Dogs R Dogs

18/12/2025

This is Finan, for those of you who don't know him, he is my youngest dog who is incredibly sensitive about everything and has a learning style that I have not come across previously.

Finan has been worried by things that are new and that he doesn't understand. Unexpected noises come into that category. He isn't sound sensitive as such, I can drop a pan right next to him in the kitchen, and he shows no sign of being worried.

However, some noises seem to freak him out. Sadly, shot has been one of those things.

Over this past year I have tried Systematic Desensitisation and Counter Conditioning. Everything that I tried made it worse. It seems that with this dog if I make a 'thing' out of it then he immediately worries that it is a problem. Once he has decided it is a problem he will stop eating and can't change his mind.

However, if I just 'make' him do the thing, with support from me and checking how he is coping all the time, he seems to deal much better.
Once he has experienced the 'thing' and he doesn't die, then he realises that maybe he could get to like this 'thing' after all.

So, I decided that I would take him out beating, he was as far from the guns as I could get him and in a wood so the sound was mitigated somewhat.

The first week he had several sit down protests and he wouldn't leave my side, it looked like I have trained amazing off lead heelwork! He was able to eat the whole time he was out, so he was still cognitive and hadn't gone into panic mode. After the drive was over he perked up and went exploring.

The second week we only had one or two sit down protests. Again still eating and coping. But mainly walking to heel during the drive. Again he went exploring when the drive had finished.

The video is from the third week. He was near a dog who flushed a bird and we happened to be near some really nice cover. He set off hunting really nicely and then started to explore a bit and hunt a bit further away from me.

It was only a short time but he switched on. I am really pleased that he is learning through this.

Obviously this wouldn't be right for all dogs. But for Finan it is the way forward :)

Watch this space for more updates

06/12/2025

Please sign the petition and share to keep the pressure on to get the legislation passed

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CcSR6RBu5/

Shock collars cause pain, fear, and stress. These devices aren’t just cruel, they’re completely unnecessary ✋

Reward-based training is safer, more effective, and builds real long-term behaviour change.

They're not legally allowed to be used in Wales, and will soon be banned in Scotland too, but England is lagging behind. In 2024, the then UK Government ran out of time to ban their use, but now it's time to put things right.

Add your voice here and call for a ban on aversive dog training tools: https://bit.ly/48A2sGQ

04/12/2025

🎄✨ This Christmas, Give the Gift of Joyful Gundog Training! ✨🎄
Looking for the perfect present for the gundog lover in your life or a treat for yourself?

Positive Gundog Training Conference 2026 is coming… and it’s set to be an amazing and inspiring event! 🐾🔥

📅 Dates: [1st to 3rd May 2026]
📍 Location: [Nr Biggar, Scotland]
🎟️ Tickets: General Entry £155, Handler Places £13 extra per workshop. Link to buy tickets in the comments.

Join leading Reward-Based gundog trainers, behaviour experts, and hands-on workshops designed to build confidence, connection, and real-world skills — all without pressure or force.

🐶 Whether you're a seasoned trainer or just starting your journey, this is the event to level up your skills while celebrating the joy of kind, ethical gundog work.

👉 Reserve your place today and make 2026 the year your training transforms.

🌟 Merry Christmas from the PGTC Team! 🌟

03/12/2025

The final offering from PGTC 2025 individual videos are the two Where's the Off Switch? seminars by Leanne Smith.

Leanne looks at how and why to teach our dogs to settle and switch off in a work environment. There is a Practical demonstration using her young dog Finan. The second seminar is a continuation of the practical demonstration as Finan continues to learn and make progress with his settling in a new environment.

The seminars also look at how and why we need to teach our dogs to be able to transition from work, to active waiting for work and, passive non engagement -resting, all within the same environment.

https://www.dogsrdogs.co.uk/online-shop/wheres-the-off-switch-2/

https://www.dogsrdogs.co.uk/online-shop/wheres-the-off-switch-seminar-2/

Leanne looks at how and why to teach our dogs to settle and switch off in a work situation. Practical demonstration using her young dog Finan.

02/12/2025

The next workshop available from PGTC 2025, is Hunting for Beginner Spaniels by Vicky Payne.

