Looking to get involved...don't know where to start?

I have always been a pooch enthusiast and a few years ago, bought myself a fox red labrador puppy. She quickly became my loyal companion and we are very much inseparable. She is wonderful and is now almost 3. She comes from working gun dog stock and is a real little lovely. I feel like she has a lot of potential that could be nurtured instead of just walks, games, cuddles and kisses.
I have become more and more interested in the dog activity world and would like to become more involved. I have wanted to do this for a while but just haven't had the confidence to do it. After visiting crufts to see what I think, I am more certain than ever that this is something I would like to pursue.
Any advice or help that could be shared would be wonderful.
Many Thanks!!

 

Hey Gemma, are you looking specifically at gundog training, or other activities (agility/flyball/obedience/heelwork to music etc)?

Where in the UK are you based?

 

I’m open to anything to be honest. I just really want to get involved and I’m not sure where her strengths will lie. I do like the agility/gun dog work/obedience.
I’m in Solihull in the midlands

 

Well, for where you are, you might consider Helen Phillips in Evesham for gundog lessons. She's a positive reinforcement only trainer, which is still pretty rare in the gundog world. Before it's worthwhile going, I'd say you'd want some pretty solid basic obedience (eg heel work, sit/stay, recall). You might be interested in getting her book, Clicker Gundog, to see where to start. Pippa (owner of this forum) also runs The Gundog Club, which is a charity which promotes gundog welfare. If you go to their website (www.thegundogclub.co.uk) you will find more information, and can buy course books which take you through the basics for the different grades, if that is of interest. Grade 1 is entry level and gives you an idea of where to start: http://www.thegundogclub.co.uk/?page_id=938. Don't worry if you can't do these things yet, that's the point of training

Maybe someone would be able to recommend agility/obedience clubs in your area so you could go along and have a look. I'm afraid I don't know the area!

 

Wow. That is amazing advice. Thank you. I will definitely have a look and get into researching it.
Do I have to be able to shoot to get involved in the gun dog work or could I just join in while someone else shoots? I'm not sure how it works!

 

Hi and welcome!

I know zip about gundog training and so many people here on the Forum are real experts, but I just wanted to put in a vote for agility and canine freestyle (doggie dancing). I had such fun with both activities and both also taught my dog and me very practical everyday skills that made our lives outside of class much richer as well. I didn't do either competitively, just signed up for local "for fun" classes. None of the pressure, all of the silliness!

 

No, you don't have to shoot, or do any work with game if you don't want to. You can do everything with dummies if you'd prefer. If you do want to get involved with taking your dog on a shoot, Helen organises shootover days to give dogs their first exposure to the environment. In general, the people working the dogs are different people to the people doing the shooting. You do get people doing both, but to start off with at least, you'd definitely be just working your dog.

The good thing about gundog training is it doesn't matter if the trainer isn't on your doorstep because you don't have to go every week if you can't manage that; you will pick up enough information in a single session to give you stuff to work on until your next lesson, either group or private. People travel a long way to get tuition with the "right" instructor and then practice at home. The majority of the equipment is inexpensive to buy, so it's an accessible sport to get into.

I'm certainly no expert and I just dabble - there are much more experienced people than me on the forum who will be able to help answer any questions you may have

 

Hi Gemma, @Gemma L

Welcome to the forum - I just had to say hello as right now I am working in Solihull!

There's a small group of us from the forum who meet up and walk in the surrounding Warwickshire (and hopefully Leicestershire) countryside.
I didn't progressed beyond puppy classes with my dog Monty, but @Pilatelover who lives near Coventry has done some more varied training classes with her lab Mabel which you may be interested in even if they arent strictly related to gundog work.
Natalie

 

That sounds great, thank you. I feel like such a rookie but I guess we all have to start somewhere. It’s all so interesting so I really appreciate the useful advice!
Is there any way you can do gun dog work AND agility too?

 

That sounds brilliant. Thank you. It’s also nice to widen my circle of contacts with this and people who have the same interests!

 

Yes! I live in Andorra in the winter and Spain in the summer. We don't do a lot of anything structured in the winter because of the snow, but in the summer, I do as much gundog work as I can by myself (there's no training classes for that sort of thing over there) and take the dogs to agility twice a week, too. They LOVE it all!

 

I don't see why not - depends on your time and commitment, I guess. Nuneaton dog training near me do flyball, obediance, agility, dancing, I'm sure there's some cross over in the dogs who participate in the classes. It will all increase your bond with your dog and as long as she is not being overexercised I think it sounds a great idea!

Are you in north or south Solihull?

 

Thanks. I totally agree. The agility looks great and I think my girl would really love it! I suppose there’s no limit on what she can do. If it keeps her fit and happy then it’s worth it!

 

I’m in Solihull so
I think that classes as the south??

 

Just a quick note to say hi and put in a word for agility - I have never done any formal training with my boy, but we did go to agility classes for a year or so and he absolutely LOVED it. So did I (once I realised that there is no possible way to retain your dignity and got used to just laughing at myself, my dog, and everyone else....).

It really, really increased his focus on me, and had benefits outside of the classes (and we got a little agility set to play with at home too).

Welcome to the forum!
Rosie

 

I work in the town centre, so probably not far away from you at all!

 

Thank you. It looks like a lot of fun and I’ve been looking

small world!!

 

Hi Gemma, a warm welcome to the forum.

I live the Solihull side of Coventry so we are fairly close to each other. As @leejane rightly says I have done various things with Mabel using a local dog training company based in Allesley, Coventry. We are working towards our gold in the Kennel Club Good Citizen award. I don’t go to the classes that often as both Mabel and I find it a little bit boring these days as we went weekly for quite a while. Must admit though I find them really useful for re focusing my training. We are also doing an advanced clicker training course as well as Scentwork. We had our first session with a trainer from Scentwork UK on Monday and I must admit we both loved it, Mabel was a star just hope I don’t let her down in the coming months. I do know owners who have great fun at agility and fly ball and my neighbour has done some gundog training. Unfortunately these aren’t an option for Mabel as she has Elbow Dysplasia otherwise I’d have had a go. I’ll try almost anything

When I was looking for a dog training company I googled “dog training” then researched local groups as the most important thing to me was a positive trainer. I was lucky I found a brilliant trainer first time but I do know owners who have a less positive experience.

Hopefully you will be able to join @leejane, @SwampDonkey and myself on our next group walk.

Claire x

 

Hi Claire,
Thanks for your message. It is so nice to meet people who live close and have the same interests!
I have been looking around for some groups and have found some good ones. I have also seen the Dogs Trust do a course which would be useful for my girl as she needs a bit more socialising and needs to practise the basics before we can step it up to agility etc.
What is the good Citizen award? Is this something you do as a group? x

 

@Gemma L here is the link. We go to a group session, some owners go along because they have rescue dogs that need socialising and they wish to do it under a controlled environment with a trainer. I also go along because Mabel has always struggled with self control and will easily go over the threshold (if she was a human she would be the one knocking the shots back dancing on the table ) both of which make training impossible. So for me activities such as walking passed other dogs on and off the lead are invaluable.

https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/training/good-citizen-dog-training-scheme/