Hi all
Here are further details regarding the training day the Working Gundog Club of NSW is holding on Saturday, 12 August in the Marulan area.
The day is designed to be a “train-the-trainer” day rather than a “train-your-dog” day where the emphasis is on training the handlers rather than their dogs. Through the day we hope to provide you with information on the key steps used to train a successful retrieving trial dog which you can apply in your own training.
Some dogs and their handlers currently at Novice/Restricted level will be used for demonstration purposes with the instruction being aimed at anyone interested in learning the art of training gundogs for the purpose of competing in Retrieving Trials and Gundog Working Tests.
Interested people whose dogs are not as yet trained to the above level would be most welcome to attend as there is much to be gained by knowing what to aim at and how it can be achieved.
Any dogs used on the day for the purpose of demonstrations would need to have already reached a standard where they could be relied on to:
heel off lead
stay steady in a set position
come to their handler when called and
have shown a desire to retrieve.
Other dogs in attendance would need to be kept on a lead or securely tethered.
The day will be divided into 3 sessions of approximately 1 to 1½ hours duration:
9.00 am Check in and Welcome
9.30 – 11.30am SESSION 1
12.00 – 1.30pm SESSION 2
1.30 – 2.30pm LUNCH – Sausage Sizzle
2.30 – 3.45pm SESSION 3
4.00 pm Working Gundog Club of NSW Annual General Meeting
SESSION 1 – MARKING
Fetch – Hold – Deliver
Steadying the dog
Marking the depth of the retrieve
Hunting in the area of the fall
Double Marks
SESSION 2 – CASTING
Using the whistle
Baseball or T-pattern
3-handed casting drill
Walking baseball
The double-T pattern
5-handed casting drill
SESSION 3 – LINING
Lining to pile
Building a 3-pile pattern or V-pattern
Building a 5-pile pattern or W-pattern
Note that we do not intend to include a session on water work due to limited time. This will be covered in a future training day.
The cost for the day will be $10 per person which will be collected on the day. The Club will provide a sausage sizzle lunch and drinks for a small charge as a fund-raiser. Also available for purchase on the day will be a range of training equipment, eg. dummies, whistles, etc.
If you plan on attending, please email your name and contact details to me at the link below by Tuesday, 8 August to allow us to finalise numbers for catering. Any enquiries regarding the day can be emailed to me also. I will email directions to the training day site on request.
Please bring the program, a chair and a note-pad. If you are bringing your dog(s) please also bring a tie out peg and a lead.
Please feel free to invite along any interested friends to help publicise our great sport. Participants do not necessarily need to be Working Gundog Club members.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Regards, Jason.