Hi,

I have a 7 month old chocolate lab who has completed 8 weeks of obediance training but I would like to take him Gun Dog Training/ Field trials Training. Please can anyone recomend anything in the Northallerton area of North Yorkshire.

Many thanks.

Sorry Charlie, you are rather too far north for my contacts. I have a feeling that the United Retriever Club has taken in a new Area in the north of England. My best suggestion would be to ring the Secretary of the North Midlands Area, Mr P Wagland, phone 01909 476024. I know he gets around quite a bit so he may well be able to put you right.

Sorry I cant be of more help.

Regards, John

My boss where i work trains gundogs to a high standard but again too far away for you N/E Lincs, good luck with your search :)

I was right Charlie, I found the latest URC year book and there is now a Northern Area. The Secretary is Mrs Sarah Coomber-Smith, phone 01228-577066. Again, if this is no good for you she is a gundog person of long standing and will know of other clubs and societies in the north.

Best wishes, John

Anybody know of any in South Manchester, Cheshire area, preferably HPR?

Sorry, I'd love to help but although I know a few down here but HPR's are out of my line of contacts that far north.

Best wishes, John

Does anyone know where gun dog training is done on the Isle of Wight.

Sorry again Ebony, I have absolutely no contacts over there at all. Not much help am I!

Best wishes in your search, John

Many thanks for you help.

HI John,

Whereabouts are you based?
Murph is 9 months old and I've been wondering about gundog/agility or some form of training for him apart from obedience. He loves being outside and chasing rabbits and birds but I'm sure something more structured for him would exercise his brain as well as his body!

TTFN

Ruth

You could try the BASC National Gundog Helpline - 01823 480 923 as I am sure they will be able to give you contacts all over the country.

Hi Ruth. I'm in the South Bucks area I train with the United Retriever Club in a private area of Windsor Great Park but apart from that use possibly a dozen different places in this area.

Don't allow too much free chasing, this will loose you the control you need for gundog work. You are looking for a dog who works for you, not for it's self :)

I used to do a little obedience years ago but find the gundog work far more interesting. It is not so . . . . Inhibiting?? . . . not quite the word I’m looking for. . . . free'er??? .. possibly. Somehow the dog has to use it's brain and work things out for it's self rather than the more "Blind Obedience" of competitive obedience. Obedience is in a ring maybe 30 yards square, I work in an area covered by 3 farms which include two woods, a plantation, a brook and 6 ponds! This is not knocking the world of obedience, I had great fun during my time and still occasionally work or steward it.

I consider myself extremely lucky to have all this wonderful ground available to me!!

Best wishes, John

I bet your dogs love it, John!:)
Murph certainly would with all that water.....he can sniff water from a long distance!
We don't let him off lead too much now 'cos if he gets it into his head he's not coming back - he won't, until he's ready! There are lots of rabbits on the battlefield so lots of distractions. I'm going to use a long lunging reign on him so he can get the exercise but I've got control.

Thanks for the info.

TTFN

ruth

I emailed the Kennel Club via their site asking for a list of Field Trial Societies. They list all the ones registered with them that do field trials as well as working tests. I'm looking for one for my springer pup. Unfortunately, there wasn't one listed near me but I have been contacting societies who are fairly close to see if they have any information on training classes.

Helen

Charlie there is a man in Mount Grace who does gundog training - he has a display team that do the local shows called the Mount Grace Gundog Display Team. Not sure of his name or telephone number, I did have the info but it was in my car when it got stolen. You could try asking around the area or show orgainisers. i know he was at the Cleveland Show this year. I did look for a websit for you but no luck. Hopes this scant bit of info is of some use to you.

Thankyou I've managed to track down his contact number and I am going to contact him this weekend, really appreciate it.

Yea i heard he was a really good trainer ages ago mabe hes worth a try:)

Hi Charlie mine considered as a silver Lab here in the states but more on the chocolatee side when through obedience training which actually
helped me tremendously as well,in any case my Lab did very well and we both learned quite a bit incidentally Kobie (my Lab) is 8 months old extremely intelligent and good nature I guess the point I'm making is there should be a lot more people taking their puppies to obedience school it's well worth it in fact I learned so much myself that I'm taking my new pupp (a blue Wimie just to a few classes, the rest my wife
or I will do probably my wife do to the fact that she has a lot more patience than I do, the new pup's name is Jake and he's 4 months old
also very intelligent and a joy to have GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR LAB

Sincerely
Vic Esposito