http://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/

Teach Your Gundog, Haslemere (2025)

05/07/2025

There’s a reason we keep our group sizes small at Teach Your Gundog. It's because it gets better results for everyone.

Smaller classes mean shorter waits between turns, which keeps your dog engaged and your training momentum going. Less hanging around also means less frustration or chance for distraction, so your dog stays focused and you don't have to manage them as intensely.

It’s not just about the dogs either. Smaller groups come with plenty of benefits for you too. With less people to keep an eye on Jules can give each handler more attention. She spots what’s going wrong quickly and helps you fix it before it starts becoming a pattern or accidentally rewarded behaviour. She’s right there to guide your clicker timing, adjust your handling, or explain why something isn’t working for your dog.

No one gets overlooked and when there’s space to ask questions without feeling rushed, owners tend to relax more. And that’s when learning really happens.

Some dogs get overwhelmed in busy settings and some handlers do too. So we keep numbers low on purpose, to make training calmer, clearer, and more enjoyable for everyone.

If you’re looking for small gundog training classes where you and your dog will be seen, supported and set up for success, get in touch via DM or email [email protected] and we'll let you know which group is the best fit for you and your dog.

Otherwise, you can browse all our classes and workshops at https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/collections/all

📸 Alice Loder Photography

03/07/2025

This is a difficult question to answer because all our gundogs are different, and your home and training locations will vary enormously.

If you got your puppy from an experienced gundog breeder, it is very likely that they will have started the process for you and already introduced the sound of shot to the litter before you bring your puppy home.

Many breeders will have begun exposing puppies to loud noises, like clanging food bowls, and bangs at a distance, while the pups were happily feeding or playing.
At that young age, the noise will be meaningless, and the puppies should have a positive emotional response to the sound because they are doing something enjoyable at the time.

Other dogs around at the time, littermates and their mother, would not have reacted adversely, and the mother or older dogs around might even have seemed somewhat excited by the sound, so the puppy learns that this noise is nothing to be concerned about.

Once you get your puppy home, you will have a few weeks available to introduce them to the world and life in general.

As part of that socialisation period, you can take the opportunity to gradually expose your puppy to the sound of shot and loud bangs.

This is about habituation at this stage, not conditioning, so the sound should happen at a distance and start at a very low volume while the puppy is eating or engaged in play.

When your puppy reaches approximately sixteen weeks (around the time they lose their puppy teeth) and on through the early part of adolescence (approximately a year, but this is very much dictated by individual dogs), you are advised not to introduce shot at all.

There are many other biological, physiological, and psychological processes taking place in your dog during this time, and there is a far greater risk of an unpleasant emotional response occurring in connection to shot.

If this is your first gundog, you might not have known to introduce them to the sound of shot when they were a puppy. Equally, if they came from a non-working, pet gundog breeder, they might not have been introduced to loud noises and bangs when they were very young puppies either.

Provided they’re not in that delicate adolescent stage, the process for introducing older dogs to shot is the same.

To replicate the safe feeling puppies have when they are with their litter, you might also consider enlisting help from friends with dogs who are happy around the sound of shot when introducing the sound.

Want to learn more about introducing your gundog to shot? Head to: https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/blogs/news/introduction-to-shot-the-one-stage-of-training-you-need-to-get-right-the-first-time

01/07/2025

Here's what's coming up at Teach Your Gundog in July, August and September...

