The course is aimed at trainers of retrievers for hunting and those shooting over their dogs or entering their dogs in Test and trial Events. It will cover all the main aspects of gundog training and is therefore of value for both the new comer and the advanced trainer.
The course can be tailored to meet the time availability of Participants. Participants are encouraged to bring and work with their own dogs as well as working with Martin and the dogs he has in training.
Course CONTENT
The Course will be flexible to enable important and relevant areas of interest to be covered. Content will cover the following topics.
1. What do we expect from our dogs as a hunter and companion. Building a relationship
2. How do gundogs learn - positive and negative approach including rewards and punishment
3. Bringing up pup - it all starts the moment you get your pup
4. Reading your pup. Getting to know the characteristics and personality of your pup. How it affects training and approach.
5. Encouraging the natural retrieve and improving delivery
6. Encouraging the hunting ability and developing nose
7. Reading your dog in the field and knowing how it works
8. Improving your handler skills - clarity, consistency
9. Developing your communication skills - voice, hands, body, whistle, timing
10. Keeping your dog concentrating on you. Eye contact, alertness, keenness
11. Splitting the mind and creating uncertainty to train what you want
12. Building steadiness to flush, flight and distractions on land and water
13. Improving your dogs ability to mark retrieves
14. How to teach multiple retrieves
15. Keeping it short and sweet
16. Building the complexity
17. Distance control and the stop whistle
18. Developing and using memory retrieves
19. Directional control and handling at a distance.
20. Building situations which simulate hunt days and tests
21. ‘Polishing’ your dog - the training never stops.
During the course, there will be times for discussion and questions and the aim will be to direct and channel the talks and discussions towards the level of the participants attending. In this way it is intended that all attendees will get the maximum benefit from the course and assist each of them with their own individual problems and stage of learning.
