Wednesday 25 May 2011
Friday 6 May 2011
Gundog Training or Practising ?
Having just returned from a skiing holiday in France, I was enjoying each day on the mountain with the fresh, cold air and adrenaline infusions, as my friends and I pushed each other to do better.
I used the mantra (sometimes it doubled as an excuse): "if you're not falling, you're not skiing hard enough."
The same might be said of training your gundog: if you're not making adjustments, corrections or changes to your gundog's performance, you might not be training hard enough. You might just be practicing!
Now, I say might because with gundogs it's very subjective and depends upon what you've already done with the gundog.
If you haven't taught the gundog what you expect and then suddenly throw them into a scenario that they have to figure out by trial and error, then corrections, be them verbal, physical, are woefully unfair.
However, if you've gone through the teaching phase, the gundog understands what you're doing and what's expected, then pushing him to do better by challenging him mentally and giving him every opportunity to make the correct decisions is training the gundog.
If you're simply running drills over and over or keep repeating the same scenarios in the same area, then the gundog begins to read the exercise and can react accordingly.
So many people don't train, they just practice. They just go through the motions and the gundog isn't really working or having to try.
Now, practicing can have its benefits. It's great for building a dog's confidence and momentum, as well as re-establishing the basics, but repeating the same scenario or drill over and over in the same place doesn't train the gundog to react accordingly in the future in a new setting.
When people train in the same place, the dog begins to pick up on cues and anticipates what's going to happen. You need to get the gundog out of its comfort zone a little bit and challenge it, or else you're just practicing and not training.
You can push a gundog by changing locations or making a known drill/scenario more challenging by increasing the complexity, distractions, number of dummies, topography or getting out in the rain and windy conditions (after all, shooting rarely takes place during ideal conditions).
I suspect we are all guilty of lazy training (especially after the shooting season).
If you feel you need to be pushed then get booked in with workinggundogs
I used the mantra (sometimes it doubled as an excuse): "if you're not falling, you're not skiing hard enough."The same might be said of training your gundog: if you're not making adjustments, corrections or changes to your gundog's performance, you might not be training hard enough. You might just be practicing!
Now, I say might because with gundogs it's very subjective and depends upon what you've already done with the gundog.
If you haven't taught the gundog what you expect and then suddenly throw them into a scenario that they have to figure out by trial and error, then corrections, be them verbal, physical, are woefully unfair.
However, if you've gone through the teaching phase, the gundog understands what you're doing and what's expected, then pushing him to do better by challenging him mentally and giving him every opportunity to make the correct decisions is training the gundog.
If you're simply running drills over and over or keep repeating the same scenarios in the same area, then the gundog begins to read the exercise and can react accordingly.
So many people don't train, they just practice. They just go through the motions and the gundog isn't really working or having to try.
Now, practicing can have its benefits. It's great for building a dog's confidence and momentum, as well as re-establishing the basics, but repeating the same scenario or drill over and over in the same place doesn't train the gundog to react accordingly in the future in a new setting.
When people train in the same place, the dog begins to pick up on cues and anticipates what's going to happen. You need to get the gundog out of its comfort zone a little bit and challenge it, or else you're just practicing and not training.
You can push a gundog by changing locations or making a known drill/scenario more challenging by increasing the complexity, distractions, number of dummies, topography or getting out in the rain and windy conditions (after all, shooting rarely takes place during ideal conditions).
I suspect we are all guilty of lazy training (especially after the shooting season).
If you feel you need to be pushed then get booked in with workinggundogs
Thursday 5 May 2011
Retriever Championship Jimmy Swindlehurst
Winning the Retriever Championship is the top accolade for any gundog handler or retriever breeder and is a major focal point for all retriever field trialing enthusiasts during the shooting season.
Although the field trialing community is a very small part of United Kingdom gundog activity, the Retriever Championship has a major influence on the bloodlines used, some would say too much! but we will leave that discussion for another day.
