Puppy, Beginner and Pet Gundog Monthly (All breeds, all ages)

Our Puppy, Beginner and Pet Gundog training classes are suitable for all breeds and all ages (including puppies), with no previous training experience needed.

The classes are designed for any owner, whether this is your umpteenth dog, or if you’re a complete beginner who has never done any gundog or dog training before.

Open to all breeds of gundog, plus any crossbreeds or other breeds that have a desire for retrieving and hunting, the Beginner and Pet Gundog classes cover all the behaviours you need to have a happy, fulfilled pet gundog and an excellent foundation to progress further should you want to continue the hobby, enter working tests or work your dog on a shoot.

Our Puppy, Beginner and Pet Gundog classes are the best place to start your gundog training.

Led by Helen and Harriett, they are suitable for...

• Puppies who have had their vaccinations.
• Young and older dogs with no experience of gundog work.
• All breeds of gundog, plus any crossbreeds or other breeds that have a desire for retrieving and hunting.
  
• Pet gundogs whose owners feel they would benefit from gundog work and also who wish to be able to take their gundogs out safely and off lead in the countryside.
  
• Anyone who is a complete beginner and has not done any gundog or dog training before.
• Handlers with experience of gundog work but without any clicker training experience.
• Handlers with experience of clicker training but without any gundog experience.
  
• Those wishing to work towards The Gundog Club Grade 1 and/or Grade 2.
  
• Those looking to eventually work their gundog on a shoot (beating and picking up).
• Those looking to compete in Puppy and/or Novice Dog/Novice Handler working tests.

Our Puppy, Beginner and Pet Gundog training classes are held monthly at the Clicker Gundog Training Centre in Charlton, near Evesham, Worcestershire.

Our monthly sessions give you and your dog plenty of time to practice what you have learned in between classes. The sessions are 3 hours long, so there is plenty covered.

On booking you can choose whether you attend the 9am or 1pm slot. Both classes cover the same topics. Group numbers are limited to 15 dogs and handlers, accompanied by two instructors, Helen, our head trainer, and Harriett. If one session is full on the date you'd like to attend, please book the available time slot even if you do not "normally" come at that time.

There will be breaks for the dogs during which handlers can talk through other training issues they may be having. This is not limited to gundog work and can include common puppy and pet dog training problems.

This is a rolling course, with no set start or end date. Each month, the tasks will be set to the ability of the dogs and handlers in attendance. When you and your dog are ready, Helen will invite you to move up to the Graduate Foundation or our breed-specific group classes.

Using a series of fun, force-free, reward-based games and exercises, the Puppy, Beginner and Pet Gundog classes will show you how to train behaviours such as…

• Reliable recall
• Walking your gundog in a countryside environment
• How to settle in the countryside
• Loose lead walking and heelwork
• Sit, stay, wait
• The basic retrieve pattern
  
• Basic hunting patterns
  
• Introduction to the stop whistle
• Introduction to steadiness and understanding how to manage impulsivity and build self control
• How to swim confidently and recall from water
• Plus much more