http://www.completelygundogs.co.uk/

Completely Gundogs, Shrewsbury (2025)

01/01/2025

This is the perfect time to set your sights on new gundog training goals, tackle fresh challenges, and embrace the training adventures that lie ahead.

Whether it’s fine-tuning your dog’s skills, stepping into more advanced scenarios, entering your first competition, going on your first shoot, or simply making time to enjoy the journey, this year is yours to make amazing progress.

Let’s make this year one of progress, partnership, and plenty of retrieves. I can’t wait to see what you and your dogs achieve!
Here’s to an incredible year ahead,
Collette x

30/12/2024

As gundog owners, we often focus on honing our dogs’ skills for the field, and it’s easy to overlook how essential basic first aid knowledge can be.

In the active, often unpredictable environment of a shoot, our gundogs are exposed to risks that other pets might not encounter. And even if you’re not yet shoot-ready, intense training days and long walks in the countryside can still pose threats.

After all, accidents, by their very definition, are unexpected, unplanned, and unintended events that result in harm, injury, loss, or damage. So knowing how to handle them means we’re ready for the unplanned.

Here are a few of the field-specific hazards our working dogs may encounter and why being prepared matters:

Natural obstacles: Brambles, sticks, and rough terrain can leave dogs with cuts, scratches, or even puncture wounds that need swift attention.

Warm autumn days: Overheating or even heatstroke can be a real risk, especially in early autumn when temperatures can surprise us.

Water hazards: Ponds, rivers and lakes bring their own risks, from fast flowing currents, to water intoxication and blue-green algae all of which can be life-threatening if we’re not prepared.

Equipping yourself with even a few first aid basics can make all the difference. By being able to react quickly and confidently in an emergency, you’re safeguarding your dog’s health, keeping your peace of mind intact, and strengthening the bond between you and your dog, a partnership that’s built on trust.

To keep your gundog safe on the shoot with practical, life-saving first aid tips tailored to dogs working in the field, read in full here: https://www.completelygundogs.co.uk/blog/essential-canine-first-aid-techniques-every-gundog-owner-needs-to-know-for-the-shoot-season

27/12/2024

If gundog training is your absolute favourite hobby, and you can’t imagine spending your time over the Christmas break doing anything else, why not explore our range of masterclass replays...

All the replay videos are around 90-120 mins long and will fill you with gundog training advice and inspiration.

Topics include:
• Living with your high drive pet gundog
• Retriever Field Trials: A beginner's guide
• A beginner's guide to working your dog on a shoot
• Essential Gundog First Aid
• Working tests: A beginner's guide

For more information head to https://www.completelygundogs.co.uk/courses

25/12/2024

As the year draws to a close, I just wanted to take a moment to say a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you who has trained with Completely Gundogs this year.

Whether you’ve stayed in the holiday lets and have booked a 121, or have joined one of our gundog training holidays, it’s been an absolute privilege to work with you and your incredible dogs.

For those of you who keep coming back, watching you progress with your gundogs has been a true highlight of 2024 for me.

I hope you and your dogs are able to enjoy some well-earned downtime over the festive season (although I know “relaxation” isn’t exactly in the vocabulary of some high-drive gundogs!). Christmas is such a wonderful time to reflect on the wins we’ve had and start looking forward to the training adventures ahead.

Talking of training adventures, don’t forget to plan ahead for 2025. If you’ve been dreaming about a gundog training holiday, now’s the time to book your spot. These holidays are always such a brilliant opportunity to focus on your dog, immerse yourself in training, and enjoy some great company in beautiful surroundings.

Wishing you and your family (both two- and four-legged) a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Here’s to an exciting 2025 filled with growth, learning, and plenty of retrieves!

Looking forward to training with you and your dogs soon,
Collette x

📸 Darryl Owen Photography

23/12/2024

For gundog owners in the UK, there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of working alongside a well-trained dog on a shoot day. It’s one of those experiences that makes all the training hours worthwhile.

But, as any experienced handler knows, shoot days are physically demanding - not just for us, but for our dogs too. From minor cuts to unexpected injuries, there are unique risks in the field that we have to be ready for.

Most gundog owners dedicate hours to training their dogs for these moments but may not consider the importance of being prepared for emergencies.

Knowing some basics of canine first aid isn’t just sensible - it could one day save your dog’s life or prevent a small injury from becoming serious.

I've put together a blog that will walk you through essential first-aid tips for shoot days, so you can confidently manage injuries and illness, whether it’s your dog or someone else’s. With a few simple skills, you’ll be ready to step up when it matters most, making every shoot day safer for our hardworking companions.