Like most sports in today's world, winners need a dedication and focus, which consumes the majority of activity in ones life and the gundog world is no different. "A top class retriever requires a top class driver, if you are to succeed in field trials"
Read more for stud details
Although the field trialing community is a very small part of United Kingdom gundog activity, the Retriever Championship has a major influence on the bloodlines used, some would say too much! but we will leave that discussion for another day.
Like most sports in today's world, winners need a dedication and focus, which consumes the majority of activity in ones life and the gundog world is no different. "A top class retriever requires a top class driver, if you are to succeed in field trials"
Read more for stud details
Wednesday 4 May 2011
The Sporting Dog Group
The Sporting Dog Group
The first 2 categories of dog divisions were the Sporting and Non-Sporting groups. Today, there are many more, yet the Sporting Group still remains. The Sporting Group contains the dogs who accompany their hunter-owners into the field. They are made to find birds and other game. They then point to the position of the bird or small animal, freezing in place. Alternative, a sporting dog will flush the creature out from the brush. The owner fires a shot, shoots an arrow or uses some means to wound or kill the prey. The Sporting dog then retrieves the creature from wherever it has fallen - water, land or swamp.
Characteristics
Overall, the size, shape and color vary in this group. They are not identical clones. Physically there is a variation of coat types, colors and physical attributes. Mentally and in terms of demands, however, the Sporting group has certain important commonalities.
- They are very active dogs. While you may never wish to hunt with them, you will need to make sure they are exercised thoroughly. Sporting canines require plenty of vigorous exercise to keep them relaxed, happy, content and tired out.
- Their energy level, if not the size of the larger animals, prohibits their living with you in a small apartment.
- They are great companions.
- Sporting dogs can be sociable and good-natured companions if you take the time to train them.
- Many of the breeds are high-maintenance. This does not apply only to exercise but to grooming requirements.
Breed-Associated Health Problems And Other Issues
There are a number of health problems associated with the Sporting Group of dogs. It does not mean your good sport will be affected. It does, however, mean you should check into the background of a sporting dog. Be sure to talk to breeders and vets about any possible health issues that may affect your dog of dog-to-be.
- Dysplasia - This is common among several breeds in the Sporting Group. Dysplasia affects both the hip and the elbows of this category of canine.
- Hypothyroidism - This means the dog’s thyroid does not produce enough hormones. It is easily corrected through the right medication. Prone to this particular problem are Golden Retrievers.
- Eye Problems - Many sporting dogs have eye problems later in life. Cocker Spaniels are affected by this.
- High energy - This is great if you are afflicted with the same nature. It may not be so great if you are a couch potato or only suffer fits of exercise mania. The excess of energy may also make it hard on the toddler and small child set.
Grooming Needs
The members of the Sporting Group require grooming. Some dogs need it more than others. Some, such as Labrador Retrievers, require only a weekly brushing. The Golden sheds more. If you want to keep this under control, you will have to brush it more than once a week.
High maintenance in grooming belongs to the Spaniels, and a few Setters of this group. Their coats demand frequent brushing and trimming. If you fail to meet the requirements, your dog will not look at its best. It may also be uncomfortable.
Specific Breeds of Sporting Dogs
You can find dogs weighing from 20 to 60 pounds in the Sporting Group.
Among the members of this breed, you will find the following breed of dogs:
- German Shorthaired Pointer
- Curly-coated Retriever
- Golden Labrador Retriever
- Labrador Retriever
- Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
- Gordon Setter
- Irish Setter
- English Cocker Spaniel
- Brittany Spaniel
- VizlaInformation provided by Joe Hendrix of Oh My Dog Supplies, where you can find a extraordinary collection of raised dog bowls online.
The first 2 categories of dog divisions were the Sporting and Non-Sporting groups. Today, there are many more, yet the Sporting Group still remains. The Sporting Group contains the dogs who accompany their hunter-owners into the field. They are made to find birds and other game. They then point to the position of the bird or small animal, freezing in place. Alternative, a sporting dog will flush the creature out from the brush. The owner fires a shot, shoots an arrow or uses some means to wound or kill the prey. The Sporting dog then retrieves the creature from wherever it has fallen - water, land or swamp.
