Residential Training

[Lazar]

Has anybody on this site took there dog for residential training, i'm in 2 mines weather to do this i would be interested in anyone's experiance's also what length of time was your dog left.

[Judy]

From what I've seen of professional trainers probably not or, at least, I would be highly selective as to which I sent my dog to. As to length of time, it depends on what you want the dog trained to do, for basic obedience not very long, for a fully trained gun dog, some time, also depends on the dog to a degree, some dogs pick up things quicker than others.

[Tina]

I really want to train my dog myself, we are hugely bonded and to be honest that is about the only thing we have going in our partnership because otherwise we are both complete novices making lots of mistakes. But I would be really interested in residential training for us both! HPR specific trainers are few and far between where I live. My dog is 15-months-old and its critical we get into good habits. We've had two sessions with a trainer but he's 1.5hr drive away and anyway is too busy to manage more than one session a month. I feel like time is slipping away.

I'd love one week out hunting everyday with a someone who knows the HPR breeds. Has anyone heard of such a "holiday"?

[Stacia]

There are (or were) residential holidays for HPR and owners but it is way down in Devon sadly. Hope there are some nearer to you.

[romanriver]

Steve Kimberley does residential weeks up North too

[Tina]

Thanks for the tips. I looked at Steve Kimberley's website but could only see courses at his home in Devon? It looks like I will need to travel and invest a considerable amount of time and money into getting this right. Both of which are in short supply!

[trekmoor]

One possibility Tina is Peter O' Driscoll who lives near Kelso in the Scottish borders. He is a "pointer man" but he does have experience of HPR's too.
Peter has access to grouse moors and he does, I think, do residential training classes but I don't know the cost. Peter has won the pointer/setter championships and he knows what it is like to have challenging dogs .....he's had a few !

If you contact him use my name if you want to .....and he'll probably refuse you point blank ! Only kidding Tina, use my name if you want to , Peter and I get on well but rarely meet nowadays coz I can't walk far anymore.

He's an Englishman .....but that's not his fault !

Wullie

[Tina]

One possibility Tina is Peter O' Driscoll who lives near Kelso in the Scottish borders. He is a "pointer man" but he does have experience of HPR's too.

Wullie

Thanks for this Wullie, I've only just spotted this post. I haven't come across his name so far surfing the web so I will definitely check it out.

If I'm honest, my biggest problem is that after going "back to basics" for months I'm now really nervous of trying hunting again without someone more experienced on my shoulder. The past months of basic training have had a big positive impact. My dog is retrieving enthusiastically pretty much to hand, is really focused on me etc ... I' scarred of losing that

[trekmoor]

You'd be O.K. with Peter Tina, he is a big , soft spoken man with a lot of experience of hunting dogs and of taking training classes. He has been judging HPR competitions for a few years now. He has live in accommodation right beside his own house, or did have last I heard. I am not certain but I think your dog might have to live in one of his kennels if you stay there though ?

Remember that he can probably only take you where there is game during what's left of this month. After that birds will be nesting and the next time work among game might be possible would not be until July. He is very busy by July and August as that is when he does the field trial circuit all over Britain with his own pointers (English.)

If you contact him , say "Hello" from me to him and his wife Geraldine.

Wullie (Bill Thayne to Peter.)