Gundog Training Forum

The answer to the opening question would be; That would depend upon the pup, the trainer, and the depth of your pocket! As others though, within 3 months, the basics (and never forget that 'basic' is just that), should be in place within 'about' three months. I've a 15 month old cocker dog, and he's finally starting to wake up!

Just last Saturday a gun on a shoot asked if I knew anything about a certain local "professional" trainer.
I replied that I knew of him and asked why.
The man told me he was sending his young lab to him to be fully trained. This would take 6 weeks and cost £600 including boarding.
All I could think to say was it seemed good value. I didn't want to comment on the trainer as I'd struggle to find anything positive to say about his methods from personal experience but that might be just me and my dogs.
If "romanriver" is reading this - the dog is going to your neighbour!

I've always said I could train 2 labs to a good standard in about the same time as it takes me to train one spaniel. I've also said I could train 3 labs in about the same time as it takes me to train an HPR ! This is mainly because HPR's in particular have to be trained on game and yet more game but labs only need game in the later stages of their training.

I've already told a man wanting an HPR trained that it will take me about a year ! I was not lying.

Wullie

I was told that 'a blind man could train a Lab before breakfast' (Not true)!

The famous saying associated with the late & great Joe Greatorex is that he could train a spaniel while going to feed the chickens.

Naj

Yeah yeah, but how many years of chicken feeding did it take?

Did the chickens die of old age?

That would have helped with steadiness.

CMO wrote:Hi
My thoughts on basic training are:
- walk to heel
- stop on whistle
- drop to shot
- retrieving to hand
-hunting close with shooting range
-quartering .
- possibly taking direction on hand signals.

I hope this makes the question a little bit clearer.
Thanks for the replies .

What would a spaniel be expected to do beyond this? If it was being trialled or the like?

Obviously it would be doing all of this in the presence of game, but is that it? Do you do the above on dummies, then proof it on game, them trial it?

That's why I think it takes longer to train a spaniel or an HPR to a decent basic standard than it does a lab. I'd expect a spaniel or an HPR to have done some hunting on game and be reasonably steady when it flushes game.
A more "finished" dog of any breed would also have more game experience. That takes time, effort and fuel money for travelling expenses unless the trainer has game on his doorstep....and I don't mean inside a rabbit pen. I am spending £30 to £40 per week on fuel at present taking my Brittany to an estate I can hunt her over.

25 to 30 years ago I was being offered £60 per week to train HPR's. That was considerably more than a lab would have cost but the extra went on travelling expenses....... and on time and boot leather !

Wullie