Previously we have looked at building on the stop whistle while your dog was at a distance from you. I showed a technique where the dog was called off a…
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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
Training off-season: these are the reminders you need to give your working dog
Why training off-season is needed Unlike a gun that can be put away at the end of January, pulled out in September and still go bang, you cannot expect to…
Teaching your dog about negotiating obstacles: why it’s an important part of working dog training
I see a lot of novice trainers setting up their retrieving exercises out in the open with very few distractions or obstacles in the way, and although we should be…
“The stop whistle is the brake on your dog and it needs to respond immediately”
Stop whistle training needs time and attention. It’s something that’s not always easy for the novice trainer to master, let alone the dog. But it’s worth persisting. If you get…
What’s the first thing you should do with a new gundog puppy?
As spring approaches, many people will be thinking about getting new gundog puppy, which may be their first. I am regularly asked by novice trainers what they should be doing…
How to improve your gundog’s gun sense
A dog that has gun sense is a real attribute in the shooting field, whether you are picking-up or shooting over your dog, or even hunting them in a line…
Scent line training – don’t rush your young gundog
In last month’s article (Gundog training, December 2022), we looked at the initial stages of teaching your gundog to take a scent line in preparation for the time when it…
Five basic dog commands to master
I often get asked at what stage of training a dog should be by a certain age. I am not a huge fan of timescales, as each dog is different…
How to concentrate your gundog on a single retrieve
I am sure we have all witnessed the scenario on a shoot day when a dog is sent for a retrieve, picks a bird and then runs over to another…
Crate training a puppy – how to do it right
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…
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…
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…