Q: We are due to get a new cocker pup and it will be living indoors. We have been advised that crate training a puppy is the right way to…
Fran Ardley

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Eye contact with dogs: it’s vital for good training
Why eye contact with dogs is key One of my training clients asked me recently what aspect of a gundog’s training I thought was the most important. My immediate answer…
Training your gundog to enter cover
The one thing that your gundog will have to do at some point is to be willing and able to enter cover. Whether that be to find and retrieve shot…
The ‘leave it’ command – how to teach it to a young dog
There are some commands your gundog can be taught from an early age and will stay with him for the rest of his career. Sit, stay, heel, come are a…
Training your young gundog – from dummies to game
Most, if not all, of your early gundog training will be using tennis or fur balls and canvas dummies. But at some point you will have to give your young…
How to train a young gundog to be disciplined in company
Gundog training together Anyone who works or trains gundogs will tell you that they are addictive. Once you have one you will want another, and this will be the case…
“The stop whistle is the brake on your dog and it needs to respond immediately”
An issue that causes novice trainers sleepless nights is stop whistle training. Get it right and you will have a high degree of control over even the hardest to manage…
How to train your gundog for water work
Gundog training for water work needs to be done carefully and with thought; it is all too easy to end up with problems such as dropping retrieves, shaking and even…
Why you shouldn’t get more than one puppy at once
Taking on two puppies at the same time may seem a good idea, but it can have disastrous consequences. Stan Rawlinson tells why one at a time is best