BGT’s 6-week Introduction To Gundog Training Course

Breckland Gundog Training’s complete 6-week introduction to gundog training course aims to lay the foundations for your gundog’s training. It focuses on developing fundamental skills, obedience, and building a strong bond between you and your dog. 

Here’s a week-by-week outline of the course:

Week 1:

• Introduction and Bonding: Establish a strong bond with your gundog through play and praise.
• Basic Obedience: Begin teaching essential commands like sit,  come, and heel.
• Introduction of whistle commands and why we use them.

Week 2:

• Introduction to Retrieving: Introduce retrieving games with dummies in a controlled environment.
• Focus on Recall: Reinforce the “come” command and practice recall exercises off-leash.

Week 3:

• Marked Retrieves: Teach your gundog to retrieve objects they’ve seen fall (marked retrieves) at varying distances.
• Split Marked Retrieves.

Week 4:

• Memory Retrieves: Teach your gundog to retrieve objects they’ve seen fall but are delayed in being sent, at varying distances.

Week 5:

• Heelwork: Work on loose-leash walking and proper heel position during walks and retrieves.

Week 6:

• Directional Commands: Teach basic directional cues like “back”, “left,” and “right.”
• Handling Drills: Combine directional commands with retrieves to enhance your dog’s ability to follow hand signals.
  
• Summary and Q&A

Throughout the training program, remember to:

• Keep training sessions short and enjoyable to maintain your dog’s enthusiasm.
• Use positive reinforcement techniques, such as treats, praise, and play, to motivate and reward your gundog.
• Gradually increase the difficulty and complexity of exercises as your gundog becomes more proficient.
• Be patient and consistent in your training approach, recognizing that all dogs learn at their own pace.
• After completing the Introduction to Gundog training course, your dog should have a solid foundation in obedience, retrieving, and directional commands. They should also be comfortable around gunshots and be ready to progress to more advanced gundog training tasks and real-life hunting scenarios.

What Next ? 

Once you have completed our 6 Week Introduction to Gundog Training you can further your training / work on your weaker areas through 121’s or group classes.