Gundog Training Forum

My husband wants a dog to take out shooting with him and I would like to beat/pickup with it on his game shoots, however due to work commitments he doesn't have time to train one but I do. Is it possible for me to train a dog to work with my husband? He could do a bit on occasion, or is this going to confuse the dog? He says a dog can only have one master so it wouldn't work but I'm not convinced, to me a command is a command and if you've both got a good relationship with the dog surely it will work as well for either owner?

it will work tell him he is wrong ha ha.all you have to look at is the trialing men.some of them get other lads to run their dogs for them.

allan450 wrote:it will work tell him he is wrong ha ha.all you have to look at is the trialing men.some of them get other lads to run their dogs for them.

Whilst that is true these "lads" will often keep the dogs in there kennels from now onwards if not before for a good lenght of time To build the rappor needed to trial. Trust is the key.
My advice would b 4 u 2 train it then on occasion for him to come out with you so the dog gets the idea.
I can work my wifes dog, but he isnt in tune to my way of workin. So yes it can b done.

Thank you that's all I needed to hear.

Yes it can be done, be wary of the number of things you expect one dog to do for two different people.

Never works to its full potential. Trialling maybe as there's a large slice of luck involved, you can polish up manners and succeed, but imo not if you want a dog to hunt for you and build a proper partnership. Shoot over you own dog.

There are a few in the States that are run by one spouse one day and the other the next that do really well, but I am not sure of the training prior to the trial (i.e. which spouse is doing most of the training).

As long as you are both consistent with your commands, and the dog is well trained, it should be fine. Your husband will just need some 'driving lessons' to make sure he is doing the same thing as you and keeping the commands the same. The dog will soon get used to it. My partner often runs or uses my dogs to work (and I have even let a very good friend of mine run them) and they work just as well for him.

I am sure you will have no problem as long as training is consistent. Plenty of people in North America send their dogs to pro trainers who handle them in tests and trials and the owner handles them as well when they are home.

Everything is possible, but how will you feel if you train the dog up to a high standard & your husband takes it out shooting & allows a major fault to develop, or vice versa? Quite a possibility.