When it comes to training your gundog or indeed any other dog, there are two options, do it yourself or get someone else to do it for you. Both have advantages and disadvantages for you and indeed the dog, like me some people get great pleasure out of training and working the dog; others do not, they just want the end product, a trained dog. For many, training a dog can be a daunting task and takes up a great deal of time - if you want to get it right. The logical option is to send your dog away to a trainer to do it for you, but it is not a decision a dog owner should make on a whim.
The first option is residential Dog training.
Dogs learn from repetition plus consistency and through positive reward based training, something which a reputable trainer will be doing with a dog on a daily basis, often several time a day. First, the trainer will need time to start to form a relationship with the dog to help get the best from it, then set up the dogs understanding of the commands and what is required, then and only then start to push on with the dogs understanding of those commands. This is not something that can be done in a weekend. Depending on the dog it can take several weeks or even months for the dog to have developed that learned behaviour.
That learned behaviour, method of reward and correction then has to be taught to the dog owner, which is generally done at the end of a residential stay when the dog is handed back. The handler then has to remember everything to ensure that the training is continued in the same consistent and persistent positive manner. In theory you have a dog that is better trained than the owner at this point, where everything it's learnt is in the trainers environment; we now risk a period of relearning in the owner’s environment, an environment where previously it was allowed to get away with things, which can be a challenge to both owner and the dog.
The alternative to residential training are Private Dog Training Lessons.
Often referred to as 1-2-1 training andconducted on a regular basis. This is a more common approach to training, but again the secret is to seek out a suitable trainer, one that works his own dogs in the same environment you wish to work your own, such as the beating line, picking up or as a Guns peg dog. Get them to show you there dog in action and some idea of how they train their own dog. Once you are happy the trainer is the one for you, book a series of lessons, frequency will depend greatly on what time you get, but remember between the lessons you will need to carry out the training you are shown, which is vital as follow up training to every lesson.
A suitable trainer will watch you and your dog’s progression and set you up for success, but will not have you running before you can walk! The lessons will increase the length of time it takes in getting the training into your dog in the early stages, as you also have to get your head around training your own dog. Remember the fundamental here is that, your trainer is training you to train your dog, rather than simply a be dog owner or handler.
In conclusion; residential training is training your dog for you, with no input from you. But without that knowledge of why it's done the way it's done, and getting you to replicate the training when you are on your own with your dog. Whereas 1-2-1 training is by far and away the most rewarding, in the end you and your dog will have a set of new skills from the start, that can last for the life of the dog and your time together.
My own personal choice would be a mixture of both. Start with your trainer and dedicated private 1-2-1 lessons, build that vital relationship with your trainer, take on board what he is telling you and implement the training in yourself and your dog. Then, with this foundation level in place and a firm understanding, you may then benefit from residential training as adding the polish towards the end of the training, so giving you a quicker way towards a fully functional trained dog.
