07/07/2025
It takes a village. 🤝 💪
It takes time, blood, sweat, and, often in my case, frustration tears 😭😆🙈
A HUGE thank you to our village. We are so lucky to have folks, both near and very very far, to help us with not only our dogs, but client dogs too. ❤️🐾
And another HUGE thank you to our local training crew. I think we're on our way to building something special ✨
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩?
Building and maintaining a strong training group takes significant effort. It starts with like-minded people who understand the group’s purpose—and are willing to do the work required to help *everyone* succeed.
Here are the key ingredients:
👉Access to Resources
Training groups need access to grounds, equipment, dead birds, live birds, and storage. Everyone should bring their own gear: radio, gun, ammo, bumpers, blind markers, chair, holding blind. For ATVs, launchers, electronics, and other high-dollar equipment—discuss expectations. Don’t assume. Share costs for birds, feed, fuel, freezer space, and more - these things are expensive and labor intensive.
👉Leadership
Every group needs a leader. Someone to coordinate, facilitate and communicate. This doesn’t need to be formal—but it must be agreed upon. Leadership ensures direction and accountability.
👉Communication
Communication is a two-way street and no single person is solely responsible for it. Use apps like Telegram or Slack to keep info accessible to the group.
👉Shared Responsibilities
There’s a lot to do. Grounds need reserving and maintenance. Equipment must be transported, repaired, and stored. Birds must be stored, thawed, bagged, caught, fed, and disposed of. ATVs need fuel. Training setups must be designed, built, moved, and cleaned up. Every member must do their share. Step up. Don’t wait to be asked. When training ends, jump in to clean up, gather equipment, and prep for the next setup. Be respectful. Save the socializing for later.
👉Trainer Education
Retriever training is complex. Success requires education. Attend seminars, read, listen to podcasts, watch videos, ask questions, observe dogs, and study interactions. You owe it to your dog—and your group—to contribute intellectually and help raise the collective bar.
👉Pre-Training Planning
Have your own two-week plan mapped out. You can’t cover everything, so focus on 4–5 key areas (marking, handling, drills, etc.). Plan, record, evaluate. Share your needs with the group ahead of time. Find common ground but also make room for individual goals. Compromise is essential, but balance is the goal.
👉Willingness to Adjust / Reset
If a setup isn’t appropriate for a dog, be willing to reset or adjust. Asking someone to “move up” doesn’t fix a poor setup. Include all members meaningfully.
👉Leave Egos at Home
Every group member is a resource. Don’t assume someone can’t offer insight. Listen with an open mind. Be secure enough to ask for feedback. You don’t have to take every suggestion—but one of them might be the pearl you need.
👉Committed, Dependable, Responsible
If you're joining a training group, commit. Help provide resources, bring your own gear, show up on time, and engage. This is what you owe your teammates—and what they owe you.
Happy training,
—Kevin