To keep your gundog safe on the shoot with practical, life-saving first aid tips tailored to dogs working in the field, read in full here: https://www.completelygundogs.co.uk/blog/essential-canine-first-aid-techniques-every-gundog-owner-needs-to-know-for-the-shoot-season

20/12/2024

Give a present they’ll really appreciate this year - a Completely Gundogs Christmas Gift voucher!

Whether it’s for a gundog training holiday or access to our masterclass replays, these vouchers will make any handler’s day.

🎄 Why choose a gift voucher?
✔️ Redeemable across all training holidays and masterclass replays.
✔️ Perfect for any level of handler - from beginner to seasoned trainer.
✔️ Delivered digitally, so even if you’ve left it to the last minute, we’ve got you covered.

Got someone asking what you’d like for Christmas? Feel free to forward this post their way and drop a little hint (you deserve a gift you’ll love too)!

If you're interested please DM me.

18/12/2024

There is always more to learn.

Whether you’ve been doing something 10 years or 10 days, you’ll never reach a point when you just know it all.

The beauty of gundog training (and life) is that it’s a journey. Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience, every session brings a chance for both you and your dogs to learn new things.

Embrace the learning curve, stay curious, and celebrate every step forward. Progress isn’t about perfection - it’s about the willingness to keep improving.

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16/12/2024

If you’ve already established a solid foundation with your dog, learning from other trainers can actually enhance your training.

1️⃣ Gundogs need to be able to perform reliably in a variety of environments, such as fields, water, woodland, steep hills and thick cover. Each new trainer is likely to offer you access to these different types of terrain and many will also have purpose-built gundog training features like cover crops, jumping pens and water, all of which mimic the real-world settings in which your dog will eventually work.

2️⃣ If you plan to have more than one gundog, working with more than trainers allows you to build your own personalised and comprehensive training toolkit. You can cherry-pick the techniques that resonate best with you, and over time, you’ll build your own personalised training style.

3️⃣ Working with multiple trainers provides valuable socialisation opportunities - not just for your dog but for you as well. The gundog community is a close-knit one, and training with different people helps you build relationships with other handlers and trainers. These connections often lead to lasting friendships and many people who have met on the gundog training holidays have kept in touch and now have more people they can celebrate their wins with and share experiences, tips, and advice.

4️⃣ Finally, training with more than one person can help you to stay motivated and will encourage you to continuously improve as a handler. When working with different trainers, you’re more likely to be challenged with new techniques, exercises, and expectations that push you and your dog to grow.

Want to learn more about training with more than one gundog trainer? Head to https://www.completelygundogs.co.uk/blog/can-you-train-with-too-many-different-gundog-trainers

13/12/2024

If you've been looking at our 2025 gundog holiday options, they're booking up quickly so please get in touch sooner rather than later.

Spring 2025
· 14-16 April 2025 - Intermediate, G3-G4 - Spaniels only - with Gemma
· 9-13 June 2025 - Intermediate, G3-G4 - Retrievers only - with Collette (5 day)

Summer 2025
· 20-22 June 2025 - Novice, G2-G3 - All breeds - with Gemma
· 4-6 July 2025 - Intermediate, G3-G4 - Spaniels only - with Collette
· 22-24 August 2025 - Intermediate, G3-G4 - Retrievers only - with Gemma

Autumn 2025
· 20-22 October 2025 - Intermediate, G3-G4 - Spaniels only - with Gemma
· 7-9 November 2025 - Intermediate, G3-G4 - Retrievers only - with Collette

Training is from £105-£115 per day, with accommodation ranging from £50 per night to £127 per night.

To book, please DM me. I like to ensure that your gundog will be at the right level for the planned training activities on the holiday of your choice. I'll either send you a booking link, or suggest another holiday which might be more suited to your level.

📸 Darryl Owen Photography

11/12/2024

If you are struggling with blinds, then try and increase the difficulty of your memories.

Don't always walk out to the area and place the dummies down. Young dogs can start to learn to follow foot scent and they begin to rely on it and subsequently lack confidence when it runs out or isn't there at all.

If you are alone and don’t have a dummy thrower to help, you can walk around or walk out so far and then throw the dummy a distance.

Don't always walk in a straight line back from the memory. Maybe walk out and then around so you are facing the area from another angle.

Make your memories more memorable with noise, or an enticing dummy. But then increase the time or distance until you send them back.

