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

Teach Your Gundog, Haslemere (2025)

12/11/2025

Thank you so much for this kind feedback. It means the world.

At Teach Your Gundog, we don’t just want training to be effective, we want it to be enjoyable. For the dog, and for you.

That’s why we use reward-based methods, practical exercises that feel like games, and a supportive learning environment where you can feel confident asking questions and trying new things.

Training should be something you both look forward to. And as this lovely review from Gill shows, it can be.

Want to experience a different kind of gundog training? One that focuses on fun, understanding and long-term connection?

Explore our upcoming classes, workshops and 121s at: https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/collections/all

10/11/2025

If your gundog does have a reliable retrieve pattern and delivery to hand, then they’re ready to be introduced to the real thing. Many handlers get nervous at this stage, but if you have trained the retrieve well, you shouldn’t be.

The best way to approach it is first to get your dog used to picking up a variety of different dummies.

We are very fortunate in the UK to have access to a wide range of gundog training equipment suppliers who design, manufacture and sell an enormous range of training dummies that incrementally look, feel and behave more realistically to our dogs.

Begin by introducing some different weights and ensure they can retrieve dummies with toggles and streamers. These may not sound very bird-like to us, but you would be surprised at how many dogs lose their heads, and their ability to deliver to hand with it, all over a few plastic streamers!

Then move on to try using bird-shaped dummies, which typically have floppy necks and wings that will flap and move as the dog runs while carrying it.

You can then move on to dummies covered in fur or feather. You may want to buy new ones, or if you already have a good selection of dummies, you can purchase some pheasant pelts or rabbit skins and simply attach them with elastic bands or cable ties.

It does not necessarily matter which order you do this in. The idea is that we are generalising your gundog’s ability to pick up an item and bring it back to you without playing keep away or trying to destroy it.

Each article is designed to help the dog gradually transition from something that bears no resemblance to game to the real thing. When you then move on to cold game, it won’t be a massive jump from a boring green 1 lb canvas dummy.

To learn more about introducing your gundog to game head to: https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/blogs/news/how-to-introduce-your-gundog-to-game

08/11/2025

Not every dog thrives in a group.

And not every gundog training challenge fits neatly into a class structure.

That’s where one-to-one training sessions with Jules come in.

Whether your dog struggles to focus around other dogs, gets anxious in new settings, or if you just need to crack one specific behaviour, a 121 can make all the difference.

There’s no pressure to keep pace with a group. No waiting for your turn while your dog’s stress builds. Just calm, focused training time with expert eyes on you and your dog.

Some owners book 121s because timing works better than classes. Others want to dig into specific issues, especially when something's not quite working. Many simply want the space to ask "silly" questions and learn without distractions or the pressure of a group.

To book a one-to-one with Jules today and get personalised support tailored to your dog, head to https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/products/in-person-121-with-jules

06/11/2025

In the UK, gamekeeping, land management, and conservation linked to shooting sports enhance our landscape and allow wildlife to thrive.

From an economic perspective, according to BASC, over a million people are involved in British shooting, which makes a substantial contribution to the rural economy, valued at £2 billion annually to the UK.

However, it is not without its opponents. So, it is paramount that anyone involved adheres to high standards, impeccable etiquette, and ethics.

Whatever your role, whether with or without your gundog, in the beating line or on a peg, to protect the future of shooting, you should always aim to act as a good ambassador for the sport. This can be done by learning and following The Code of Good Shooting Practice.

At a minimum, from a gundog handler's point of view, one of the Code’s ‘golden rules’ is that game is food and must always be treated as such. We must ensure that “adequate provision” is made to retrieve all shot game - “dogs are an essential part of this process” and “respect for quarry is paramount”.

The quintessence of gundog work lies in retrieving. We want all game, whether that is a bird, hare or rabbit, to be delivered tenderly to hand so that it can later be prepared and cooked for the table.

From an ethical point of view too, if your dog has a poor delivery, it could allow any injured or wounded game to escape. You must work on this first, as the birds’ welfare and ensuring injured birds can be humanely dispatched are always our priority.

The retrieve chain and, more specifically, the delivery to hand aspect is one of the most stressful training challenges I see gundog owners facing. If you do not yet have a reliable retrieve and hand delivery with your dog, you should avoid introducing them to game in any form, as any bad habits transferred to the real thing can be incredibly hard to undo.

