Open/Field Trial Course plan – Sweden

The aim of the course will be to help handlers develop training and handling techniques required for advanced gundog work and competition. The emphasis will be on teaching a dog what is required, using gentle methods, with no harsh handling.

The minimum training standards for handlers wishing to enrol are as follows:

Dogs to:

v    Understand and obey the ‘heel’, ‘sit’ and recall verbal commands as well as whistle commands where appropriate.

v    Be steady under all circumstances (i.e. not run-in)

v    Have good delivery/presentation to the handler.

v    Have basic retrieving skills: able to retrieve ‘marked/seen’ dummy on command and able to go away from the handler in a straight line to retrieve a ‘blind/unseen’ dummy.

v    Able to swim and retrieve from water with a good delivery.

All these aspects will be assessed briefly at the beginning of the course. Then some, or all, of the following will be taught (depending on facilities, available time and/or any difficulties encountered)

§        Building up distances for marked/seen and blind/unseen retrieves

§        Hunting: teaching and developing

§        Use of the stop whistle at a distance

§        Diagonal lines: forwards and back.

§        Water work: (depending on suitable water being available)

§        Marks into and across water,

§        Blinds in and across water,

§        Handling on the opposite bank,

§        Use of the stop whistle in water and

§        Directional work on blinds

§        The difference between driven and walked-up shoots:

§        Walk-up techniques and

§        Drives.

§        Retrieves requiring multi-handling aspects.

§        Possible ‘test’ situation where handlers can practise aspects taught.

Discussion and explanations will take place during the course and time will be given to enable each handler and dog partnership to benefit from what they need.