Gundog Training Forum

I am probably getting another ess (this will be my second. My current dog will be 3.5 years old) next spring and I am considering sending her away to be trained. not necessary a trialling dog but a picking up one .
Mainly due to time constraints with a new job and the hope of getting a fully "polished" dog back.
So has anyone sent their pup to a professional trainer for either part or full training?

What age did you send it?

How long did it take?

How much did it cost?

Anything else I should consider, benefits and/or downsides?

Its just a consideration at the moment and I am sure training her myself will be easier than my current one.

instead of getting a pup, then sending it for training, would it not be better to get the same dog ,when its ready for you?
This may also be less expensive (when you add it up )

You'd be cheaper buying a fully trained adult

I agree. Take a look around for and go to visit a few adult trained dogs. If you like the dog and if the price is right , buy it. Doing this would almost certainly be cheaper than buying a pup, rearing it to training age and then sending it away for residential training. Doing this would also mean you can buy a dog that you actually think is good and which is pleasing to you. There is no guarantee that you would definetly like a pup that you bought.

Wullie

This particular trainer rarely has part or fully trained dogs for sale. I have been on waiting list for 2 years for a pup and have been told that I can expect one next April

If one shoe shop doesn't sell your size try another one or three.

Wullie

If youve waited 2 years its because you really want a dog from this kennel. If youre buying a top line springer be concious it will be a hunting animal.. Not necessarily a picking up dream dog. But if you go that way it can work well. But a) you wont get a polished dog back, itll be well trained but you'll just as quickly untrain it of you dont keep up the work. By that i mean say its sent off for 8 weeks at 8 months old... You'll get a fastracked (still pup) back that'll have had good training, but is still a pup and still needs taking on, giving experience and that polish. B) you'll have to resist the temptation to do anything with the pup yourself for 6 months. C) you will need to spend as much again in training for yourself to keep the dog at the standard it should be.

Good luck.. I was in a similar situation, dog had 8 weeks training with trainer until my contract ended, worked for me, not the cheapestway, but wouldnt change anything, have a dog i absolutely love and count myself lucky.

As others have said, it's a very expensive business. If you want your pup to be trained to the standard of a polished shooting dog then most trainers will take it at 8 months old and give it back to you at 18 months old and even then it won't have much if any experience in the shooting field. That's 10 months at around £100-£150 a week. Alot of wonga, £4,000 at the least. And you still don't know that the dog will suit you, will suit the job you want it to do and not have any faults. There's alot to lose. Why stick with this one particular kennel? There are lots of reputable trainers out there, do your homework and you should find yourself a well mannered, well trained spaniel for around £1,500.

If you want a trained dog and don't want to train it yourself then definately buy one that is fully trained rather than buiying a pup and sending it away for training.
The previous advice on these lines is quite right and Wullie and others are spot on - not all pups will make the grade so why take the risk that whatever pup you get might not turn out to be what you want - it might develop some fault (eg: making a noise) or could even turn out too hot for you to maintain its standard.
I don't understand why you are waiting 2 years for a particular ESS pup to train as a picking up dog - is there something really special about these dogs that's worth a 2 year wait?
Trained dogs are absolute bargains and much lower cost and lower risk than buying a puppy and getting it trained.
If you can find one in the next few months it would be all ready to go for the coming season.