First visit to a trainer

[Suveran]

Hi all
I have been bumbling along so far attempting to train my boy with some success and indeed some failures, so I have decided to go to a trainer for some help.
I have been in contact with a guy who was recommended to me by one of the staff at our vets.
We had a chat in regards to what I have tried to do with Erol so far and he has said that he does a small group session but would like to get together for the first lesson on a 121 basis to assess my and the dogs capabilities.
It was then that I had the sudden realisation that “was I ready for this” , do I have Erol where he should be in order to start the next level of training....
I just wanted to ask if anyone could give me a heads up in regards to what to expect on this 121 session and what I may be asked to do.
Obviously every trainer is different and has there own way but a few pointers will surely help me prepare.
Thanks

[trekmoor]

Personally, if I were the trainer you are going to see, I'd prefer to see the pup "as is" rather than see it after some hasty training done following possibly conflicting advice from several people over the internet. Sometimes too many cooks spoil the broth.

Wullie

[Suveran]

Thanks trekmoor, I agree with that. We are going there to be trained evidently so the exercise is to improve on what we have already done. So he will come as he is.
I’m just not sure on what to expect..

So far his:

Re call - pretty good however it’s not proven whilst there are many distractions around. Work in progress

Heel work - is reasonable, I can walk him around making turns and stops etc but not sure I could keep him there off lead over any distance without him finding something more interesting.

Will sit to the whistle but only near or around me not at any distance

Steadiness- is a work in progress. I have been introducing the bangs using party poppers as per a previous post and he will sit up next me no problem and doesn’t seem bothered by them. But throw him a dummy and he’s off after it before his que, I can sit him up next to me and do nothing for about 2 mins max before he wants to go off and explore and needs correcting

Retrieving- this is a minor disaster zone hence the need for professional help. He will run in before his que. has no problem finding or picking up the dummies and carrying them but finds it far more fun to skip around the place with it than bringing it to me. This is an area of much frustration for me.

[munstyman]

Agree with Wullie. Too often handlers want to put a gloss on their dog and want to show how good they are, when in reality if your going to see a trainer, what they want to see is how you and the dog work together and as many flaws in your `real' dog in as shorter time as possible so they can move you on. ( I mean in training terms not off to another trainer although that is an option )
The dog will always be better on strange ground, this in itself will make the assessment harder for the trainer, let alone with you embellishing on the dogs good points and steering clear of the problem areas out of misguided embarrassment.
Generally I chat first to get an idea of where you think the dog is at, and what type of training will best suit you and the dog. I will then put you and the dog through general exercises to watch the dogs reaction and interaction. The dog will tell me the accuracy of what you told me up to that point
Unless something is glaringly obvious, and needs addressing quickly, I don't do a lot of `training' during an assessment ( first) visit as it will easily eat through an hour or two on its own. Usually in the summary at the end I'll give you some exercises to do, and/ or show you how to do them with your dog if its necessary. It will then be up to you if you want to book another training session with me or find another trainer or go it alone.
This is what I do, its by no means what others will do, but you asked for an idea of what to expect. Personally I prefer those coming to me not to work `harder' on their training days before prior to coming, and just be prepared to put in that extra effort into the exercises after the session with hopefully a better technique/understanding

[trekmoor]

I think you are right in going to see a trainer. I think you said your pup is now 11 months old ??? By that age I would expect a lab pup to walk to heel, off lead even if there were a few distractions around.
I'd also, definitely expect it to be steady to a thrown dummy. The stop to whistle --- I'd expect a pup of that age to stop instantly out to at least 20 -30 yards. I'd have been building up on the distances I could stop him at since he was about 6 or 7 months old..... I've worked labs in trials at 11 months old !

Your pups retrieving appears to be at about the same standard as the standard I had with my daughters GSP pup when he was 5 -6 months old. He is now 7 months old and no longer plays about much with dummies as he returns with them, his delivery is not perfect but he does deliver dummies to hand.
I have not steadied him to dummy throws yet , he is now at the stage where he will remain sitting as a dummy is thrown ….if I have loosely draped a lead over his neck and shoulders. He would still run-in if I did not do that.

Personally, I would begin to train your dog a bit more seriously starting right now but remember what I said about "too many cooks !"
Do not let my ideas influence you too much. Go to the trainer and see what he recommends.

Wullie

[Suveran]

Muntysman, that was exactly what I was after spot on, Thank you.
I’m looking forward to furthering his and my training.

Wullie
Thanks for that, that gives me a good marker on where an experienced trainer / handler like yourself would be at this point. As I have said I’m a total noddy at this and have already been bitten for trying to rush through exercises with my limited experience and am now taking it steady as I don’t want to fudge things right up. Hence going to a trainer.
I have had him to a stage when he would sit steady to a thrown dummie, run out on que and bring it back and drop it at my feet and sit up but unfortunately this has all gone south, I think due to my inexperience. I’m not looking to do trialing with him I want a picking up dog for pheasant pigeon and duck shooting. My ambition is to have him working in the field with me by next season and then progress on from that.

[Springcopse spaniels]

Be truthful to yourself whilst talking to the trainer, the bigger the hill the bigger the fall. If they are experienced in gundog work they will most likely ask a good range of questions and hopefully with the correct answers from you not set the dog up to fail when you get underway but to understand its limitations. Then most likely set some homework!
Either way good luck!

[Aimeetess]

Depends if you can find a decent trainer, I can't seem to find a decent one within 70 minutes drive of me. Seems like the impossible, some of it is just a money pit at £50 for 45 minutes when you don't learn really anything.

If you find a good trainer they're worth their weight in gold, as I have a excellent horse trainer just a shame I can't find similar for the dog.

Report back once you have a lesson

[Miesque]

Give an honest assessment of your dog and be open to actually trying what you ask. So many seem to take one lesson and think they know it all! Be prepared for baby steps, backwards steps and giant leaps - dogs aren't robots. The trainer will probably see him hunt and retrieve, possibly in a rabbit pen and wlll quickly pick up on what needs work.

I drive an hour and a half each way for training - very much worth it if you find the right person

[Suveran]

Hi
I had my first one to one session / assessment with the trainer over the weekend, a little later than expected due to a few issues at home.
Well after the hours assessment my fears became a reality.
I have gone about things totally wrong way.
All was not a total disaster and my boy behaved relatively well but my so called training had all fell apart right in front of me.
I Couldn’t re call him to me after we done a memory retrieve which was a tad imbarrasing as I thought I had that pretty good.
Heel work was bloody awful but I was aware that wasn’t anywhere near where it should be.
I took all you lovely peoples advice and kept it as real as possible and tried to be honest even though I had over estimated our achievements.
We never done any training for about 2 days prior so as to not give the wrong impression.

I was given my homework and shown some very useful training exercises for heel work and sit stay and told to concentrate on that and nothing else and told to lose the whistle for the time being.
I was invited back to join a group of similar aged dogs in a couple of weeks providing I feel my homework is taking effect, which I was very pleased about.
All in all this was a great experience and has now got me on the right track. I only wish I had gone down this route from the start instead of going it alone.
So it’s time to get my head down and get the bloody basics right.
I have already noticed some improvement with the way he is walking on the lead with me and the sit stay exercise are going well.
Thanks for your tips everyone..

I would recommend to any noddy handlers out there who are like me and unsure of what to do.. go and see the pros for some advice as you will only end up making hard work for yourself in the long run.