Maisie and I have had a great morning attending our first Gundog training lesson. It was brilliant. Maisie was a star and a complete natural! It's just the owner that needs plenty of work! We're on a waiting list for a permanent place, so fingers crossed we won't have to wait too long before we can go again.
Re: 1st taste of Gundog traininig We'll done Debs. It's good fun isn't it? And user error accounts for over 90% of our troubles!
Re: 1st taste of Gundog traininig Thanks Uncle Bob, it was great fun! I was really nervous and wasn't sure what to expect, but the group was really well controlled and I was made to feel very welcome. I'm so pleased that I stuck with basic puppy training as it really paid off today! Now, I just need to purchase some new doggy goodies, slip lead, dummy, bag and some boots! Have yet to tell OH about that bit yet! ;D ;D
Re: 1st taste of Gundog traininig I must look into a training group near me. Is there a minimum age limit or a certain level of obedience needed to join these groups?? Oh and hear you say you HAVE to purchase a new pair of boots!
Re: 1st taste of Gundog traininig [quote author=Joy link=topic=7801.msg109195#msg109195 date=1410620990] Glad you found a trainer you like. Sounds good. [/quote] Hi Joy, yes found a group near to me that seem really good, very popular though, so I'm on a waiting list to officially join!
Re: 1st taste of Gundog traininig [quote author=Nicmorris link=topic=7801.msg109197#msg109197 date=1410621297] Is there a minimum age limit or a certain level of obedience needed to join these groups?? Oh and hear you say you HAVE to purchase a new pair of boots! [/quote] Hi Nic, the group I went to today takes pups from 15/16 weeks old. I wasn't asked about what training we had done, we just had to get on with it! But, I was very glad to have done lots of basic training, especially recall and sit at my puppy group! Yes you HAVE to have a new pair of boots! ;D ;D
Re: 1st taste of Gundog traininig Glad you enjoyed it ,great to hear of forum members trying gun dog classes out x
Re: 1st taste of Gundog traininig Just heard that we have got a place at the gundog group, whoopee! So off this morning for 2 hours training! Very excited! ;D
Re: 1st taste of Gundog traininig Good stuff! Concerning user error, as Unclebob says, my trainer suggested videoing what he was doing for review later.
Re: 1st taste of Gundog traininig Hope you had a good time today. Looking forward to hearing about it.
Re: 1st taste of Gundog traininig Just back and managed to avoid the downpour that is now raging!!! We arrived in good time and were directed to a field where we could let our dogs off lead for a bit of a mingle, then we were put into 4 groups and headed off with our instructors. What I didn't know was that on the 1st Saturday of each month there is a specific class for puppies, which is split into two parts: 1: KC good citizen scheme & 2: Gundog training (all other Saturdays will be Gundog training only). Quite a large group today as people can bring their dogs once a month without being a member of the group. So, we spent the first hour doing KC foundation stuff, which we've have done before with my dog trainer, although not officially KC. It will be good to complete the puppy foundation and move onto Bronze. Maisie was brilliant, and did everything with ease. She looked quite bored by the end, I didn't blame her though, as we have covered this stuff so many times before! Still good for her to sit and wait though . We then headed off into a field to do some marked retrieves. Now, she looks interested! The instructor was great, and gave good clear instructions. Lots of "wait" and "leave" while other dogs did their retrieves. Very funny watching various dogs rushing out to get their dummy and then running round the field, with a "come and get me" look on their faces :!! Thankfully I wasn't one of those owners and Maisie retrieved her dummy and came straight back, phew! Then came some recall exercises. The pups were let off lead in the middle of the field and allowed to play and then we had to recall them back. No problem there at all. Some heal work to finish off and a well earned cup of coffee and cake back at the the lodge. I enjoyed the morning, but feel that I haven't learnt anything new today and there was a lot of standing around. Hopefully next week, we will be stretched a little more. But we have to start somewhere and it was lovely to have a dog that sat and behaved itself! ;D
Re: 1st taste of Gundog traininig That's great a Debs, sounds like Maisie is a natural! There is quite a lot of standing around at Gundog training. It's the name of the game in a way - my OH describes shooting as long periods of standing around in a cold, wet field, followed by short bursts of intense excitement! The dogs have to learn to be quiet, patient and absolutely steady, or they are never going to make it as a gundog. But I find it very interesting, watching the other handlers and their dogs - you learn such a lot by watching other people! And as you get to know the others, it is great to find like-minded people who don't think you are dog-obsessed - they think you are completely normal!!! ;D
Re: 1st taste of Gundog traininig I am jealous as I can't find a class How did you find it Debs ? By the way, I am very pleased for you 8)