I hope you find these gundog training tips helpful!

09/12/2024

Unless there’s been a change in circumstance, such as moving house, many first time gundog owners are hesitant to explore the option of working with anyone other than their first gundog trainer.

It’s natural to feel a sense of loyalty to your current trainer, especially if you’ve built a good relationship and attribute your early success to their methods and support.

When people chat with me about this, most explain that they are scared of introducing new cues or different ways of doing things. There is always a fear that going to someone else will cause problems which their original trainer won’t help them to fix because they went elsewhere for training.

Before we move on, it’s crucial to note that another gundog trainer could give you bad advice, which could negatively impact your training.

When it comes to finding different gundog trainers to work with, it’s important to proceed with care. Not all trainers are going to be the right fit.

Just as no two dogs are alike, trainers differ greatly in their methods, experience, and philosophies. If you’ve been working hard to train your gundog using a specific approach, such as positive reinforcement, bringing in a trainer whose methods don’t align with your values can do more harm than good.

For instance, if your dog is sensitive and you’ve focused on building their confidence and trust through reward-based training, going a trainer who is likely to encourage a hard approach and will suggest that you punish them when something doesn’t go right, could undo the confidence-building work you’ve done and potential leave lasting damage.

This is why it’s critical to do your research and choose any new trainer thoughtfully, making sure their overall training approach is compatible with your own. It’s also worth remembering that just because a trainer is ‘famous’ or well-regarded by some doesn’t necessarily mean they are the right fit for your dog’s personality or your training goals.

Finally, if you think you’ve found a good trainer but you’re still worried about “cheating” on your existing one, then remember that introducing a new gundog teacher into your life doesn’t mean abandoning your primary one.

If they are a good trainer, they should understand this and be encouraging and supportive of your overall gundog training journey, especially if it will help you to expand your dog’s experiences and skillset.

Want to learn more about training with more than one gundog trainer? Head to https://www.completelygundogs.co.uk/blog/can-you-train-with-too-many-different-gundog-trainers

📸 Darryl Owen Photography

06/12/2024

Taking place 14–16 April 2025 at our stunning training grounds in Mid Wales, this is your chance to immerse yourself in three days of group training.

Hosted by Gemma Cox this holiday is packed with hands-on training to build your knowledge and confidence, covering:
Expanding your dog’s marking, memory, and blind retrieving skills.
Tackling diverse terrain to prepare for real-world scenarios.
Opportunities for cold game and water sessions (weather permitting).
Walked-up scenarios and remote dummy launchers to challenge your spaniel.
Potential off-site training in authentic shoot locations for added variety.

Our training holidays are as much about human connection too so be prepared to enjoy an evening out with fellow handlers at a local pub or restaurant - share training stories, laughs, and tips to make this a truly memorable holiday.

Is this holiday right for you?
Ideal for spaniels working at Grade 3–4 level - you'll need:
🐾 Reliable recall and off-lead heelwork.
🐾 Stop whistle control at a distance.
🐾 Directional casting (left, right, back).
🐾 Steadiness and reliable delivery to hand.

Spaces are limited but you can secure your spot with just a deposit. Please DM me for more information as I like to ensure everyone books on a holiday that will suit them and their dog's level.

04/12/2024

I sometimes see "flat" gundogs that are lacking in confidence.

It can be hard for the handlers to watch, as from their point of view they are doing everything "correctly" from a training point of view, and their dog understands the cues, they just don't seem very happy to be working.

If you're experiencing this at the moment, then work out what your dog loves most and use that to rev them up and motivate them.

If you've got a retriever that is unconfident on dummies, can you use a rabbit ball or pheasant pelt instead?

02/12/2024

If you’re a gundog owner who has trained dogs before and already has a solid understanding of the bigger picture, you’re in a strong position to begin working with multiple trainers, even from the puppy stage.

Since you’ve been through the process before, you know how to set clear training goals, can monitor your dog’s progress closely and make adjustments if needed.

With that foundation, you’re well-equipped to manage different approaches, selecting what works best for your dog while still keeping things consistent. This experience allows you to plan your training schedule thoughtfully, ensuring that all the basics are covered while integrating new techniques from different people as needed.

You’ll essentially be developing your own personal training style, one that draws on the best of what each trainer has to offer.

For first-time gundog owners, however, the path looks a bit different.
Your puppy needs to master the basics, and if you are new to gundog training, this will be best done with the help of one singular trainer.

As your dog grows up and training progresses, however, you will eventually move on to proofing and generalising the basic behaviours your dog has learnt.