To learn more about introducing your gundog to game head to: https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/blogs/news/how-to-introduce-your-gundog-to-game

04/11/2025

Here's what's coming up at Teach Your Gundog in November and December...

PUPPY GUNDOG
All breeds under 8 months. No experience required. Saturdays, 09:30-10:30, Haslemere
• 22 November
• 6 December

FOUNDATION GUNDOG
All breeds over 8 months. No experience required.
Wednesdays, 12:00-13:00, Haslemere
• 12 November
• 26 November
• 10 December

Saturdays, 10:45-11:45, Haslemere
• 22 November
• 6 December

PROGRESSIVE GUNDOG
For all breeds that are working at Grade 3 and 4 level.
Wednesdays, 10:00-11:30, Haslemere
• 12 November
• 26 November
• 10 December

Fridays, 10:00-11:30, Haslemere
• 21 November
• 5 December

PROGRESSIVE WATER WORKSHOPS
Open to all breeds, looking at progressing water retrieves. Oakhurst Pond, Loxwood
• Saturday 22nd November at 12.30pm

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

31/10/2025

It always pays off to provide puppies and young dogs with very early and positive introductions to birds.

If you’re fortunate enough to have access to live game, or are lucky to know a friendly gamekeeper who will give you permission to access a pen, possibly in exchange for some free labour, then this is a great opportunity to introduce a puppy.

Take your puppy or young dog to the pen when you go to fill up the water bowls and feeders for the birds. Let them take in the scent, and don’t worry if they flush at this early stage, as you want them to make the connection between the scent and the quarry.

While it might be tempting, it’s important to avoid too much control at this stage. In the same way we allow our puppies to run in on a retrieve and do not expect them to be steady from day one, we do not want to sacrifice any hunting ability or desire around game.

And we certainly do not want to create a gundog that’s reluctant to approach or get close to birds.

That said, we also do not want to encourage chasing, capturing or complete over-arousal. If you are worried about them losing their head and being unable to recall them or grab their attention, you could use a long line to maintain some connection.

What you’re looking for is a dog that’s relaxed and given the chance to use their instinct and learn for themselves.

Over time, these positive exposures will ensure that being around live game is not an over-exciting novelty for your puppy or young dog but is instead something they approach with their thinking-brain fully switched on.

To learn more about introducing your gundog to game head to: https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/blogs/news/how-to-introduce-your-gundog-to-game

29/10/2025

If you’ve trained with me recently, whether in a class, workshop or 121, I’d be so grateful if you could take a moment to leave a review on the website.

Your words genuinely mean the world to me and more importantly than that, your review might be the reason someone else takes the first step.

We know that choosing a gundog trainer can feel like a big decision. Especially for owners looking for a kind, ethical approach. When people read about your experience, what you worked on, how it felt, the changes you saw, it helps them feel more confident that they’re in the right place and in safe hands.

And the more people we reach, the more gundogs we can help on their training journey.

If Teach Your Gundog classes or 121s have made a difference to you and your dog, please do share your thoughts. You don’t need to write an essay. Just a few honest words go a long way.

Thank you, as always, for your support.

To leave a review head to: https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/pages/testimonials

27/10/2025

It's a real joy to see so many clients enjoying the shooting season with their dogs, some for the first time.

If you have your sights set on working your dog, and you haven't done so previously, now is an ideal time to introduce your puppy or young gundog to game.

While there is a great deal more to gundog training than rushing to introduce your dog to hunt and retrieve game, it is one of the fundamental ingredients needed if you’re looking for a reliable working dog.

Hundreds of gundog owners who train with Teach Your Gundog have no set intention of working with their pet gundogs and will never need them to flush or pick a bird.

That said, for many of our clients, field sports are a fond pastime. Nothing is more enjoyable than being out in the beating line, or picking up, with our dogs by our side, watching all the hard work we’ve done in training pay off.

For those of you who wish to work your retriever, spaniel, or HPR on a commercial shoot, small syndicate, or rough shooting, you must introduce your gundog to game carefully.

Equally, if this is your dog’s first shooting season, you might have unexpectedly, and perhaps disappointingly, encountered some issues with your dog picking up or running over game.

In this month's blog, we’ll briefly cover what you can do to get started with your puppy or young dog, as well as how to progress with a mature, more experienced dog.

To read in full head to: https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/blogs/news/how-to-introduce-your-gundog-to-game

24/10/2025

Our last water workshop for 2025 will be held on Saturday 22nd November at 12.30pm.

