School's out for the best

It’s an anxious time of year, writes Ellena Swift, when new dogs are introduced to shoots and some will require more training

- Ellena Swift

Now more than ever, many gundog enthusiasts around the country are excited and preparing for the shooting season. A lot of those are novices or first-time handlers and will currently be wondering whether their dog is now ready for the season.

Are the dogs’ and handlers’ skills good enough to be useful on the shooting field? Like most things in the gundog world, there are a hundred different answers to this question.

Everything is based on personal experience and at some point that will have been the correct approach for a single dog. So for each individual it is a difficult question to answer with a blanket response.

Any trainer worth their salt will have seen a lot more dogs ruined by rushing and overwhelming them. Sadly, it is a common occurrence. Many handlers allow the excitement and anticipation of working their dog on a shoot to rule their decisions on training. I tell my clients that a dog can only learn at their own pace and should be trained as such – every dog is different.

Despite being a difficult question to answer, there are factors that can help to make a decision. Firstly, it depends on the job you intend for your dog. For example, if I am training a dog for the beating line, I will not take it on a shoot day unless I have had the dog out walking birds or dogging-in first.

It is a good way to test the most vital tool in your box for a day spent beating – the stop whistle. Without a solid stop whistle on live game, there is very little point in taking the dog out. The heel is not crucial, as a lead will suffice.

Recall is also extremely handy in the beating line, but if you have a solid stop one can simply walk and pop a lead on when required.