In a fast paced world we are always - go go go, we often pack too much into our days and are then on a tight time frame to get things done which often includes taking the dog out. I can happily admit this is often ME!
My dogs don’t always get a ‘walk’ but most days a week they will have some form of mental or physical stimulation whether this be in the form of:
🐾 Working on the foundations - loose lead walking, recall, steadiness etc
🐾 Gundog exercises - marks, memories, blind retrieves, hunting etc
🐾 Slow on lead stroll
🐾 Join me to settle at class and watch the other dogs learn whilst perhaps doing the odd demo.
🐾 Sit on a bench and watch the world go by whilst I do some admin or just take in the wonderful view.
As I said, they do go on walks a couple of times a week to sniff, play, explore (although all the basics rules apply - response to recall, checking in, loose lead walking etc) but this isn’t everything! Yes our dogs do need physical exercise but they really want is to spend time with us and this can come in so many more forms than just ‘walking’.
It’s important to me they learn all the skills to be a well rounded dog and if I always allow them to rush around and dart about every time we head out, that’s what they learn is ok to do.
Sometimes I like a trip to the pub garden, sometimes they will come to the park whilst I play with my son, sometimes they will come on family holidays and not all these involve running about, in fact, the opposite. So I must train it in preparation like we do with everything else.
So our days are varied and I myself set a 2024 goal which was to schedule time in my diary to ‘go slower’ allowing us to do this significantly more than we were.
Earlier this week, Roux and I headed up the hill. After pulling up, we hung out in the back of the car together for 5 mins, she did some loose lead walking, had a toilet break and leg stretch for 5 mins then we found a bench and chilled out.
💥 Novice Gundog Class 💥
Snapshot from todays session
It’s not all about retrieve after retrieve - it’s making sure the dog is focused, listening to what you ask and is able to control itself around distractions too.
Great work team 👏 - lots and lots of positives but still plenty to be working on! 💪🏻
@tina.palin @john.sanderson629 @bodie_74 @itsmarleythelabby
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Super impressed with this fantastic duo - Steve and his Labrador, 6yr old Shadow joined gundog training later in life.
In fact, his wife brought him the Foundation Gundog Course as a birthday present 🎁
Steve enjoys being out with Shadow and so she thought they might like to try their hand at something new. They have been doing this for approx 6 months now and look at just what they have achieved.
This was during a recent workshop we ran. A memory retrieve was put out, they then had a mark 180 in the opposite direction before turning Shadow back for the memory retrieve, followed by the memory mark to finish.
Steve’s face lit up and I was immensely proud as a trainer of just what they have accomplished.
Who knew a birthday present was going to become a new hobby! ✨
#dogtrainingbucks #dogsofbuckinghamshire #reinforcementbasedtraining #fungundog #trainingclasses #localdogtraining #workinglabrador #newhobby #practisemakesprogress #gundogtraining #workinglab
#gundog #wcs #livinghisbestlife #puppytraining #dogtrainingbuckinghamshire #workingcockerspaniel #sidekick
#gundog #wcs #livinghisbestlife #puppytraining #dogtrainingbuckinghamshire #workingcockerspaniel #sidekick
Little Roux, now 12 weeks, went out on her first walk yesterday and this morning we did it again.
I explain to clients that I don’t do ‘proper walks’ with my dogs until they are ready, and understand how I want them to behave when in public places.
Instead I show and school them so they understand what I want from them.
We got out of the car and I tuned her in (captured eye contact) before setting off with some heelwork/ loose lead walking.
After doing this for a 5 mins I then took her off lead but continued to ask her to heel ( I don’t want her to think the moment I unclip the lead she runs off, she must wait for her release cue), after a few more minutes I then released her to go and sniff. I rewarded her for sticking close by (checking in) and recalling to voice & whistle.
We then spotted people out walking coming down the hill past us, so again, rewarded her for looking at them but choosing to stick with me.
I don’t like my dog charging up to people, I teach them to just wander past unless the person actively engages them.
After the locals passed by we took the opportunity to follow along at a distance so she had more exposure to seeing people and walking with me.
