Do I need one-to-one gundog training if I’m going to group classes?
There are tons of reasons why gundog owners often overlook one-to-one training sessions. But could one-to-ones alongside your group classes be the key to your gundog’s long-term progress?
When we talk to most owners about gundog training, there are a few assumptions that seem to be quite concrete in people’s minds.
The first is that when you get a puppy, you should sign up for puppy training classes. Now, this is something we wholeheartedly agree with.
It’s not only much easier to train a dog that’s had good foundations put in place from 8 weeks old, but the group class format also brings with it the added benefit of socialising your youngster in an appropriate way. Classes give them exposure to other dogs and people, and help them learn how to focus on you even when there are plenty of exciting distractions around.
After puppy training, it is then natural to move up through other group classes. Our puppy class attendees typically continue training in our graduate foundation classes, later moving up to our breed-specific monthly group classes.
But this is where many develop the assumption that group classes are the only format of training they need.
The next assumption is that one-to-one training is only for ‘problem dogs’. It is true that for dogs that don’t cope well in group settings, or for owners who only want to work on something very specific, 121s are the best option.
But it is a myth that private training is reserved only for those who would not normally attend a group session. And this further reinforces the assumption that you either join classes or 121s.
If you started gundog training as a hobby, you might have opted to join classes for the social side of things. Equally, those looking to work their gundog on a shoot or compete in working tests might have chosen a group to ensure their dog gains the ability to work around other dogs and learn skills such as honouring, watching other dogs work, and steadiness.
But it is not an ‘either or’ situation, and by discounting what can be gained from one-to-one training alongside regular group classes or workshops, you might be missing out on opportunities to help your dog progress, especially with their weaker skills.
In this blog, we will look at the benefits of one-to-one training and how private gundog training sessions can be used strategically alongside other group classes and workshops.
Remember: Whether you choose group classes or one-to-one sessions, the most important thing is to find a qualified gundog trainer who uses proven, ethical, and positive reinforcement techniques and makes you and your dog feel comfortable and supported throughout the training process.
The benefits of one-to-one gundog training sessions: working with the dog in front of you, not the whole class
While well-planned gundog group classes should cover everything your dog needs to learn at each level, all dogs are individuals, and sometimes your dog might just need a little extra support and a different approach to help them have a lightbulb moment.
If your labrador is struggling with the stop whistle, your spaniel is having trouble with recall, or your HPR drops the dummy at your feet instead of delivering to hand, then one-to-one gundog training sessions could really make a big impact on your overall long-term training.
During our classes at Clicker Gundog, all our instructors ensure that they spend one-on-one time with each dog and handler to see how they’re getting on and offer support and personal guidance - whether that’s to help the owner with their handling skills or to help the dog work through the exercise.
However, the classes themselves and the planned training are there to cater to all, and if your dog is really struggling with something, there may not always be enough time or the possibility to cover in depth how to fix a broken behaviour or go through what’s happening in your dog’s individual brain.
For instance, there are a wide range of reasons why your gundog might not be delivering the dummy into your hand. In a class, delivery might be covered broadly, with a few different techniques showing how to teach it. Your instructor will be able to offer you some personal advice, such as suggesting changes to your body language (e.g. not leaning over and grabbing the dummy), or they might recommend some methods, such as teaching the clicker retrieve, or using food bowls to repair the “out and back” pattern.
But unless the whole class is experiencing the same thing, it is unlikely that they will have the time to go through these suggestions in detail or show you the methods step by step, and they may also need more time to run through other aspects that impact your dog’s learning such as your click timing or how you reward your dog.
With one-to-one training, however, you and your instructor can zoom in on one area and figure out exactly what’s causing any issues or miscommunication with your dog.
Without disrupting a class, they will be able to really drill down to what your dog is thinking and why they behave the way they do. Then, using this information, they can go through the different strategies with you, step by step, and will give you a customised training plan that will work for the dog you’ve got in front of you - not the whole class.
Not only that, but in a private training session, you will also have an unlimited opportunity to ask questions without worrying that you’re taking up too much class time, as the instructor is just there for you.
In a 121 setting, instructors can also provide immediate feedback and suggest how to improve your handling skills. Equally, if something isn’t right, they can tweak the approach based on your gundog's unique personality and learning style to make sure your dog finally understands what behaviour it is you want from them.
