Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 8:38 am Post subject: Is gundog training worth it?
Hello all, I am thinking of starting to do some gundog training with our puppy but have a couple of concerns about it - firstly she is only 14 weeks old - is this too young to start her gundog training as I have read it is mostly after about 6 months?
I am concerned that if I start gundog training and follow it through then she will be so strictly trained that she will just ignore other dogs and not choose to play with them, which is what she enjoys a lot at the moment. I would like to get her to a good standard of training and thought that as she is a labrador and we ;ive in the country, gundog would be the best oprtion. I probably wouldn't get many chance to go on shoots but I think I would enjoy the training and so would she.
Lucy is picking up training really quickly and so I would like people's thoughts on whether it is a good idea to do training with the ambition of working towards an award or whether a mix of some gundog training and some 'normal training' would be more suited to her lifestyle?
If I do decide to start gundog training, does anyone know of any group or individual gundog classes and/or trials around Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire?
Gundog training for your dog is wonderful. People have this perception that it is all work and no play. As long as you get a good trainer it can be alot of fun both for you and your dog. My 2 are working gundogs and also pets. At home they are normal playful silly idiots but when they know they are going to work, they change into work mode. At 14 weeks you should be concentrating on sitting and staying, walking on and off lead and recall and just making everything fun while learning. Basic manners.
Oh goodness, don't be worrying about your dog being so strictly trained they won't want to play! It just doesn't happen that way unless YOU want it to happen that way!
Any training is about control. Controlling your dogs behaviour to your advantage. The key being you. Gundog training is just about harnessing the natural behaviours your dog will hopefully display. Its about obedience in the most part!
If you have no particular interest in field sports then regular obedience training is an easier route to take. But if you think you would enjoy getting involved in stuff gundoggery then go for it.
At 14 weeks you don't need to concern yourself too much with gundog specifics, more about general rules and boundarys. You want to foster a good relationship with her so that she is working in partnership with you. You want a good solid recall and start with nice walking on the lead. Don't allow her to start pulling etc.
I'm sure others will come along with some more specific advice. I would say get yourself some good reading materials - the gundog club training manuals are an excellent place to start. Our own JohnW has produced a lovely book too that I found extremely useful when setting out with the dogs.
____________
All images posted by me on this or any other website remain copyright to me with all rights reserved
Hiya um....gundog training is what you make of it really. You can go into it full time and get to the top or you can make it a more looser hobby.
I pick up with my 2 and while they are not trained to field trial standard we have good fun doing the training and it certainly makes them think and keeps them brain active.
You can join a class at any age, gundog work it a follow on from basic training, so at 14 weeks it will be sit, stay, heel etc like normal. The good thing about classes for a novice inparticular is that the classes will stop you making mistakes in those early stages, to make the further gundog work easier.
The beauty if gundog work too is that it can be applied to obedience, trailing, working tests and picking up if you want to go into competitions or make more of a hobby from it.
While gundogs are well trained and you don't play conventional fetch with them (I.e. Endless throwing and retrievig without a sit stay first - although as you dog gets older one can start this, depending in the dog and level you intend to get to), the dogs absolutely enjoy playing with over dogs and going off for a romp - I would be VERY wary of anyone whose dog didn't (because of training), it would be like someone who showed a dog and never let it swim or run in mud or play with other dogs - to me that just is not right. Gundog work should be to enrich a dogs life not take anything away from it
Hello all, I am thinking of starting to do some gundog training with our puppy but have a couple of concerns about it - firstly she is only 14 weeks old - is this too young to start her gundog training as I have read it is mostly after about 6 months?
Not too young to do all the puppy basics such as sit and recall etc and lead work. Too young to do all the demanding stuff such as steadiness, long stays, lots of retrieves.
Quote:
I am concerned that if I start gundog training and follow it through then she will be so strictly trained that she will just ignore other dogs and not choose to play with them
When working I expect my dogs to concentrate on work. It certainly has not put them off enjoying/engaging in play outside of work. I have a command I use that is kind of an 'at ease' command. So it means bugga off and have fun/freetime for a mo. To be honest they enjoy gundog work so much that when doing so they prefer to keep their eyes on the dummies etc. Take those away, give them some downtime and they mess about with the best of them
Quote:
I would like to get her to a good standard of training and thought that as she is a labrador and we ;ive in the country, gundog would be the best oprtion. I probably wouldn't get many chance to go on shoots but I think I would enjoy the training and so would she.
Good for you. I think gundog training is a great way of having 'fun' training with all dogs. Far better and way more interesting for both you and your dog in my opinon than obediance lessons in a village hall etc. As training is done so using canvas dummies, tennis balls etc, everyone can have a go, even if they don't like shooting, as there is no need to use 'game' if you don't ever intend to Field Trial or work on a Shoot. It taps in to that natural retrieving instinct a lab has, and thus I think holds their attention and willingness to learn much better than anything else I've tried.
Quote:
Lucy is picking up training really quickly and so I would like people's thoughts on whether it is a good idea to do training with the ambition of working towards an award or whether a mix of some gundog training and some 'normal training' would be more suited to her lifestyle?
There is nothing irrelevant to your lifestyle with gundog training. That is because essentially gundog training is about obediance. In gundog work you aim for and expect good heelwork on and off lead, steadiness, excellent recall etc etc - all VERY relevant to the average dog owner, regardless of their lifestyle or where they live. But more than obediance, gundog training is also about teamwork, I think it gives you a deeper understanding of your dog and a deeper bond than many other forms of training. As for Awards you could aim to do Gundog Working Tests - retrieving competitions run using canvas dummies, which expect a high level of obediance as well as excellent retrieving and handling skills by you. There is also the Gundog Club graded Award Scheme.
Quote:
If I do decide to start gundog training, does anyone know of any group or individual gundog classes and/or trials around Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire?
Out of my area but I'm sure someone else on here will
Go for it. You will both love it and never look back
Brilliant, thanks for the advice everyone, I think I'll give it a go then! I have bought a book called 'taking control' which looks really informative so will have a proper look. Lucy has been trained so far with a clicker but I will probably phase that out as she gets treated after she hears the click which wouldn't be good in gundog training from what I have seen!
Anyone know of good trainers/classes/trials in Oxfordshire?
Can't help with trainers unfortunately but have to agree with what others have said.
Especially Fee saying it harnesses the natural behaviour. Most labradors have been carefully bred to have natural gundog traits so starting gundog training from young works with the natural behaviour traits they have - holding, fetching, wanting to be with you, etc, All provides all good basis for whatever else you fancy trying!
I think basic gundog training is actually THE BEST education even for a pet dog! What more do pet owners want than to be able to go for a pleasant walk in the countryside with their dogs, confident that they will not chase after distractions that they encounter and able to walk them to heel off lead if required? That's before you even get into the enjoyment of working together to retrieve dummies, tennis balls or game if you want to go that far...
Bamber is show bred and is not really cut out for serious gundog work (although I think he would be better at it if I had been more knowledgeable as a puppy owner), but we still work on all of the above in our training sessions at home and it contributes to both of our enjoyment of life!
If/when I get another puppy I will definitely start it off using the principles of gundog training whether I am going to have the opportunity to work it or not.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You cannot download files in this forum
Is gundog training worth it?