Characteristics
Overall, the size, shape and color vary in this group. They are not identical clones. Physically there is a variation of coat types, colors and physical attributes. Mentally and in terms of demands, however, the Sporting group has certain important commonalities.
- They are very active dogs. While you may never wish to hunt with them, you will need to make sure they are exercised thoroughly. Sporting canines require plenty of vigorous exercise to keep them relaxed, happy, content and tired out.
- Their energy level, if not the size of the larger animals, prohibits their living with you in a small apartment.
- They are great companions.
- Sporting dogs can be sociable and good-natured companions if you take the time to train them.
- Many of the breeds are high-maintenance. This does not apply only to exercise but to grooming requirements.
Breed-Associated Health Problems And Other Issues
There are a number of health problems associated with the Sporting Group of dogs. It does not mean your good sport will be affected. It does, however, mean you should check into the background of a sporting dog. Be sure to talk to breeders and vets about any possible health issues that may affect your dog of dog-to-be.
- Dysplasia - This is common among several breeds in the Sporting Group. Dysplasia affects both the hip and the elbows of this category of canine.
- Hypothyroidism - This means the dog’s thyroid does not produce enough hormones. It is easily corrected through the right medication. Prone to this particular problem are Golden Retrievers.
- Eye Problems - Many sporting dogs have eye problems later in life. Cocker Spaniels are affected by this.
- High energy - This is great if you are afflicted with the same nature. It may not be so great if you are a couch potato or only suffer fits of exercise mania. The excess of energy may also make it hard on the toddler and small child set.
Grooming Needs
The members of the Sporting Group require grooming. Some dogs need it more than others. Some, such as Labrador Retrievers, require only a weekly brushing. The Golden sheds more. If you want to keep this under control, you will have to brush it more than once a week.
High maintenance in grooming belongs to the Spaniels, and a few Setters of this group. Their coats demand frequent brushing and trimming. If you fail to meet the requirements, your dog will not look at its best. It may also be uncomfortable.
Specific Breeds of Sporting Dogs
You can find dogs weighing from 20 to 60 pounds in the Sporting Group.
Among the members of this breed, you will find the following breed of dogs:
- German Shorthaired Pointer
- Curly-coated Retriever
- Golden Labrador Retriever
- Labrador Retriever
- Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
- Gordon Setter
- Irish Setter
- English Cocker Spaniel
- Brittany Spaniel
- VizlaInformation provided by Joe Hendrix of Oh My Dog Supplies, where you can find a extraordinary collection of raised dog bowls online.
The Kennel Club KCAI Scheme
The Chairman of The Kennel Club Accredited Instruction Board Mr. Paul Rawlings published a recent article in the kennel Club Field Trials Newsletter with the aim of encouraging field trial trainers to join the KCAI.
The scheme provides membership of a training program, leading to a national qualification in dog training and canine behavior.
Although the scheme purports to have over 600 members and has been running for 10 years it only has 5 members who are accredited with the status of advance trainers for working gundogs, the chairman himself who is also an independent professional gundog trainer is one of these, so the current scheme has only generated 4 qualified instructors over this time ~ hardly a scheme of major success !
This will come as no surprise to those critical of the kennel club’s administration, some people believe the kennel club has always moved too slowly and any help offered always comes at a price and interference, which strengthens the kennel club’s power in the dog world.
If you exclude the Chairman the other four accredited working gundog trainers, Tania Stapley (Roytan), Eileen Ayling (meadowmill), Mary Ward (Parsifal), Anthea Lawrence (Courtridge) have all qualified as working gundog trainers but not one of them is listed as a kennel club field trial judge, which may be an interesting observation to some.
It is also worth mentioning that none of the kennel club accredited trainers appear to be running kennel club training days, this privilege is reserved to kennel Club field trial Judges ? May be the kennel club believe a field trial judge is a better gundog trainer?
