Eshaldwell Gundog Training

17/07/2024

Very interesting and free workshop available in Leicestershire

05/07/2024

A place has come available for Gundog Puppy Training at Desborough tomorrow. Anyone fancy it? You don't have to be an HPR 😀

28/06/2024

HPR Gundog Training for puppies and young dogs, Sat 6th July at Willowbrook Farm, Desborough, Northants NN14 2QN. 10am till 3pm £50. Message me to book. Stevie.

15/06/2024

TWO PLACES STILL AVAILABLE
I'm running another pop-up gundog training day for HPR puppies and young dogs on Sat 22nd June near Desborough, North Northamptonshire. Please message me for more details and to book a place.

10/06/2024

Apologies to anyone who's been in touch with me the last few weeks regarding gundog training and are still waiting for a reply. I've been rather preoccupied with humans' health issues, which have me feeling quite overwhelmed most of the time.
I WILL get back to you, I've just been wary about making bookings for training in case I need to cancel at short notice. Hopefully things are improving now and I just need to get some energy back!
Sorry once again - normal service will be resumed ASAP.

25/05/2024

THIS DAY IS NOW FULL.
We're running a pop-up gundog training day for HPR puppies and young dogs on Sunday 2nd June near East Leake (Notts/Leics border). Please message me for more details and to book a place.

02/05/2024

I have a Training Day for HPR Puppies on Weds 15th May at LE12 5EG. 10.00am till 3.00pm. Message me to book a place.

02/02/2024

If tasting fabulous isn't enough to get you eating game, what about all of these benefits?

Find out more: https://orlo.uk/9EDzs

02/02/2024

Nice end to the season yesterday.
Eat what you shoot.

14/08/2023

What a privilege to be out on the 12th, judging the first HPR Field Trial of the season. Fabulous day.

01/07/2023

Can't wait to get these beauties into use! Thanks Karen and Adrian Blackledge - good service all round.

19/06/2023

Availability for 1:1 tuition this week:
Weds 21st June , afternoon slot at Normanton on Soar LE12 5EG.
Thurs 22nd, 12 noon at Walcote, LE17 4JZ.
SAT 24th 12 noon at Deenethorpe Airfield, PE8 5AS.

15/06/2023

Any of our HPR people like to tag on to a Korthals Griffon training day with us this Saturday (17th), Notts/Leics border?

08/06/2023

This is where I train with Ailsa, my oldest GSP. Its a great sport, she and I both love it.

This is your first step into the fabulous sport that is Mantrailing. The introduction is in two parts, The theory will be covered in a presentation (your dogs will have to remain in your cars for this but will be supervised by one of our team members) this will cover everything you need to start you...

24/02/2023

So yesterday Ailsa and I did a thing ...... we passed our Level 1 Mantrailing Assessment! We started this sport 12 months ago in an effort to find something fulfilling for Ailsa to take part in. Does she ever! Her 3 favourite things in the world: scent, people and food. I'm learning such a lot. Happy days 😃

Congratulations to Wendy and Stevie for passing their level one Mantrailing assessment today 🎉

18/01/2023

Apologies, I've been rather quiet on here of late. I had hoped to have done some HPR Puppy group sessions over winter, but events conspired against me. I have been hampered by severe tendonitis in my shoulders, which means even throwing a dummy is very painful. Coupled with my existing health condition these have thrown up some difficult new challenges.
My own dogs have had to come first, and making sure they get their training and working opportunities means that my energy levels have been sadly depleted when it comes to training other people.
Hopefully, the steroid injection I'm having later this week will improve matters 🙏 and I'll be able to do more. Getting some sleep at night would be a start!

01/11/2022

Just to put the record straight .....

28/10/2022

Rishi Sunak has been making his name in not just National but now global circles, as the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. But long before he was a Minister, his name was well known in Yorkshire circles as the MP for Richmond – the seat formerly held by William Hague. Rishi has also been a...

24/07/2022

15/07/2022

When one dog is not answering the recall whistle there's only one thing to do - lie down, keep shtum and disappear off the face of the earth 🙄
Luckily Ailsa's trailing skills mean she appeared 5 mins after I posted this.

21/06/2022

It starts from the minute you get your new puppy home

One of the best things you can do for your dog is to build good habits in them from an early age. While trying to make them perfect may be tempting, the reality is that no dog will ever be perfect.

Dogs are lovable, loyal, and make great companions. However, they're also creatures of habit, which means that bad habits can quickly become ingrained if you're not careful.

One of the best ways to prevent this is to focus on building good habits from the start. This might mean teaching your dog to sit before they get their food or making sure they always wait for permission before going outside.

It might seem like a lot of work initially, but it's worth it in the long run. By building good habits early on, you can save yourself a lot of trouble down the line.

Good is better than perfect.

08/06/2022

Saturday 2nd July, near Loughborough, morning and afternoon small group workshops for HPR PUPPIES & BEGINNERS.
9.30 - 12.30 or 1.30 - 4.30, £40 per dog. Please contact Stevie to book your place.

