt with the handler
● Stopping on a whistle cue
£35 per session
Bookings now being taken for Febuary 2025
Pre Novice
Adding more skills to the Basics. Not structured to a Grade
Suitable for dogs who have moved on from Basics but are not yet quite at Grade 2 standard
Course includes:
● Taking direction Left right and back
● Working off lead
● Extending response to the Stop
● Retrieving in more challenging environments
● Retrieving to hand
● Developing transition from hunting
● Steadiness
Novice
Working to finish Grade 2 challenges
Course covers:
● Extending steadiness and distance on retrieves
● Blind retrieves
● Retrieves from cover
● Good understanding of direction and redirection
● Decoy dummies and multi drop
● Effective hunting stopping and retrieving
To register an interest in these session please click the button below.
Workshops and Field trips
Breed type Groups
Spaniels and HPR emphasis on hunting skills and control in the field
Retrievers Emphasis on accuracy building steadiness and lines using grids and drills
Held midweek for dogs Grade 2 plus looking at skills specific to breed type .
Lots of fun and no Grade work as such but can be supportive of Grade 3 plus
Dogs need to be working at Grade 2 and beyond for this monthly group
● Retrievers Nov and Advanced
● Midweek 2 levels
● Dogs working on specific retrieving skills
● Working grids
● Distance control and direction
● Challenging retrieves
For all sessions except Basics please contact Penny to see if suitable for you where upon you will be given a booking link .
These sessions are often heavily subscribed by existing clients.
All the above are without any introduction to shot. Shot will only be used at specific workshops at our other field venues or in one to one sessions for those who want to compete or work dogs in the sport.