Foundation GAP Level 1 Evening Classes (All breeds)

Come along and get to understand what makes your dog tick. Get to know their desires and motivations, have fun together and build the foundation skills needed to work towards Gundog Assessment Programme (GAP) Level 1.

Our Foundation GAP Level 1 evening classes, led by Leanne, are suitable for…

• All breeds of dog, including crossbreeds, that have a desire for retrieving and hunting and are aged 6 months and over.
• Anyone who is a complete beginner and has not done any gundog training before.
• Handlers with experience of gundog work but without any clicker training experience.
• Those looking to eventually work their gundog on a shoot, whether beating or picking up.
• Pet gundog owners who want to train for fun and give their dogs a rewarding outlet for their natural instincts.
• Owners who would like to build the connection and skills that help their dogs enjoy more freedom safely in the countryside.
• Those looking to work towards GAP Level 1.

Our Foundation GAP Level 1 evening classes are held weekly.

Our classes will be held on Wednesday or Thursday evenings from 6pm to 8pm (see dates above). The course is made up of six classes. For those interested, there will be an additional and optional GAP Level 1 assessment after the course.

Each week, the tasks will build on the previous session. To get the most from the course, you will need to attend all classes and practise between sessions. The January class will be held in the barn and group numbers are limited to six dogs and handlers. The May class will be held outside and group numbers are limited to eight dogs and handlers.

The Foundation GAP Level 1 evening classes will work towards the Gundog Assessment Programme Level 1 which includes…

• Exploring while staying connected. Building towards a one- to two-minute ‘bumble’, where your dog explores the environment while maintaining a connection with you.
• Whistle recall. Teaching your dog to return from the bumble while engaged with the environment.
• Heelwork on lead. Working towards a 30m route around three marker posts.
• Sit on a verbal cue. Developing a response to your verbal sit cue.
• Stay or wait. Teaching your dog to remain in place after the lead is removed while you walk away to place a memory retrieve.
• Basic memory retrieve. Building towards sending your dog to a dummy they have watched you place and returning it to within 1m of you.
• Settling. Replacing the lead and helping your dog remain relaxed for 30 seconds while you disengage.
• Stop whistle. Developing one trained response to the stop whistle.
• Marked retrieves onto open ground. Working towards retrieving a dummy your dog has seen thrown at a distance of 30m to 40m.
• Marked retrieves into light cover. Working towards a retrieve at a distance of 20m to 30m.

Throughout the course, we will focus on clear communication, rewarding the behaviours you want and helping your dog learn to manage excitement.

Every partnership progresses at its own pace. The course will help you prepare for GAP Level 1, with the optional assessment providing an opportunity to demonstrate your skills when you and your dog are ready. 

You’ll still benefit from the course if you don’t want to take GAP assessments, the framework simply provides a clear way to structure your training and build your dog’s skills step by step.