Working Gundog trainer Stewart North joined the scheme 2 years ago and allowed the membership to lapse, as he did not consider it to be of a major benefit, when we first established workinggundogs in 2007, we looked at joining a number of national organisations thinking this would add some benefit to our business?, the only thing they added was an expense!
Our trainer remembers speaking one evening to a course administrator of yet another national organisation (not the KC) purporting to offer some recognised status for dog training, we enquired about the course syllabus and the cost was going to be £900 for the week, and before the conversation finished our trainer was being asked for advice on a particular gundog problem from the person who was about to run the course! (For those cynical readers, the question was not to test our trainers knowledge?), he genuinely did not have a clue, we decided the qualification was not worth the cost!
Looking back when we decided to join the KCAI scheme, after paying registration fees a package of paperwork arrived, well talk about being buried in paperwork, it’s no wonder they only have 4 accredited trainers!
Our trainer is usually pretty good with paperwork, but with 40 gundogs coming in for training each week, we seriously questioned if it was necessary.
We believed that such a scheme would open other opportunities and give us a broader knowledge of the training world, but we were put off by the process!
Fortunately our business has not suffered as a result, which goes to show if you put too much reliance on qualifications, you will have no time to run a business!
Our success as gundog trainers is built on results, by helping people not only to control their gundogs, but more importantly helping them to understand why their gundogs behave in a certain way.
Our clients are the best source of future business; we work on the basis of keeping 90% happy by attaining some structured development, which is independently verified.
We have found that trying to keep every client happy, appeases a pet mentality, who do not wish to maintain a hunting instinct, which they have unwhittingly purchased!
Our advice to the Kennel Club would be to put more resources into supporting those on the register and refrain from seeking further membership, or risk being seen as another revenue generating project!
The kennel club gave a prompt response after reading the above article:
Tuesday 3 May 2011
The Uk's leading Gundog web sites covering training, breeding, food and events
workinggundogs.co.uk is continuing to build its web presence and has achieved another record of being ranked it the top 1 million web sites registered on the world wide web, to add some prospective to this achievement in 2009 we were ranked in the top 5 million.
workinggundogs.co.uk is now also listed on the top UK index which contains 200,000 websites and is now listed 33,353.
In just over 2 years http://workinggundogs.co.uk has become one of the Uk’s leading websites covering information and advice on all things gundogs, in particular gundog training, it all started in February 2009, with the creation of the web site by author Stewart North.
The web site has been evolving ever since initially with a few hundred visitors and now has an average over 7000 visitors per month with very high pageviews/user and time on site/user ratios.
The web site has not only grown with new visitors, it now has a regular following of repeat users and has established a position on the web, which would be enviable by some of the major publishers and product providers.
All this has be achieved without sponsors and advertisers, which so often can be seen to clutter other web sites, we have also achieved top search engine rankings without paid advertising, proving that small business can generate a profile, which previous was only available to larger businesses.
We again thank our customers for their valued support.
All information in this blog can be verified at Alexa.com the worlds leading web information company.
workinggundogs.co.uk is now also listed on the top UK index which contains 200,000 websites and is now listed 33,353.
In just over 2 years http://workinggundogs.co.uk has become one of the Uk’s leading websites covering information and advice on all things gundogs, in particular gundog training, it all started in February 2009, with the creation of the web site by author Stewart North.
The web site has been evolving ever since initially with a few hundred visitors and now has an average over 7000 visitors per month with very high pageviews/user and time on site/user ratios.
The web site has not only grown with new visitors, it now has a regular following of repeat users and has established a position on the web, which would be enviable by some of the major publishers and product providers.
All this has be achieved without sponsors and advertisers, which so often can be seen to clutter other web sites, we have also achieved top search engine rankings without paid advertising, proving that small business can generate a profile, which previous was only available to larger businesses.
We again thank our customers for their valued support.
All information in this blog can be verified at Alexa.com the worlds leading web information company.
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