This is where working with multiple trainers becomes beneficial, as they can provide new environments and distractions that will challenge your dog and improve their skills and ability.

Whether you’re working on steadiness in a high-distraction environment or refining recall in unfamiliar terrain, exposure is key to developing a well-rounded gundog.

If you limit yourself to just one gundog trainer for too long, you and your dog might miss out on crucial learning experiences, and if your gundog remains too familiar with one training location, they may struggle to adapt when faced with different real-world scenarios.

A new trainer may also be able to spot areas for improvement that your original trainer may have missed, offering fresh insights and helping you fine-tune your gundog’s performance.

By this stage, you should have built enough confidence and skill to take these suggestions on board, or ignore them if you don’t think they will be right for your dog, without feeling overwhelmed.

Want to learn more about training with more than one gundog trainer? Head to https://www.completelygundogs.co.uk/blog/can-you-train-with-too-many-different-gundog-trainers

29/11/2024

I'm thrilled to say that the March charity retriever working test is now full. I'm so grateful that so many of you have entered and all for a good cause too.

If you've missed out, then you can still enter the September charity test. As the tests are not linked to the Kennel Club, any breed of gundog, or gundog crossbreed, can enter without needing to be KC registered. Just bear in mind that the tests and distances will be set for retrievers.

Now that the March one is full, I am eagerly on the hunt for anyone who like to volunteer to help with the event! If you are not running your dog and would like to be part of the day, such as being a dummy thrower, I would be extremely grateful.

If you can help on 16 March 2025, please DM me or email [email protected]

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27/11/2024

The stop whistle is key for moving on with your training.

Unless you have a dog which will always take the line to blinds perfectly you will need to stop and redirect them.

The stop should always be a positive noise for them to hear so if you're struggling with it consider if you're training approach has made it too negative for them.

A lot of people obsess over the sit. But it is a stop whistle not a sit whistle. Handlers want a sit because they think their dog will be steadier but it's not the case.

If you start rewarding their focus on you and readiness to take your directional casts you might find that you take the pressure off and restore their understanding that the stop is there to help them find what they're looking for.

25/11/2024

In the beginning stages of your gundog training journey - especially if this is your first gundog - it’s crucial to establish a strong foundation of basic behaviours.

If you have not trained a gundog before and don’t know what you’re doing, then trying to learn and use too many methods from lots of different people in the important early stages can be incredibly confusing for you and your gundog puppy.

Consistency is key when teaching the core cues, such as recall, heelwork, impulse control or steadiness, and the start of the retrieve. Clear, step-by-step tuition provided by one trusted trainer will set you and your gundog up for long-term success.

Whether you train your pet gundog for fun, want to compete in working tests, or are hoping to get your working gundog on a shoot beating or picking up, this approach is especially vital for newcomers who have limited experience and might not be able to see the full picture of what we need and want from our gundogs in the long run.

By sticking with one trainer at first, you have a much better chance of ensuring that you’re progressing steadily without rushing ahead or getting overwhelmed by varied techniques.

A single trainer who sees you regularly should also be tracking this progress, tailoring the training to suit you and your pup, and making sure that you don’t skip any steps or forget to cover the essentials.

Want to learn more about training with more than one gundog trainer? Head to https://www.completelygundogs.co.uk/blog/can-you-train-with-too-many-different-gundog-trainers

22/11/2024

I really hate having to disappoint clients when they message me and I tell them the holiday they wanted to come on is now full.

Last year I noticed a bit of a trend: some handlers would express interest in a holiday but wouldn't pay the £150 deposit to confirm their spot.

After chasing, I'd assume they'd changed their mind - it's something we all do, and that's completely allowed. But I would then have to open the space back up and it'd get filled by someone else. They would then reach out a few days before the holiday and I would have to give them the bad news that the holiday was now full.

Unfortunately, your place isn’t guaranteed until the deposit is received.

With high demand for these holidays, spaces are filling up fast for 2025. And I don’t want anyone to miss out, so here’s a quick reminder:

✅ If you’ve been eyeing a specific holiday date, or have told me you're planning to come, please pay your deposit as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

✅ If you do change your mind, please don't be worried about telling me.

✅ If you don't pay your deposit and I chase you but don't hear back, please don't be offended if I then release unconfirmed spots to other handlers.

Once the deposit is paid, your spot is secured, and you’ll be all set for an unforgettable experience with your gundog.

I hate to see anyone miss out, so if you have questions or need help please message me.

Completely Gundogs