Take revision classes

With a semblance of normality returning at last, Sika is able to resume her training under the expert tutelage of gundog guru Ellena Swift

- Ellena Swift

These are unprecedented times and due to COVID–19, Sika has not been featuring as much as she should in training. Fortunately we are moving to more normal times and I am lucky enough to have resumed training. She has spent this time with her owner and has had some real success being shot over. She has walked to heel, been steady watching pigeon being shot and retrieved them like an absolute pro. She will continue her education on game this season. As I have said before, she is a sensitive little dog and so we are proceeding slowly to ensure she can cope with everything.

It is common for people to attempt to train a dog at a pace that suits them. The reality is that a dog can only be trained at its own pace and not the human’s. With this in mind, over the next few weeks I am going to be refreshing Sika’s training and going back over the basics.

I am going to increase the intensity of her training slightly, in that I am going to use a starter pistol and sometimes cold game as well as dummies. This time of year is a great time to be going over everything you will need ready for the season.

IN DETAIL

SIKA (AGE 2): REFRESHER TRAINING

FIRSTLY, I cover some basic heel work. There are some who would argue spaniels struggle to heel, or that it is difficult to teach them this basic skill. However, there is no reason why they should not heel just as well as any other breed. Sika’s owner wishes her to be his peg dog, shooting companion in the hide and rough-shooting dog. So there will be times when she will have to heel, for example when walking to peg or when she is not required to hunt when rough shooting.