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Di Ewing ran a Training Day on 12th April. We had 14 dogs there throughout
the day with 3 trainers, Jim Gale, Glenice Hillier and Michael Twist.
The dogs underwent an intensive day's training based around the 5 disciplines
required for the Novice Dog/Novice Handler Working Test which will be held in
August - heelwork, a mark (or seen retrieve), a blind (or unseen retrieve), a
retrieve from water and a double or left and right of seen dummies.
Almost all dogs were successful in the tests with the only failures coming at
the water with some dogs enjoying their swim but not wishing to retrieve the
dummy and others not wanting to get out of their depth. It is hoped, therefore,
that we will have a full card for the test later in the year. The day was warm
and dry and everyone seemed to have learned something, in fact one of the
stewards who volunteered for his task at short notice went home with four pages
of notes jotted down.
Many thanks to the trainers on the day, the stewards and all the landowners.
Two trainers have taken the time to give me their thoughts on the day.
The first is Jenny Hankey, she writes:
" The 5 exercises had been carefully thought out to give novice handlers the basic programme for them to train their dogs for the shooting field or a Novice Trial. I felt we should make every effort to combine the show and shooting side of gundogs and this was an excellent way to do just that. From my point of view it was lovely to see so many really good looking dogs doing what they were bred for. This excellent occasion can only improve the quality and standard of this breed in all areas."
Michael Twist wrote
"Five of us acted as trainers each dealing with a specific exercise at a given point while the trainees moved round the training ground in groups of 3 or 4. It was a demanding day, particularly for those who had come for help and instruction, a number having little idea what may be asked of them or their dogs. As the dogs came to me I tried to explain that the handlers must have faith in their dogs, the latter not being without intelligence which has to be developed. Rather like teaching a child to read and write, it has to be done in stages, each one mastered before moving on. This requires patience, repetition but, most importantly, always finishing on a good note before the pupil becomes bored. As the dogs came to me I graded them as I would when judging a Field Trial, "A", "A-", "B" etc, not so much on how they did but on their potential. At the end of the day I was very agreeably surprised to see how many I had marked "A-" which, to put it another way, were dogs that I felt certain I could train into genuinely good working gundogs & if their owners persevere they can too. From a trainer's point of view the keenness of those present to learn & the obvious satisfaction gained when their dogs were successful was both rewarding & encouraging. The informality of the day added to the overall pleasure & has, for a number, opened up a new field of enjoyment for them & their dogs. I am sure I speak for all the "trainers" when I say that if any of you who were present have a problem in the future we are only a phone call away."
Finally some thoughts from those who attended,
"I didn't feel half as much of a twit as I thought I
would."
"I appreciated the style of teaching",
"I learnt basics.....given my level of experience that was just what
I needed."
Things learnt:
"Always use the dogs name first",
"Throw dummies in the dark to encourage the dog to use his
nose",
"Throw dummies at different heights",
"Don't wind your dog up before you send him",
"Make the dog wait before sending him for his dummy",
"Throw stones to direct a lost dog to a dummy",
"Move the dog down wind of a dummy for easy scenting",
"Give lots of encouragement as the dog returns with his dummy",
"Make the dog hold his dummy before taking it from him",
"Don't always let you dog retrieve every dummy thrown",
"Use the corner of a field when you are teaching double
retrieves",
"Raise your knee if your dog jumps up,"
"At 6 months work on obedience more than retrieving",
"Even the experts dogs don't get it right every time",
"Stewards at working events are privileged-they can learn from others'
successes & difficulties & because they don't have a dog to think about,
they can capture all the training on offer."
To assist those who are interested in beginning to work their dogs, whether with a view to the Show Gundog Working Certificate or the Novice Dog/Novice Handler Working Test, the Eastern Counties Golden Retriever Club are planning a training day in Spring ( April) 2002.
The venue is yet to be finalised but it is planned that the day will encompass heelwork, a marked retrieve, a blind (or hidden) retrieve, a left and right and a retrieve from water.
A nominal charge of £5 per handler will be made to cover expenses. Numbers will be strictly limited so if you are interested in obtaining training from experienced handlers please contact
Di Ewings either on 01473 737611 or by post at "Apple Tree", Debach, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13 6BZ or by e-mail on Debach_Village@btinternet.com
She will collate details on behalf of the committee who will be heavily involved in arranging the Inter-Club Working Test this year. Once the final details have been completed those interested will be given full instructions for the day. An idea of your aim in taking part in this day would help to ensure that the training is pitched at a suitable level for you.