While the training will be mixed level and tailored to the attendees, you must have introduced your dog to water retrieves before, and they should be confident swimmers.

Held at Loxwood, West Sussex it'll be suitable for all breeds of gundogs, of any age, with previous experience of water. This workshop will focus on teaching your gundog how to retrieve from water with more confidence. It will help you to further develop the retrieve pattern and delivery from water, plus steadiness around water and how to get a good delivery to hand with a shake on cue.

This will be the last water workshop I'll host until Spring/Summer 2026.

To book, head to https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/products/progressive-water-workshop

19/10/2025

Even if you have no interest in shooting, gundog training as a hobby sport has so much to offer.

And it’s not just about having an obedient pet gundog and preventing behavioural problems either.

Pet gundog training can help you meet like-minded dog owners, it is a good way to stay fit and active, and there are also plenty of certificates to aim for and working tests to enter for those who enjoy collecting rosettes and being competitive.

If you would like to get started with gundog training, it’s vital to thoroughly research any potential trainers to ensure that you are comfortable with the methods they use.

At Teach Your Gundog, all training uses the most scientifically sound and ethical methods of animal training and strictly prohibits harsh handling and any punitive tools or techniques.

I am an accredited animal training instructor with the ABTC (Animal Behaviour Training Council), a member of the APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers) and the co-founder of the Gundog Trainers Academy, upholding the Code of Practice.

For many years, I have hosted a series of ever-popular Gundog Games workshops around the UK, teaming up with fellow pet dog trainers to help more gundog breed owners discover the world of gundog training using only ethical, choice-based methods and to start building their foundation skills. If you would like to host a workshop for your pet gundog owners, or would like to suggest the idea to a trainer near you, please get in touch via email: [email protected]

If you live in Surrey, West Sussex or Hampshire and would like to get started with your pet’s gundog training in Haslemere, I offer 121s and group training classes. For more information head to: https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/collections/all

17/10/2025

Whether you’ve got a pet or working gundog, a bouncy adolescent or a dog with some training under their belt, it’s completely normal to feel unsure about which class is the right fit.

If you're unsure about which Teach Your Gundog group class would be the best starting point for your gundog, just drop us a DM or email and let us know a bit about your dog.

We welcome all breeds, ages and experience levels. And if group training isn't right for you or your dog, 121 sessions are always an option too.

To get in touch via email it's: [email protected]

Looking forward to welcoming you to the Teach Your Gundog community.

15/10/2025

Incorporating breed-specific training and gundog activities into your non-working pet gundog’s daily life is essential if you want to avoid the long list of problems commonly associated with bored Labradors, Spaniels, and HPRs.

Below, we will look at some of the basic gundog behaviours. You’ll quickly see how general obedience skills will improve any dog-owner relationship.

Come/Recall
Returning promptly when called is a vital cue for everyone’s safety. In gundog training, recall is ‘proofed’ around lots of exciting distractions and paired with very high-value rewards.

Heel
No one wants a dog that drags them about on the daily walk. If a gundog is walking next to your leg in the heel position, they cannot be simultaneously pulling on the lead!

Steadiness
Gundogs need to be steady and not run in on retrieves or when the hunting line has stopped for safety reasons. Teaching steadiness helps them manage themselves and can stop unwanted behaviours like suddenly lunging on the lead.

Stop whistle
We need to teach our hunting gundogs to stop to flush, and our retrievers need to stop to look at us for directions if they cannot locate a dummy or bird. For pet gundogs, the stop whistle is a safety feature.

Retrieve / Delivery to hand
You might have noticed your gundog's intense passion for picking up an array of household items. We harness natural retrieving instincts by teaching our gundogs to fetch and return items. Teaching gundogs to retrieve on cue and to learn that not everything is theirs to retrieve can significantly reduce this activity in the house.

Hunting
We can teach our hunting dogs to put their noses down and follow scent on cue. This is used for finding and flushing game. While this doesn’t seem useful for pet gundog owners, the games and exercises used to teach our dogs this skill can help them to learn that hunting with us, and listening to us while hunting, is much more rewarding than going self-employed and becoming deaf to our calls.

If you have a pet gundog and want to learn more about the benefits of getting involved in breed-specific training even if you don’t want to work your dog on a shoot head to: https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/blogs/news/gundog-games-how-to-enrich-your-pet-gundog-s-life

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