Being a gundog trainer in Norfolk through the lens of Breckland Gundog Training (BGT) means blending calm, structured fieldwork with the county’s natural training advantages — creating dogs that are confident, controlled, and a joy to work. BGT Philosophy: Calm Dogs, Clear Training, Consistent Results At BGT, everything starts with calmness. A dog that can […]
When you see a well‑trained gundog lift a bird smoothly, carry it without fuss and present it with total assurance, you’re witnessing the product of countless small training moments. Hidden behind that polished performance is a tool many handlers overlook: the winged dummy — a standard training dummy enhanced with real game bird wings. It […]
A young spaniel charging towards a thrown dummy may look impressive, but speed is not the same as a finished retrieve. The puppy to picking up journey is about teaching a dog to listen, wait and work with its handler before asking it to carry out more demanding work in the field. For Labradors, Cocker […]
A gundog vanishing over a hedge, blanking the whistle and acting as though your voice doesn’t exist is more than frustrating — it can be genuinely unsafe. When owners ask, why does my gundog run off, the cause is almost never stubbornness. Far more often, instinct, adrenaline or long‑reinforced habits simply overpower whatever training the […]
Lead Manners for Gundog Puppies: Building Calm, Connected Walking A young spaniel powering ahead with its nose glued to the ground, or a Labrador pup zig‑zagging from hedge to hedge, often looks like harmless enthusiasm. But if those habits are left to grow, they quickly turn into a strong adolescent dog towing its owner down […]
Is Residential Gundog Training Worth It? A Clear, Honest Guide A young spaniel that recalls perfectly in the kitchen yet vanishes into scent the moment you step outside doesn’t always need more commands. Often, what he truly needs is clear structure, controlled exposure to distractions, and consistent handling at the exact point where excitement overrides […]
A Practical Socialisation Guide for Gundog Puppies The moment your young dog encounters its first fluttering pheasant wing, clattering trailer or bustling village street, you quickly see whether those early foundations were laid properly. Effective gundog puppy socialisation is not about producing a youngster that barrels confidently into every situation. It is about shaping a […]
Puppy Gundog Training: Why Early Structure Matters A young Labrador that barrels through cover, blanks its name and trots off proudly with a stolen shoe is not being awkward — it is demonstrating exactly why early gundog foundations are essential. The raw instincts appear long before maturity, and so do the behaviours that can either […]
A dog that races out for a dummy but drops it two paces away has not quite finished the retrieve. Learning how to train delivery to hand turns enthusiasm into a useful, controlled skill: one that matters whether you are picking up in the field, training for a working test, or simply want a dog that brings […]
A young spaniel that recalls beautifully in the garden but vanishes into the next cover crop is not being wilfully difficult. He is showing you that his training has not yet held up against the excitement of the countryside. When weighing up board and train vs classes, the right choice comes down to more than convenience. […]
