Going to gun-dog training class.... Working Dogs

hi all,

im really excited . i've finally found somewhere near me that does gun-dog training classes. so i'm going on sunday for an assessment to see if we're suitable candidates. the guy i spoke to said at 4 years old sam may be too old to start gun-dog training, but may be able to offer us some other training. so off we go on sunday to be assessed! wish us luck

Good luck!!!!
bet you're really excited! I know I would be!

Oooh, that sounds really interesting and could be a really good way to focus his attention. Fingers crossed the assessment goes well & that even if you can't do the full gun-dog training, there is something to interest you and Sam Do let us know how you get on.

Oh so pleased for you - I know this is something you really wanted to do!

Good Luck, hope it all goes well for you.
Becky

thats what i'm hoping for. even if the trainers there can give me some advice and help to focus his attention would still be worth going to even if we can't do the full gun-dog training.

ps....yes i am really excited!!!!!

hope my lad behaves himself though

OOOOH that sounds really exciting, please could you let me have the contact number because I would like to have a go with my welshie, he may be too young at 6 months . I live in Urmston not too far from you

He's just the right age Nina. Good luck

hi ninalou,

i didnt end up going because i had to go to work. so hopefully i'm going to go this sunday! the number is 07799425063 and he's called nick powell. the place is based in whiston which is near st. helens. its not that far, takes me about 25 mins to get there (i go to a training club on a monday night round the corner from it). good luck and maybe i might see ya there

that sounds great. I really hope you can get advice off them about him and hopefully get him on the right track.

Thankyou for the info, just spoke to nick and Im going to go down with Dylan a week on Sunday( im gutted that ive got to wait till then but they have a demo on this week) Maybe I will see you there, it would be nice to have another newbe there with me

Well me and Springergirl went to the Gun dog training session yesterday for our assesments and we had a great time.

Me and Dylan did some walking to heel on the grass which is usually a bit of a challenge for Dyl but he behaved really well, then I had to let him off the lead and recall him to me and put him in sit no problem there, my biggest challenge was getting the flipping slip lead on him as he is newto it he tries to bite it every time it goes near his face but after about 8 attempts i finally managed it.

We then watched the trainers do a blind retrieval and then Dyl had a go at a finding the dummy in some long grass. He was such a good boy im so proud of him.

My homework for this week is to teach Dyl to sit at the sound of a whistle, so better go and get on with it.

well done sounds like you all had a good time.

Glad you both enjoyed it

I remember when my friends lab went to gun dog training for the first time. As soon as he heard the bang, he legged it Once he got used to it, he went to retrieve a pheasant, then ran off and promptly munched it

excellent - well done

Just to give you some encouragement, you may be interested to learn, that i took one of my bitches to a working test today and she took a second in novice form 11 dogs entered.
Not a lot unusual in that, except that this bitch recieved no formal gundog training until she was 5, and this was only her second ever competition (the last was a 'fun match' in which she took a 4th in novice from an entry of 9)
.
so please. Dont anyone ever tell you your dog is too old to learn new tricks

best of luck to you
thandi

PS..she also has a litter of 7week old pups at home too!

hi there,

gotta agree with you ninalou we had a great time even though the weather was poo!

started working on the sit to the whistle last night with sam and he seems to be picking it up ok. so i'll just practice and practice all week now til sunday. really looking forward to sunday now!

i was really pleased with sams behaviour, he didnt bother about the other dogs at all (and he can be funny!). think it will do him good cos all the other classes i take him to are all in-door so hardly any distractions, so this will really test his self-control!

well done to you and your girl thandi! gives me the will to do good now!!! you CAN teach an old dog new tricks!!

Hi Springergirl,

Thanks for the advice about the whistle, I popped down to Robinsons yesterday and picked a 210 1/2 up. We did a bit of practising last night and on our walk this morning and he is getting the idea, we have also been practising getting the slip lead on and off without it looking like im trying to lassou (sp?) a bucking bronco. Will Sam sit to the whistle off the lead? Dylan is getting the idea when he is walking to heel but turns stupid when loose.

Sam sat and waited really patiently and I agree its good to get some training outside, I love doing the obedience training but how often are you in a room with 10 other dogs

Hi ninalou,

glad you got the whistle! i have just been practising the sit with sam in the living room and garden til he really understands that 2 pips mean sit! so might have a try with his lead on this afternoon. he's getting there with it though.

he's not too bad with the slip lead. poor dylan, bet he wonders what's going on!!

i enjoy the obedience classes but being outdoors is completely different and really tests their self-control doesn't it??

see ya soon

sue and sam