Vicky is an experienced Breeder, Handler, Trainer, Competitor and Judge with her ESS. She provides a wealth of information on how to get your spaniel started with good hunting habits.

To access the video, follow the link below.

https://www.dogsrdogs.co.uk/online-shop/hunting-for-beginner-spaniels/

Vicky looks at introducing spaniels to hunting and how to teach them to work with the handler as a team.

01/12/2025

The next workshop that is available from the PGTC 2025 is
Blinds - Building confidence, trust and motivation for beginner/novice dogs by Collette May

Collette looks at building strong foundations for your blind retrieves.

To access the video follow the link below.
https://www.dogsrdogs.co.uk/online-shop/blinds-building-confidence-trust-and-motivation-for-beginner-novice-dogs/

Collette looks at the skills required help a dog to learn how to perform a blind retrieve with confidence.

29/11/2025

Next up from the PGTC 2025 is a seminar from Leanne Smith looking at Training plans.

Leanne looks at how to create a useful training plan and why it is very helpful. She also looks at how we prioritise training and tailoring a plan to the individual dog and handler combination.

Creating a training plan can seem very overwhelming. This seminar looks at how to break things down so that you are able to focus on the elements that you and your dog need.

Link to access the video is below.

https://www.dogsrdogs.co.uk/online-shop/training-plans/

Leanne looks at how to create a useful training plan and why it is very helpful. She also looks at how we prioritise training and tailoring a plan to the individual dog and handler combination.

28/11/2025

The next workshop from PGTC 2025 is Walked up for competition from Collette May

Collette breeds, works and competes successfully with her Labradors and shares hints and tips on the skills required for training your dog to be successful in a walked up test.

The link to access the video is below.
https://www.dogsrdogs.co.uk/online-shop/walked-up-for-competition/

Collette looks at the skills required to teach a dog how to perform well in a walked-up retriever test.

27/11/2025

The next workshop that is available from the PGTC 2025 is Hunting for Competitions by Vicky Payne

Vicky breeds, works and competes successfully with her English Springer Spaniels. She shares hints and tips for bringing your spaniel's hunting up to competition standard.

The link to access the video is below.

https://www.dogsrdogs.co.uk/online-shop/hunting-for-competitions/

Vicky looks at finessing spaniel’s hunting for competition.

24/11/2025

The next session that I would like to share with you is the Practical workshops that took place with Sarah Fisher looking at how to sharpen our observational skills using ACE free work. Both afternoon sessions are available following the links below. There were different dogs in each workshop

https://www.dogsrdogs.co.uk/online-shop/ace-freework-session-1/

https://www.dogsrdogs.co.uk/online-shop/ace-freework-session-2/

Freework session looking at honing observational skills and understanding how to help our dogs.

21/11/2025

The next workshop on offer is What's the Point? by Helen Phillips. Link to access the video is below.
https://www.dogsrdogs.co.uk/online-shop/whats-the-point/

Helen looks at games to help stimulate the point and steadiness with HPRs, Pointers and Setters.

It can be difficult to work on the pointing behaviours in the absence of live game, so this workshop provides some helpful information to help get your dog started in a fun way.

Helen looks at games to help stimulate the point and steadiness with HPRs, Pointers and Setters

20/11/2025

The next available session is from the PGTC 2025 video series is Working in Tricky Situations by Gwen Johnson. Link to access the video is below.
https://www.dogsrdogs.co.uk/online-shop/working-in-tricky-environments-reinforcement-strategies-that-enhance-relationships/

Gun dogs have to work in really tricky environments; they need to be simultaneously calm and ready to go!

They can also be very good at being self-employed, so in order to be the best team mate possible we need to consider how and where our dogs are accessing reinforcement.

We will look at how to tailor reinforcements to your individual dog, how we work out what they really like, and how we work out how to effectively deliver reinforcement in order to have a relationship that allows us to work in challenging environments.

Gun dogs have to work in really tricky environments; they need to be simultaneously calm and ready to go! They can also be very good at being self-employed, so in order to be the best team mate possible we need to consider how and where our dogs are accessing reinforcement.…