01/06/2022

25/05/2022

Any of my HPR people fancy a day training near Chesterfield, Derbyshire this coming Sunday, 29th May? Small group, opportunity to proof your previous training in a new location. Great venue near Eastmoor, lovely water.
Contact Stevie to secure your place.

17/03/2022

A very good appraisal of the Cocker-poodle cross

A Cockapoo consideration post.

This breed has taken the dog world by storm over the last few years. Many people fall in love with Cockapoos because of their teddy like appearance and they have become one of the most popular ‘designer crossbreeds’. Is this the right breed for you? Note: the below is written from my own knowledge and experience with the breed.

COCKER – POO. The Cockapoo is a crossbreed between the Cocker Spaniel and Poodle. What does this mean genetically?

Cocker Spaniel: The Cocker Spaniel was originally bred as a hunting dog, helping us humans to hunt birds. Many are still used for this purpose today. Although we see some physical variation in working cockers, show cockers, etc, there is a big similarity in behaviour. Cocker Spaniels need a job to do to engage that working dog brain of theirs, lots of mental stimulation. They belong to the Gun Dog group.

Poodle: Little known fact…a working dog! Part of the Utility dog group, Poodles were originally bred to help hunt birds, specifically water hunting. That’s right – lots of mental stimulation needed. They are a very intelligent breed.

So your Cockapoo is a mixture of TWO WORKING DOG BREEDS used for hunting. Be prepared for lots of mental stimulation, lots of training games, lots of helping your Cockapoo to slow down because they will be ready to go go go. With that intelligence and drive comes the possibility of behaviour problems if their needs are not met. Kim Brophey also describes some gun dogs as having a bit of a “Peter Pan never grow up” complex which I think is quite apt.

Some Cockapoos seem to be more cocker-y than poodle-y, and visa versa. I have once had a group of four cockapoos stood in front of me, and they all looked completely different. Some much more like Cockers than Cockapoos. We can also see this in their behaviour, with the ‘cocker’ part of their breeding very prominent on walks (I sometimes see Cockapoos running with their nose down like they are looking for birds to flush out). This is down to their individual genetic make-up.

I often see Cockapoos being recommended as hypoallergenic pets. This hypoallergenic element came from the poodle. However, with larger scale breeding of Cockapoos, that hypoallergenic element may be heavily watered down in some cases. Choosing to bring a Cockapoo in to your home purely because the breed was once described as hypoallergenic could be a mistake, because they might not be at all, so researching the genetic lines in your dog is really important. Don't forget you can also be allergic to dog saliva or dander, not just fur.

Cockapoos have been a really popular breed in recent times and sadly, this does attract puppy farmers. Puppy farmers do not breed ethically, which means breeding from stressed parents who often do not have basic welfare needs met. They also tend to breed from dogs that have behavioural or health problems which can be genetically passed on. All of this will affect puppies as well as parents, which is why no puppy is a blank slate.

Cockapoos have high grooming requirements and helping your dog to feel comfortable with daily grooming at home is important for their welfare. They will also need regular grooming with a professional dog groomer.

Cockapoos are lovely, intelligent dogs, often bundles of fun. In the right home, they can do amazingly well and be wonderful, funny companions. I have mentioned puppy farms in this post but there are plenty of ethical breeders who really care for the health and wellbeing of their dogs and puppies. If you’re prepared to put lots of time and effort in offering your cockapoo an enriched life, with plenty of stimulation, appropriate outlets for the working dog drive, then a Cockapoo can make a great companion and you’ll love their big personality. But please consider all of this if you fall in love with that teddy-like appearance and don’t assume that they will be happy with a sofa dog life.

Please note: this post was written to consider the needs of a popular crossbreed and not to debate if the 'Cockapoo' should or should not be considered a breed. Although the Cockapoo is not a registered breed and is a crossbreed dog, the label 'Cockapoo' is functional as we all know exactly the crossbreed that it applies to.

10/03/2022

Apply via the HPRGA- the link is in the advert

Candidates will work on hunting practice, steadiness, and the development of retrieving skills in woodland

08/03/2022

I apologise for being so quiet on here of late. I'm still nursing the hip injury from January and am not able to sustain my normal level of activity without pain afterwards. This includes daily stuff like shopping, and walking/training my own dogs, annoyingly!

So, Plan B ........
I'm not doing any 1:1 sessions at the moment - I have a number of group training commitments at weekends which I will fulfil, mainly as I have assistance with these and, if I manage my pain well, I can recover during the week. But, the more work I take on during the week, the less able I am to feel fit enough to cope with a full day's training at the weekend.

I really hope that normal service can resume very soon.
Stevie x

05/02/2022

Apply via the Central & Southern GSP Society website

HPR Hunting Training with Mark Firmin Venue : Handy Cross, High Wycombe, Bucks Date : 20th February 2022 Time : Approximately 9am until 3pm including a break Number of people : 6 ​ Level :...

14/01/2022

This explains a lot about Gundogs getting distracted by scent!