A suitable shooting companion should be many things. They should be hard hunting, patient on peg, calm to heel and have reliable recall. These are only a few of the key skills and attributes. The basics in training will pay dividends in the long run and are so often overlooked.…
Gundog training
Training a golden retriever
A question about golden retriever training Q: After many years of having Labradors, I have bought a working-bred golden retriever puppy. I know this breed has a reputation for being slow to mature and more challenging to train, but this youngster is a joy to work with. However, he is…
Is a gun-shy dog a lost cause?
There’s probably no greater disaster that can befall the gundog trainer than to discover that their talented new puppy is gun-shy. Is being gun-shy inherited? Many breeders maintain that gun-shyness is hereditary, which I’m not convinced about, but I certainly wouldn’t take the risk of breeding from a seriously gun-shy…
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 refusal to enter water. It is a matter of choice whether you train your dog to retrieve from water, but…
Are tennis balls dangerous to dogs?
Q: My dog trainer has advised me to use tennis balls to train my Labrador to hunt and retrieve but I’ve heard there are risks from balls. Are tennis balls dangerous to dogs? What are your thoughts on this issue? Tennis ball risks When dogs play with balls there is the…
What your puppy will need to get used to when lockdown ends
This has been an unusual time for all of us in pretty much every aspect of our lives and dog training is no exception. In some ways lockdown has helped in that people now have more time to spend with their dogs. However, given that most were unable to leave…
Tips on training a Labrador puppy
Jeremy Hunt has trained hundreds of Labradors. Here is his advice on picking the right puppy training class for your youngster.
At what age should you introduce a puppy to gunfire?
The most important thing to remember about when you introduce a puppy to gunfire noise is that you should take it gently and not rush anything. If your gundog puppy is confident you should be able to start at about seven to eight months of age. If she is timid…
Why it’s important to accentuate the positive when dog training
The world of gundog training is a rapidly changing place and handlers are now more than ever working on improving their dogs’ skills as well as their own. During the COVID-19 lockdown I have sadly not been able to get Sika to me for training, so I am working with…
What you should know about slip leads
Placing a slip lead on a dog correctly and how to buy the right size
Can you train a gundog inside?
We are living in unprecedented times. The situation with COVID-19, and the resultant social distancing and isolation, is stressful for the vast majority of us. But how is it affecting our canine friends? Some may actually be enjoying having their owners around all the time, particularly if they are used…
How to teach reliable gundog recall
Teaching reliable dog recall is one of the basics of gundog training in the early days. Here's how to do it.
Gundog training you can carry out in your garden (or even inside)
Here’s a list of basic gundog and puppy training exercises that you can practise whilst you’re social distancing or self-isolating at home. You don’t need a big area either. Just patience. Getting a puppy used to a lead Place a slip lead around the puppy’s neck, pushing the stop up…
Can a working gundog also be a family pet?
Am I taking a risk having my working labrador as a house dog?
How should I start training my puppy to be a gundog?
Take things slowly, don't rush and form a bond with your new gundog puppy before starting any training
Why marking – watching the bird – is an essential skill for gundogs
Marking a shot bird is a skill that most gundogs need to develop, though some seem to have a natural ability to know where a retrieve has landed, while others need to be trained. If you plan to shoot over your dog or go picking-up with it, marking is an…
What do dogs see when being trained to retrieve?
A dog’s eyesight is far better than ours, especially where movement and contrast is concerned. It is useful to know and understand how a dog sees colour as we can use this to our advantage in training. How dogs see colour Dogs see colour in a very different way to…
How do I stop my gundog from swapping birds?
Gundog training: My spaniel bitch is doing well in her first season but last Saturday when sent for a retrieve she picked the bird then dropped it on the way back in favour of another. How can I stop her doing this?
Why does my sprocker refuse to retrieve?
I have a two-year-old sprocker that stops and hunts on command, stays very close and is highly attentive - but in the field she refuses to retrieve.
Teaching a young dog quartering
Quartering is probably the toughest lesson to teach a young gundog, and one of the most vital. Joe Irving discusses this most rewarding of lessons for the handler