PUPPY GUNDOG
All breeds under 8 months. No experience required. Saturdays, 09:30-10:30, Haslemere
• 5 July
• 26 July
• 9 August
• 23 August
• 6 September
• 27 September

FOUNDATION GUNDOG
All breeds over 8 months. No experience required.
Wednesdays, 12:00-13:00, Haslemere
• 2 July
• 23 July
• 6 August
• 27 August
• 10 September
• 24 September

Saturdays, 10:45-11:45, Haslemere
• 5 July
• 26 July
• 9 August
• 23 August
• 6 September
• 27 September

PROGRESSIVE BEGINNER
For all breeds that have graduated the puppy/foundation/beginner classes and are working at a Grade 2 and 3 level.
Fridays, variable location and time
• 11 July
• 25 July

Saturdays, 11:45-12:45, Haslemere
• 5 July
• 26 July

PROGRESSIVE GUNDOG
For all breeds that are working at Grade 3 and 4 level.
Wednesdays, 10:00-11:30, Haslemere
• 2 July
• 23 July
• 6 August
• 27 August
• 10 September
• 24 September

[NEW] Fridays, 10:00-11:30, Haslemere
• 8 August
• 29 August
• 26 September

MONTHLY ADVANCED RETRIEVER
Open to retriever breeds working at Grade 4 and 5 level.
Fridays, 09:30-11:00, Loxwood
• 13 June
• 11 July

MONTHLY ADVANCED SPANIEL
Open to spaniels working at Grade 4 and 5 level.
Fridays, 12:30-14:00, Loxwood
• 13 June
• 11 July

MONTHLY ADVANCED GUNDOG
Open to all breeds working at Grade 4 and 5 level.
Fridays, 09:30-11:00, Loxwood
• 15 August
• 12 September

BEGINNER WATER WORKSHOPS
Open to all breeds, looking at retrieving from water.
Saturdays, 09:30-11:00, Oakhurst Pond, Loxwood
• 16 August
• 13 September

PROGRESSIVE WATER WORKSHOPS
Open to all breeds, looking at progressing water retrieves.
Saturdays, 12:00-14:00, Oakhurst Pond, Loxwood
• 16 August
• 13 September

Can't make any of the dates? Or want to focus on something specific? You can also book one to one sessions with Jules on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

For booking and more information head to https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/collections/all

29/06/2025

While you might assume that your gundog is not going to be gun-shy, planning to throw them in at the deep end is a big risk to take. To explore this, we need to understand a bit of training theory.

Unless you live next to a clay shooting ground, where your dog can gradually become “habituated” to the sounds of gunfire so that it is background noise and irrelevant, you will need to proactively introduce them to the noise.

When introducing our dogs to the sound of shot, we are aiming to “condition” them so that they know that the sound is relevant and will make a positive association with it when they hear it in the future.

Eventually, we want them to know that shot means “look towards the sound” as there might be a dummy or bird landing which needs to be marked in preparation for retrieving. It may also mean “stop hunting and stand still” until the handler cues the continuation of hunting or to retrieve.

When this introduction is done wrong, or without consideration because you are just trying to wing it, it is possible to accidentally “sensitise” the dog to the sound of shot which means they become reactive to the noise and it results in an emotional state of anxiety, fear, or phobia.

If you get it wrong and your dog becomes “gun shy” or “gun nervous”, e.g. anxious and fearful of the sound, then it is possible in some cases to use behaviour modification techniques called “desensitisation” to try and undo the damage.

This involves gradually increasing the level of exposure to the sound over a great deal of time and is usually used in tandem with “counter-conditioning” another behaviour modification which aims to gradually change the dog’s emotional response to the stimulus of the shot.

But this requires a considerable amount of commitment and work, along with the intervention of a very experienced trainer or behaviourist.

And so from a training point of view, it is much better to not take the risk and assume that your dog will be happy with shot, and instead to invest a little time and effort upfront getting the initial introduction to shot right the first time.

Want to learn more about introducing your gundog to shot? Head to: https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/blogs/news/introduction-to-shot-the-one-stage-of-training-you-need-to-get-right-the-first-time

27/06/2025

If you haven't been training in a while...
We know life gets busy.
Work takes over, dogs get injured, or sometimes you just need a break.

If you haven’t been to training in a while, or it's been a long time since you picked up a dummy at home, please know:
Your dog still loves you
You haven’t fallen behind
You’re still absolutely welcome here

Training is a journey, not a race. And whether your dog’s been living their best sofa life lately, or you’ve just taken a pause, just a reminder that the door is always open.

