Does anyone know of any clubs or classes in the Richmond/Surrey area
Many thanks, Jenny

Hi Jenny, what sort of gundog do you have?  For labs there is the Kent Surrey and Sussex Lab.Ret. Club which has a working section.  Meeting at various locations throughout the spring and summer.  South Eastern Gundog Club also meet throughout the summer months again various locations.  Bakadam Gundog Training Club meets weekly around the Westerham (Kent) area in the summer, monthly outside in winter and weekly indoors at Keston (near Biggin Hill/Bromley).  United Retriever Club also meet monthly around Kent/Sussex.  Utility Gundog Club has a branch around Arundel and there is Guildford Gundog Club which I don't know much about.  I'm sure John will spot this post and also give you some valuable advice.  Post again if I can help you anymore.
Lorna

Hi Lorna  I have a seven month old lab.  Thanks very much for all the info.  It's been really helpful.  I've just done a search and have come up with contacts for most of the clubs you suggested.
regards Jenny

I think Lorna has covered most in your area. Hope you get fixed up with some training.

Best wishes, John

Hi Jenny, hope you manage to contact some of the clubs.  The KSS have some training on the sussex/surrey borders but the locations change each year, according to demand and available ground.  South Eastern Gundog Society have a website with info on it.  What lines is your lab from?  (I only ask because one of my labs is a Surrey girl!!
Lorna

Hi Lorna, I thought people would be busy over the w/e so will try contacting them next week.  My pups sire was Endacott Soames of Riversway (most of his ancestors are from Kennel name Endacott, Glenbriar, Drakeshead, Palgrave, Swinbrook and Holdgate) although there are others.  His dam was a working bitch (fifth generation they had owned).  Millbuies Dust Lad and Kenswick Hamish seem well known in her pedigree (or at least they crop up on google!).  He also has some show blood as Kupros Master Mariner is there.  Although I've found familiar name that keep cropping up in my searches it's more difficult to find out about character etc.  Also I'm a total beginner at this sort of thing so I'm kind of playing in the dark.  Do you work your labs and are they from working lines?  My brother shoots in Berks so if Jazz makes the grade I'm sure he'll take him out with him.
best wishes Jenny

HI Jenny

Just caught up - did anyone mention that the URC meet the first Sunday in the month at Bears Rails, Windsor Great Park to train?    John is one of the trainers there.

Also, husband is membership Sec.of Guildford Working Gundog Club, but we don't start training until the spring.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Wow! You have one of Ann Courtier's Endacot's puppies!! I'm green!! It was her Dusk I always intended to use on my Anna but things never worked out the way I'd planned. Still, Ann's promised me a puppy when I'm ready.

Best wishes, John

Jenny, sounds like a good dog.  I know Soames, he is out with us at SEGS training sometimes.  He's a lovely looking dog and a great worker.  He is also the father of a dog I am interested in using at stud for my younger lab.  I would say get some basic training advice from John, if you are new to gundog training, and this will stand you in good stead for more training in the spring when most of the clubs start up again.
Lorna

Thank you all for your advice, info and comments.  Although Jazz is first and foremost a family pet (and we're all totally smitten!), I'm pretty sure it's something he would enjoy and it would be lovely to see him doing something he was bred to do.
Lorna,  I shall start contacting the clubs today.  It's great to hear you know Soames.  I have a picture of him and a list of his achievements but it's even better when someone has seen him in action.
Jo / John, do they have beginners classes at Windsor or would my pup need to have basic training.  He went to puppy classes and did an eight week basic obedience clicker class.  They were fine and he picked it up really quickly, only drawback was that because they were food treat orientated I think he was often concentrating more on the food than on me! - well he is a lab!   Am I wrong in assuming it would be better to find a local obedience class that does not use food?
Thanks for the link Clare.  Had a quick look last night - I'm rapidly becoming a dog forum addict!!!
Best wishes, Jenny

HI, i work my dog, and he has similar lines to you, drakeshead, swinbrook, holdgate he is froom working lines, but that dosnt really matter, any dog can be trained, we have a terrier on out shoot, and one man trained his collie to work !!!!!

it is a good, idea to go to classes though as it gives you plenty of support if problems crop up
have a look at this message board you might find some usefull topics on there
http://pub109.ezboard.com/bgundogandbirddogforums

Clare