Puppy Gundog

Give Your Puppy The Right Start on Our Puppy Gundog Training Course

Based on the Life Skills for Puppies Concept established at the University of Lincoln

by leading Veterinary Behaviourists Helen Zulch & Daniel Mills.

Our Puppy Gundog Course is designed for anyone starting out on their training journey with a pet or working gundog puppy.

The course has then been adapted to incorporate basic age-appropriate Gundog Skills to help pet owners channel the natural instincts of their family gundog puppy.

For all gundog breed puppies under 5 months of age at the start of the course.

Our Puppy Gundog Courses are held in small groups and are perfect for puppies that are either family pets or those destined to be working dogs.

The course focuses on preventing problem behaviours before they start, helping your puppy develop into a well-trained and well-behaved dog. It's so much easier getting it right the first time round, than trying to fix bad habits with an older dog.

Gundog breeds, such as retrievers, spaniels, and HPR breeds, often require more stimulation and engagement than other dogs, especially in the countryside. That's why our training is specifically tailored for pet gundog breeds.

Our courses will help you understand your gundog's natural instincts, understand their predation pattern and teach you skills to help harness them, such as retrieving, chasing, and hunting, that are age-appropriate, fun and without any unnecessary pressure.

These activities provide an outlet for their instincts and can be incorporated into your daily walks & routine.

Without focused training, these instincts can lead to unwanted behaviours during adolescence. Harnessing these natural tendencies is more effective than trying to suppress them, ensuring a well-adjusted and happy dog.

Success for you and your puppy on this course does rely on you being committed to the training and putting the time and effort into training outside of class.

What you will learn...

The course lays the foundations for early learning and will assist you as a new puppy owner in understanding basic training techniques, preventing problems from arising later down the line.

Ideal for puppies under 20 weeks of age at the start of the first in-person session.

Our approach emphasises fun and enjoyment for both you and your puppy, employing positive reinforcement techniques involving food and toys.

Classes are conducted in an outdoor, relaxed environment all year round, mirroring real-life scenarios rather than in traditional village halls.

Skills Covered:

Puppy Basics; Sit, Lay Down, Come when called, Walk nicely on a Loose Lead, Focus & Engagement games, Leave it, Drop, Settle/'Off Switch', Polite Greetings and appropriate Play, Vet Checks, and overall manners.

Gundog Skills; Whistle cues, Hunting patterns, Retrieval and much more...

When Should I Start?

As soon as possible... it's far easier to teach your puppy the right behaviours from the start than trying to change them once they've already become established.

Interested?

Included in the course:

The course gives you 8 weeks of structured training and support, helping you build strong foundations from the very beginning and develop the skills your puppy will need as they grow.

Week 1 – Pre-Course Online Training
Before your practical sessions begin, you’ll get access to a series of online training videos to work through at home with your puppy. These introduce the key foundations we’ll build on throughout the course.

Live Zoom Induction & Q&A
You’ll then join a live Zoom session where we’ll talk through the course, help you get started and answer any questions before your practical training begins.

6 x 1-Hour Practical Training Sessions
You’ll attend six weekly, in-person sessions at our training venue, where we’ll work with you and your puppy to develop essential life skills alongside age-appropriate gundog training.

Whether your puppy is destined to become a much-loved pet, a working gundog, or a little bit of both, our focus is on building a confident, responsive dog and a great relationship between you.

Training support between classes

You’ll also receive access to our video-based homework guides, with short demonstrations and explanations of the exercises covered during your classes.

This means you can revisit the exercises at home, practise at your own pace and make sure you’re progressing between sessions.

Access to a Private WhatsApp Group
End of Term Puppy Gift Pack from our Sponsors: Pureflax, Hoddys, and Sporting Saint.

You'll receive a welcome email with an access link to the Online video-based content upon booking, for you to work on before your first practical session. These will be via the Paws & Play Gundogs App.

Please Note:

Please note that refunds will not be given if you are no longer able to attend your booking, they are ill during the course and you're no longer able to continue.
Places are not confirmed until payment has been received. If you reserve a place choosing to book via BACs but someone pays before you - unfortunately they'll get the place.
A session may be covered over a live Zoom session if the weather is too cold/severe in the Winter months, or too hot in the Summer months, this is for the welfare of your dogs.

Course Dates

Monday, 5:30 PM - Holmesfield, Sheffield

£144 - 7 week course - payment required to reserve your place

Due to the darker nights and teaching outside, there will be no evening course this term.

Wednesday, 11 AM - Wardlow, Bakewell

£144 - 7 week course - payment required to reserve your place.

You'll receive your Welcome email & at-home online video-based practicals at the time of booking to help you get started straight away.

Week 1: 04 November - Zoom Induction Session - 6pm

Week 2-7: 6x hourly, in-person practical dates: