The Benefits of Gundog Training

So I'm sure you've all heard of gundog training by now. But what is it? And why should you bother with your gundog breed?

It all comes down to breed specific enrichment. I won't go into too much detail for now but essentially Breed Specific Enrichment is all about fulfilling your dogs needs on a genetic level. Looking at what your dog was bred to do and providing training and activities to fulfill these needs.

So that brings us back to gundog training. Gundog breeds are some of the most popular breeds in the UK. Taking up 5 of the top 15 breeds in the UK in 2023, with 3 of those in the top 5 and the other 2 breeds in 6th and 15th place. So with so many of us choosing them, and the working lines of the breeds becoming increasingly popular as pets, what can we do to keep them happy and fulfilled?

Before starting any gundog training, you first need to understand what job your dog was bred to do. Within the gundog category, there are 3 main types: Retrievers, Spaniels and HPRs (Hunt, Point, Retrieve). Each of these types were bred for a specific job. The retrievers were bred to sit beside or behind the guns and retrieve any shot game. Spaniels were bred to hunt in the undergrowth and work in beating lines to seek and flush game, occasionally retrieving. The HPRs were bred to find game, mark their location, flush the game and then retrieve it once shot. Understanding this allows you to target your training to suit their needs.

I'm sure your thinking 'Well I don't want to work my dog on a shoot' or 'I don't want my dog fetching dead birds'! The good news is you never need to work your dog or go anywhere near a dead bird to enjoy gundog training! The majority of our training is done with canvas 'dummies' weighted and sometimes shaped to simulate the weight of a bird. But you can even get started with something as simple as a tennis ball!

Gundog training is all about control and teamwork. Your dog will learn so many vital skills such as recall, steadiness, self control, patience, dog & people neutrality and so much more! You are working as a team to achieve a common goal, whether that is hunting for something or retrieving something. You will discover your bond will become so much stronger and walks will become so much more than just letting your dog run around or chase a ball for hours!

Gundog Training can be as simple or advanced as you want it to be. Whether you simply want some fun games to play on a walk or fancy taking it to the next level and formalising the training. Maybe go on to do some working tests... There's something for everyone and every dog. 

On your walks this could look like just asking your dog to sit and wait while you throw out a ball before retrieving it back to hand. Or maybe hiding a ball or treats in some long grass or cover and asking your dog to go in and hunt for it. This will provide them endless mental stimulation, tiring them both physically and mentally.

I hear a lot of people complaining about how they walk their spaniel for hours every day but they are still misbehaving and hyper when they get back home. This is because, with tiring and stimulating them mentally, their body may become tired but their mind is not. This is when then start to get frustrated and you might see some problem behaviours like being destructive, or whining, maybe being unsettled and pacing in the house. Gundog training allows you to learn a variety of skills and games to make walks fun for you, and enriching for your dog.

If you are keen to take it further than just simple walkies games. Introducing the whistle commands as well as directional work, different retrieve types and more is great fun for your dog and rewarding for you. Your dog will learn to follow your lead and work as a team to achieve in training. You will be able to handle and work your dog at long distances from you, sometimes out of sight or in very distracting environments. All of this leads to a happier and more capable all round dog. The lessons they learn in training link directly back to their everyday life and real world skills.

So does all of this sound great to you? Fancy giving it a try and don't know where to start? Drop us a message or check out our social media pages for regular gundog training tips. We can help get you started or point you in the direction of a local trainer. Don't forget to check out our affiliate page for our partner gundog trainers!

See you on the next one!

Cheers,

Emily & Archer