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Do You Have a Dog Training Buddy?
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September 30, 2010
Do You Have a Dog Training Buddy?
By David DiBenedetto
With the exception of my older brother, who lives three hours away, and a pro, who is also quite a ways down the road, I have mostly trained Pritchard alone. At first this was how I liked it. But lately I’ve realized the upside to having training partners. You can share tips and tricks, and even commiserate when things go south. In addition, a partner may have better access to land and birds.
The best way to get in the company of other gun doggers is to join a local club or even one at the national level. Here in Charleston, I recently joined the Charleston Retriever Club and just a few days later was invited to attend a training day sponsored by Avery Sporting Dog. There will be hunt test scenarios, water work, and even lunch. I also belong to the Carolina Boykin Spaniel Retriever Club, where last year Pritch and I thoroughly embarrassed ourselves at a hunt test (photo above), but received a bucketful of helpful training advice and support.
On the national level I know groups like the North American Hunting Retriever Association are also extremely popular and offer variety of hunt tests through local clubs and host events throughout the year.
My advice for those amateurs just starting in the training game: Don’t go it alone. Find a training partner or join a club and find a whole slew of training partners. The access to training days, local pros and hunt tests is invaluable.
I’m curious how many of you belong to gun dog clubs (and what ones) or if you rather train alone?
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Comments (10)
If you want to hunt your dog with other dogs you have to train with other dogs. I train alone initially then get together with other trainers. I'm a member of 3 gundog clubs here in NZ.
sadly i dont have a dog to train....
Wish there was something around here for that.....basically just have my Dad and Uncle and our dogs are all different. But the tips help. Just don't get to hunt or work the dogs together very often. We all live to far away for that.
Suppose to go to the Avery training day this weekend but I dont think im going to be able to make it. Im not a member of a retriever club but have alot of guys trying to get me to join the Carolina Boykin Spaniel retriever club. They are having trials this weekend as well.
The best thing about training with other dogs: When one of them has worse habits than your own dog. There's great power in an ego boost!
I ran in my first hunt test last weekend with my 18 month old black lab. we passed one junior session and got DQ'ed on the other one. we had a blast and i strongly recommend training with friends, it is the only way you can simulate the test and hunting situations. keep in mind, no matter how you do, your dog will still have a blast, and it's only your pride at stake!
joined the NAHRA just before leaving CO and looking for a local one around here.
my wife and i have been tossing the idea back and forth about getting a puppy this spring. i started hunting waterfowl a few years ago with my father-in-law who has already trained two dogs to hunt. i know that i will have him there as a guide/training partner but still feel hesitant about buying a pup and training it for fear of failure as a trainer/owner and fear that the dog will not reach its full potential. I know the thought of failure is part of this gig. I guess i just need someone other than my father-in-law to talk me into going forward with this. Any ideas?
Tank and Jessie are Finished Gun Dogs. As pups they both went through the rigors of field tests and comps. The only way I could have given them a structured training regiment was through a club. The PSLRA gave my pups what they deserve ~ spot on training.
Moved here three years ago from Washington State and will adopt my 3rd black lab this coming Monday. I'm researching a couple of local kennels here for a possible lead for a good training organization for the 2 year old spayed female. I agree with you sir, structured training via partners or certified instructors is what's best for the gun dog and owner. We will both get so much more out of the hunt, the owner/dog relationship and the retriever will be a better "outdoor citizen" because of it.
DdiB ~ good post, thank you.
CastMaster25— I entered this game as pretty much a rank amateur (and still am) when I got Pritch. Have been an outdoorsman my entire life...and I can honestly say that hunting with my dog is one of the coolest things I've done. There's so much great instruction out there in form of books, DVDs, blogs, forums you'd be hard pressed to totally screw up...and then there are clubs to join as mentioned above.
As they say at Nike, Just Do It. You won't be let down...and keep us posted. I'm sure the rest of the gang here would agree.
ps- any questions shoot me an email at mbfcontest@gmail.com.
