Gundog Training
Gundog Training is often met by people who have never experienced this type of training with mixed feelings. Many assume that it is training specifically for dogs to go into the shooting field & will involve killing birds or dead warm or frozen game. Although this is its purpose its also far from the truth.
Gundog Training is a fabulous way to keep your Weimaraner or Cocker Spaniel stimulated both mentally & physically. In majority training involves a variety of dummies from small puppy dummies ideal for little mouths with reduced weights to the 1lb dummy which the majority of us use. If you progress you will invest I am sure in the Dokken dummy that you can see Bonnie carrying in the photo above.
This type of training creates a bond, true team work & you can compete if you want to around the country in the Gundog Working Tests held throughout the closed shooting season. Classes range from Special Beginners which is aimed at first timers where tuition is given during the competition and is a taster session for those who are curious to the highly prized open classes where you will see the dogs really put through their paces. The majority of us start off with puppy training at one of the many classes held up and down the country by one of the many gundog breed clubs. Details of some of these classes can be found on any of the Club Websites or via the Kennel Club who have a list of groups available.
Gundog Training of this type gives you a real opportunity to train your dog with like minded people so that they are given a chance to socialise within a class environment in the countryside rather than in a hall environment provided by your average puppy obedience class. It will teach your dog all the basics like sit, stay, fetch, find, retrieve & how to work ground with its nose (can be very useful when you lose your keys on a walk!) but it will also teach you important methods of control like the all important EMERGENCY STOP and whistle control which for any breed with a hunting nose can be very useful as they disappear off into the distance chasing after the local jogger or cyclist.
One of the many benefits of this type of training is that the dogs are given that all important mental stimulation that will make them a lot easier to live with, less destructive & in the long run less likely to end up in rescue if things go wrong. To get a good dog you have to invest in training and gundog breeds are definitely in need of a job. The Weimaraner matures in nature around age 3 & will require continual training throughout their lives for their intelligent brain will always ask 'WHY?',