If you’ve been thinking about starting again but aren’t quite sure where to jump back in… please drop an email to [email protected] or DM us.

25/06/2025

If you are thinking about beating, picking up or rough shooting with your retriever, spaniel or HPR, want to compete in working tests or trials, or are looking to progress your gundog hobby with advanced training, you will need to introduce your gundog to the sound of shot.

Some gundogs will not bat an eyelid at the sound of a shotgun, starter pistol or dummy launcher.

But others will be more cautious.

And unless you want to risk causing irreparable damage or overwhelming your dog, an introduction to shot is not a process to be rushed.

I've put together a blog to cover the basic training theory you need to understand before getting started, when you should introduce the sound of gunshot to your puppy, the equipment you will need, and how to introduce the sound and pair it with something fun.

To read in full head to: https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/blogs/news/introduction-to-shot-the-one-stage-of-training-you-need-to-get-right-the-first-time

23/06/2025

You don’t need to wait until you’ve “tried everything” before asking for help. In fact, the sooner you get guidance, the easier things become.

At Teach Your Gundog, we regularly work with owners who’ve tried to puzzle things out themselves. YouTube videos, online forums, tips from well-meaning friends - there's plenty of information out there.

But even when the advice is sound, it often contradicts the next video or article you read.

The difference with in-person support is this: we can see what’s going on.

Jules notices the way your dog shifts their weight before a retrieve, which might give clues about their unsteadiness or uncertainty to run out on a blind.

She can spot your click timing and reward placement and give you small tweaks to make to your handling so you can make faster progress and avoid accidentally reinforcing the wrong thing.

Unlike when you're training at home on your own, in classes and 121s, you get live feedback. And if you're not sure on what's expected, Jules can show you so you're never left wondering what exactly it means to "send your dog" on a retrieve.

If you want to train with someone who takes a calm, clear and force free approach to get better training results that'll leave you and your dog more confident, please DM or email [email protected] to find a class or 121 slot that fits your dog’s needs.

13/06/2025

Your Spaniel who won’t stop chasing birds…
Your Labrador who steals your slippers at every chance he gets…
Your HPR who ranges wayyy too far on a walk…

They’re not being naughty, they’re just being gundogs.

These behaviours are natural for breeds who were developed specifically to hunt, chase, and retrieve.

The goal of training should never be to shut down these instincts, but to channel them. And to help your dog learn what you want them to do instead, in a way that’s rewarding and clear.

When we shift from frustration and punishment to curiosity and understanding, when we go from "bad dog, stop doing that", to "why are you doing that, let's do this instead", everything starts to change.

11/06/2025

If you can recall your dog over water, without them running round, then you can now add your retrieve into the chain.

Here are the final steps you'll need to teach your gundog to retrieve over water:

You can now introduce a dummy. It should be thrown approximately three-quarters of the way across to the far side of the water.

If your dog is not yet steady you will need to use a lead or a steady fob, but make sure if you are using a fob that it is not too long and you’re not in an area with lots of sticks, branches or reeds it can get caught in. Your dog should then be sent in for the article on their normal cue.

When they have the article in their mouth, use your recall cue (whistle or verbal). They should turn around hearing this cue, and you can click this response to the cue even when they are still in the water swimming.

Your aim from now on is to slowly increase the placement of the retrieve article in the water, moving it closer to the far bank each time while repeating the process above.

You might want to split this across several sessions to ensure your dog doesn’t get bored or tired. And you might want to mix in some on land retrieves to protect your steadiness and delivery to hand.

Through repetition, the retrieve article will continue to make its way further onto the bank on the far side of the water.

Remember: When the dog’s feet start to meet the ground on the opposite side, there is often an inclination for the dog to look at the options of running around the body of water to return, versus swimming straight back.