I mostly go it alone due to the fact that there are very few bird dog organizations in WV. Beagle, Coon, and Bear dogs are out the butt but bird dogs....pitiful! I joined NAVHDA and then joined the local NAVHDA chapter. Only two guys would show up at trial days. I also joined the WV Bird Dog Association but have missed both of the "published" trial days which would be posted maybe a month before the trial. I am going to drop NAVHDA, not so much that the local chapter canceled their fall test day, but the fact that my wife's Brittany doesn't care to swim. The wife got the dog to hunt grouse with and NAVHDA is all about versatility, i.e. ducks and upland birds. When we knock a grouse out of the air here in the mountains of WV there is little chance of it falling in a stream larger than a brook trout lives in so I don't train for versatility....we are looking for a woodcock, grouse, quail and chukar dog; I hope those big pheasants out west next year don't spur her!
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If you want to hunt your dog with other dogs you have to train with other dogs. I train alone initially then get together with other trainers. I'm a member of 3 gundog clubs here in NZ.
sadly i dont have a dog to train....
Wish there was something around here for that.....basically just have my Dad and Uncle and our dogs are all different. But the tips help. Just don't get to hunt or work the dogs together very often. We all live to far away for that.
Suppose to go to the Avery training day this weekend but I dont think im going to be able to make it. Im not a member of a retriever club but have alot of guys trying to get me to join the Carolina Boykin Spaniel retriever club. They are having trials this weekend as well.
The best thing about training with other dogs: When one of them has worse habits than your own dog. There's great power in an ego boost!
I ran in my first hunt test last weekend with my 18 month old black lab. we passed one junior session and got DQ'ed on the other one. we had a blast and i strongly recommend training with friends, it is the only way you can simulate the test and hunting situations. keep in mind, no matter how you do, your dog will still have a blast, and it's only your pride at stake!
joined the NAHRA just before leaving CO and looking for a local one around here.
my wife and i have been tossing the idea back and forth about getting a puppy this spring. i started hunting waterfowl a few years ago with my father-in-law who has already trained two dogs to hunt. i know that i will have him there as a guide/training partner but still feel hesitant about buying a pup and training it for fear of failure as a trainer/owner and fear that the dog will not reach its full potential. I know the thought of failure is part of this gig. I guess i just need someone other than my father-in-law to talk me into going forward with this. Any ideas?
Tank and Jessie are Finished Gun Dogs. As pups they both went through the rigors of field tests and comps. The only way I could have given them a structured training regiment was through a club. The PSLRA gave my pups what they deserve ~ spot on training.
Moved here three years ago from Washington State and will adopt my 3rd black lab this coming Monday. I'm researching a couple of local kennels here for a possible lead for a good training organization for the 2 year old spayed female. I agree with you sir, structured training via partners or certified instructors is what's best for the gun dog and owner. We will both get so much more out of the hunt, the owner/dog relationship and the retriever will be a better "outdoor citizen" because of it.
DdiB ~ good post, thank you.
CastMaster25— I entered this game as pretty much a rank amateur (and still am) when I got Pritch. Have been an outdoorsman my entire life...and I can honestly say that hunting with my dog is one of the coolest things I've done. There's so much great instruction out there in form of books, DVDs, blogs, forums you'd be hard pressed to totally screw up...and then there are clubs to join as mentioned above.
As they say at Nike, Just Do It. You won't be let down...and keep us posted. I'm sure the rest of the gang here would agree.
ps- any questions shoot me an email at mbfcontest@gmail.com.
I mostly go it alone due to the fact that there are very few bird dog organizations in WV. Beagle, Coon, and Bear dogs are out the butt but bird dogs....pitiful! I joined NAVHDA and then joined the local NAVHDA chapter. Only two guys would show up at trial days. I also joined the WV Bird Dog Association but have missed both of the "published" trial days which would be posted maybe a month before the trial. I am going to drop NAVHDA, not so much that the local chapter canceled their fall test day, but the fact that my wife's Brittany doesn't care to swim. The wife got the dog to hunt grouse with and NAVHDA is all about versatility, i.e. ducks and upland birds. When we knock a grouse out of the air here in the mountains of WV there is little chance of it falling in a stream larger than a brook trout lives in so I don't train for versatility....we are looking for a woodcock, grouse, quail and chukar dog; I hope those big pheasants out west next year don't spur her!
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