The benefits of one-to-one gundog training sessions: removing distractions to establish solid basic behaviours
Socialisation is essential for our gundogs, especially puppies, and group classes offer an excellent opportunity for them to get used to being around other breeds in a controlled setting.
However, the abundance of distractions in a group setting can sometimes hinder their progress, and if you find classes to be a constant battle to get your dog’s attention, let alone develop their gundog skills, 121s might offer a bit of respite.
Our gundogs are bred for their keen instincts, sharp focus, and desire to hunt, chase, and capture game. But what makes them excel at gundog training can also be their own worst enemy in an energetic group class setting.
For instance, eager high drive dogs love nothing more than to retrieve the dummy. But this can make it incredibly challenging for them to sit patiently and watch others run out to the dummy they want so badly.
While we want our dogs to be steady and honour other dogs that are working near them, we do not want them to struggle or become overly frustrated, as this can cause lots of unwanted behaviours like noise, lunging and then boiling over and losing their heads when it is finally their turn.
During adolescence too, when hormones are peaking, keeping our dogs’ attention on the training can be challenging. Imagine being 18 again and trying to concentrate on your studies when someone attractive invites you to a party that is taking place right outside your window.
Again, in time, we want our gundogs to be able to work in the presence of these distractions, but that is a big ask in the beginning when they are being taught new behaviours and are still learning what we want them to do.
By comparison, one-to-one training sessions can provide a sanctuary from these distractions. Here, it's just you, your dog, and your trainer's undivided attention.
You can then work on teaching your core behaviours so that when you are back in class, your focus switches and you can use the distractions to proof and strengthen your behaviours, instead of trying to battle against them.
Coming back to the example of the high drive dog, you might choose to focus your 121 training sessions on steadiness, arousal management and impulse control so that when you’re back in class, you already have some basics in place which you can build on, instead of trying to teach these skills from scratch when your dog is already struggling and not in the right frame of mind.
How 121 gundog training sessions can be used strategically alongside other group classes and workshops
Life can be hectic, but your gundog training schedule doesn't have to be. If you already have a jam-packed calendar and come to the Clicker Gundog monthly group classes, there are inevitably times when the dates just don’t align with your other commitments. But this shouldn’t mean not training at all for the month.
Equally, if there’s a multi-part workshop you’d like to attend, but you can’t do all the dates, there’s always the ability to catch up with one-to-one sessions, meaning you and your dog don’t miss out altogether.
With one-to-one gundog training sessions, you’re in control when it comes to choosing a time and date in your trainer’s calendar that also works with your schedule, ensuring that training fits into your life, not the other way around.
This approach also gives you more freedom and choice over how often you come to training. For some people, a month flies by too quickly, and it seems you are back at training before you’ve really had a chance to practice your homework. But for many, a month can be too long to wait.
Perhaps you’re usually ready to progress your new behaviours after two weeks, but are not sure what the next steps in the training are. Or maybe you get home and realise there’s information you didn’t take in properly, your notes don’t make sense, or you just don’t feel like you’re training something the right way. A one-to-one training session between your group classes can really make a difference in your progression and keep you on the right track.
Finally, for those with multiple dogs, the one-to-one training approach offers a chance to start working your dogs together.
Unless you got puppies together at the same time, you’ll typically have dogs of different ages, working at different levels and in different classes. If you’re hoping to work them together in the future, as part of a beating or picking up team, you will eventually need to practice working them simultaneously.
If this is your first pair of dogs, it can take a bit of getting used to, and while you will likely want to continue with your individual dog’s group classes, 121s can help you start working them as part of a team and will give you some different skills and exercises to practice at home.
One-to-one gundog training session at Clicker Gundog
At Clicker Gundog, our 121 instructors, Helen Phillips and Lynsey Moss, have decades of experience training and working their dogs in the shooting field, and offer 121 sessions for all gundog breeds.
They are accredited animal training instructors with the Animal Behaviour Training Council (ABTC) and are accredited gundog training instructors with the Gundog Trainer’s Academy (GTA), so you can be confident in the methods they use and that they know how to teach humans as well as train dogs.
Helen, our head trainer, is available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. To book a one-to-one with Helen, you can view her online calendar here: https://clickergundog.co.uk/products/in-person-121-with-helen
Lynsey is available on Mondays, Fridays and some Thursdays. To book a one-to-one with Lynsey, you can view her online calendar here:
https://clickergundog.co.uk/products/in-person-121-with-lynsey