Gundog Training Tips

To help you have a successful shooting season we thought we’d share with you some of our best gundog training tips:  1, Always use a proper whistle For precise commands in all weathers and situations, without disturbing game, use a suitable whistle. We stock a good selection of dog whistles here at John Norris. 2, Be consistent The single biggest cause of training failure is not enforcing commands. Let the dog get away with something just once or twice and he will quickly learn that it is OK to disobey commands. 3, Use correct commands Check carefully that you don’t blow “stop” when you mean to blow “come”. It’s surprising how often this can happen, most frequently with verbal commands such as “get on” and “get out”. 4, Keep you dog close Don’t allow your dog go running off into the distance, you will lose your ability to do something about it if things go wrong.  5, Be organized Don’t forget vital equipment, don’t be late, concentrate, these can all be symptomatic of a failure to engage fully with what you and your dog are meant to be doing. 6, Plan ahead Know what you want to achieve, and how you are going to do it, every time you work your gundog.  7, Handling away from the retrieve Don’t take the dog away from one place and make it hunt another when, in fact, you have no proof the retrieve is there. 8, Confusing hunting and searching Hunting for unshot game needs a close, tight pattern within gunshot range; searching for lost, wounded game needs a wider scope. 9, Consider the direction of the wind Game sense is really important; devote time to understanding wind and scent. 10, Use clear messages A continual stream of commands is confusing for both gundog and handler.