Here, the timing of your recall (directly as they pick the retrieve article), along with marking this decision with your click and then giving verbal feedback during your dog’s return, will increase the probability of them swimming back.

Want to learn more about water work with your gundog? Read our latest blog here: https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/blogs/news/sending-your-gundog-over-water

09/06/2025

Our Foundation Gundog Classes are the perfect starting point for all breeds, over 8 months of age, whether they’re total beginners or you’ve dabbled in a bit of obedience training already.

These sessions are tailored for pet gundogs and working breeds alike, and you don’t need any previous experience to join.

If you’re unsure whether gundog training really is right for your dog, here’s some key things to consider:
· Gundog breeds were born to hunt and retrieve, it’s in their DNA.
· Giving them an outlet for these instincts helps them stay calmer and more settled at home.
· It’s a brilliant way to prevent unwanted behaviours like chasing, barking, or destruction.
· And most importantly, it’s fun. For both of you.

In our Foundation Gundog Group Classes you'll learn how to:
· Build engagement and focus
· Introduce heelwork, recall, and steadiness
· Develop a reliable retrieve chain
· Understand your dog’s personality and motivation

These small group classes are a friendly, supportive place to start your training journey, whether you want to work your dog in the future or simply enjoy time together outdoors doing something purposeful and rewarding.

Classes are held in Haslemere on the Surrey/West Sussex/Hampshire border on Wednesdays and Saturdays. No need to commit to 6 or 8 week blocks, the groups run on a rolling basis so you can start anytime and simply choose the dates that work best for you.

If you're still not sure this class would be a good fit for your or your gundog, please DM or email [email protected]

Otherwise, to book your first session head to: https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/products/foundation-gundog-classes-wednesdays

07/06/2025

If you can recall your dog over an obstacle, you can move on to teaching them the concept of recalling over water before adding in an over water retrieve.

Here are the steps to teach your gundog to recall over water:

If your dog has already been introduced to water you can now practice this recall over a small stream. Take them through the stream to the far side, leaving them in a sit-stay until you go back over the stream and recall them.

You can now start to increase the depth and size of the body of water.

At some point, it will become impossible for you to walk your dog through the water to the other side. At this stage, I would suggest that you sit your dog on the side of a small pond that is familiar to your dog, throw a piece of food or a floating toy into the water, then walk round to the other side, recall your dog, clicking him for direct entry.

This stage will need some practice in order to avoid letting your dog think they can run around the pond, this is why we place food or toys.

Want to learn more about water work with your gundog? Read our latest blog here: https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/blogs/news/sending-your-gundog-over-water

05/06/2025

Incredibly grateful to share these thoughtful words from Sean James, who has been helping his 2-year-old Vizsla, Oscar, find purpose and focus through gundog training:

“My two main goals are to be able to take Oscar anywhere he is allowed and to give him a purposeful outlet for his specific needs.

After a lot of searching, I came across Jules's 'Teach Your Gundog' website. Multiple reads of Jules's profile, experience, methodology and blog posts led me to book an in-person group lesson.

I found Jules to be very knowledgeable, attentive and empathetic. I felt like this was finally a trainer and method that I could commit to for Oscar's long term training.

Some people might say that it's wrong to follow just one person and one method, and while taking bits and pieces from other trainers may be beneficial, Oscar needed a steady thorough trainer/program that reflects the type of trainer/person that Jules is.

To start with, I focused on 'focusing in the environment, recall and heelwork'. The improvements in Oscar, in a short space of time, have been eye-opening and I didn't think he would improve so quickly.”

Sean’s words reflect exactly why Teach Your Gundog exists - to provide steady, thoughtful, and ethical training that supports both you and your gundogs, no matter what your goals, over the long term.

Oscar’s progress is a brilliant example of what’s possible when you commit to focusing on one thing and working together, one step at a time.

Thank you Sean, for sharing Oscar’s training journey - so glad to have you both as part of the Teach Your Gundog community.

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