At the moment Roux is getting rewarded with her kibble. She had half in a bowl with the other dogs first thing and the other half she earned during this session learning much needed life skills!
Super proud of my little pup today ♥️
Nb. 1) Please excuse my poor camera skills, it’s quite an art to try and train and video all at once - I’ll get there 🤣
2) My hands were wet from the rain and treats and I couldn’t get the lead off whilst trying to video with the other hand - use two hands 😂
3) The videos wouldn’t upload separately so I had to try and make them into one video to post.
🤣🤣🤣
Is it a waste of money or are we investing in our future?
Our dogs do cost us a lot of money however, giving your dog the very best start is an absolute no brainier. It takes time, effort, money and dedication to get things in place but it’s just sooo worth it!
I have to admit, although I train for a living, I also get a real buzz from it. It’s a hobby to me too!
Classes aren’t just for puppies and adolescent dogs. I have a large number of clients who attend our fun gundog class because not only do they love seeing their dogs using their natural working instincts, they’ve made great friends, it’s become a hobby, they have fantastic relationships with their dogs because they understand them and their desires.
Gundog classes aren’t just for those that are going to take their dogs shooting, they are very much geared towards pet dogs too!
#maketheeffort #takethetimetotrain #investinyourfuture #investinyourpuppy #dogsofbuckinghamshire #dogtrainingbucks #dogtraininghighwycombe #learnanewskill #spendtimewithyourdog
Baby Roux practicing her heelwork. I begin with the stationary position and then progress to being on the move. I start this in a familiar area ie. kitchen and keep distractions as limited as possible (slightly tricky with a 2yr old 🤣😅).
#puppytrainingbucks #puppiesofinstagram #dogtrainingchilternhills #puppygram #labradorpuppy #workinglabsofinstagram #gundogtraining #puppytraininghighwycombe
🌟 Fun Gundog training for all abilities 🌟. Why not try something new this summer and join one of our courses?! Various classes covering all standards - dogs and handlers. We have something for everyone 👨👩👧👦. Check out the website to book your space. https://fieldlines.co.uk/bookings
We started class by working on our connection, focus and loose leading walking. Does your dog still pull on the lead? Lack manners around other dogs, people or food? Join our next Foundation Life Skills Course starting Mon 6th March @ 8pm, nr West Wycombe #puppytraining #trainingadolescentdogs #rewardbased #connection #focus #looseleadingwalking #manners #jumpingup #confidence
Crate training with 18 wk old cockerpoo pup, Clyde.
The owner has chosen to crate train Clyde and so we have been building up a positive association to him being in the crate and also choosing to go in of his own accord. We will, in time, put this behaviour on cue so that Clyde can go into his crate on the command - ‘in your crate’.
This is Clyde’s third 5 min session, we only began the training this Friday.
You can see from the short video, he is now offering to go into the crate and sit when I walk near it. The ultimate goal is for him to go in on cue and lie down so you will notice I lure him into the down before marking and rewarding. A few more sessions doing this and he will go in and offer the down instead of the sit.
We then worked on Clyde choosing to remain in the crate by rewarding regularly and gradually building duration.
We are marking the behaviour we want with the clicker but this isn’t a necessity, you could also mark the behaviour with a word like ‘yes’ or ‘good’.
Are you getting a new puppy? Have a go at the above to get your puppy to build a positive association to the crate.
I love receiving video updates from clients, it makes my day ❤️
Skyla has had a puppy 1:1 training session and is joining our puppy course at the end of June.
If you would like to join us, contact us at [email protected] or book online www.fieldlines.co.uk
Young Skye had fun in the ☀️ today, she was practising her directional work.
Does your dog enjoy retrieving? Join our 5 week Foundation Gundog course.
It’s Valentines Day ❤️ and there was a lot to love in today’s 1:1 with this little Labrador puppy.
Skye is nearly 6 months old, she is sensitive girl but has a lot of drive, very enthusiastic and willing to please.
Today she did her first little memory retrieve and both myself and her owners were very proud 🌟
#gundogtraining #puppylessons #onetoonetraining #blacklabrador #labradorpuppy
