Gun Dog

Many of the best loved pet dog breeds were traditionally developed to help man in hunting including Labradors, Spaniels and Setters.

For competition purposes breeds of gun dog fall into 4 categories:

• Retrievers and Irish Water Spaniels.
• Spaniels other than Irish Water Spaniels
• Pointers and Setters
• Breeds which Hunt, Point and Retrieve (HPR)

However you do not have to own one of these breeds to enjoy training your dog in the various aspects of gun dog training.

Most dogs can learn to retrieve (even from water), find game or a dummy, and work on a whistle.

Instructor for the 2008 Activity Weekend is Debs Sutton

Debs was given her first gundog to train at the age of 8. Since then, other than a short time living abroad, she has rarely been without at least one gun dog. She now runs 8 classes a week concentrating mainly on pet gundogs and owners who have no wish for a days shooting but enjoy teaching the dog to use its brain and do the job it was bred for.

This day is aimed at people who have little or no knowledge of gundog work.

It is to give a ‘taster’ to the world of gundog training.

All breeds are welcome.

To take part dogs need to have a good recall and be able to retrieve back to the handler.

Exercises covered will be:

• Marked retrieve
• Blind retrieve
• Water retrieve
• Memory
• Hand signals
• Working on the whistle

Participants will need to bring a flat collar and lead, food treats, toys.

Place will be restricted to 12 handlers and dogs.