Gundog in the Real World

6‑Hour Training Day – Stanford Training Area, Norfolk

Train your dog on one of the most challenging and rewarding landscapes in the County

The Stanford Training Area (STANTA) offers a rare opportunity: vast open heath, rolling banks, woodland blocks, firebreaks, tracks and dense cover—all in one place. It’s the perfect environment to expose weaknesses, build confidence and develop a truly reliable gundog.

This full‑day programme is designed for handlers who want real progress, not another hour in a flat village field. Across six structured hours, you and your dog will work through obedience, steadiness, handling and real‑world retrieving in terrain that demands clarity, control and teamwork.

Price: £65 per handler Group size: Maximum of 8 handlers

What this day is for

• Working gundogs in development, Dogs preparing for the coming season who need exposure to real ground.
• Experienced dogs needing sharpening to improve steadiness, handling, confidence, and control.
• Serious pet gundogs For owners who want field‑level obedience and reliability, even if the dog never works.
• Handlers who want direct, practical coaching No fluff. No vague advice. Clear instruction and real results.

What you and your dog will work on

• Obedience under pressure — Heelwork, recall, stop‑whistle and boundary work on uneven, distracting terrain.
• Steadiness around movement — Walk‑ups, distractions, delayed retrieves and honouring.
• Directional handling — Left, right and back casts, straight lines, memories and blinds.
• Real‑world retrieving in cover — Hunting, marked retrieves, blind retrieves and working across scent pools.
• Advanced combination drills — Two‑part retrieves, long blinds, cross‑track work and a final steadiness test.

Every exercise is scaled to your dog’s level—no over‑facing, no coasting.

The day at a glance

08:45 – Arrival & briefing Safety, terrain, wind, scent, individual goals.

09:00–10:00 – Obedience under pressure Heelwork, stop‑whistle, recall, place/boundary work.

10:00–11:00 – Steadiness & movement Walk‑ups, distractions, delayed retrieves, honouring.

11:00–12:00 – Directional handling Lines, memories, blinds, casting on rolling ground.

12:00–12:30 – Lunch & Q&A Short break, troubleshooting, planning the afternoon.

12:30–13:45 – Real‑world retrieves in cover Hunting, marked and blind retrieves in scrub and woodland.

13:45–15:00 – Advanced combination drills Complex retrieves, long blinds, cross‑track work, final steadiness test.

What you’ll leave with

• A dog that is calmer, more controllable and more responsive
• A stronger stop‑whistle and better obedience under distraction
• Cleaner handling at distance
• A dog that has worked real terrain, not just a flat field
• Clear progression steps for your next phase of training

Requirements & what to bring

• Group size: Maximum 8 handlers
• Dog level: Basic obedience required (sit, recall, some heelwork)
• Bring: Lead, whistle, suitable clothing, water for your dog, rewards if used
• Provided: Dummies and all training equipment
• Location: Stanford Training Area, Norfolk (full joining instructions on booking)

Price & booking

Handler only spaces (No Spectators)

Booking is essential — group size is capped at 8 to ensure meaningful coaching time.

Book your training day now and give your dog the experience—and the education—that only real terrain can provide.