Your Puppy Isn't Aggressive. It Just Needs Manners.
I had a phone call a while back that's stuck with me. A family had a five-month-old puppy. Spaniel. Full of life, full of energy - and biting them. Jumping up, nipping fingers, going for ankles. They'd tried everything they could find online. They'd been to see someone. That someone had told them the dog had behavioural issues. Possibly needed a behaviourist. Maybe even medication. They rang me to say they were going to have it put to sleep. A five-month-old puppy. Put to sleep. Because it...
Why Won't My Puppy Come Back? The Truth About Retrieve Training for New Handlers
You threw the dummy. Your pup flew out there, picked it up, and then... ran the other way. Or sat down with it. Or dropped it halfway back and started sniffing. Sound familiar?
A New Beginning - Meet Jam and Evie
: Darren Kirk introduces Jam and Evie, two English Springer Spaniel pups with FTCH pedigrees, joining the Kirkbourne pack as future working and demo dogs.
The Dummy Launcher Workshop: This Is Where It Gets Serious
There's a moment at the shooting field - or the working test, or even just a training session with other handlers watching - where you realise the retrieve isn't the problem. It's everything before the retrieve. The dog that breaks on the shot. The one that's already running before you've even lifted a finger. The one you've asked to sit three times and it's sat twice and the third time you just gave up because everyone's watching. You know the one. It might be yours. That's not a retrieve...
DEFRA's Gamebird Consultation Isn't Just a Shooters' Issue. If You've Got a Gundog, Read This.
The window closes at midnight on 1st November. And right now, the people who want to see game shooting restricted are putting their evidence on record. The people who rely on it - shooters, handlers, trainers, beaters, pickers-up, working dog competitors - aren't keeping pace. BASC have said it plainly. There are an estimated 650,000 people involved in game shooting in England. The response so far? A fraction of that. This post is for everyone who's thought this doesn't apply to them. Because...
Kirkbourne Latest News
Lets get them Hunting
This is a subject in training that can require lots of attention or sometimes not. It all depends on the dog and how it works and...
The Story of Rob and his Journey
This is our journey from novice to advanced and everything in between with our two gundogs. November of 2021 was the first training...
Train with the best
Are you ready to unleash your pup's potential and embark on an unforgettable journey from puppy to field-ready gun dog? Look no further! ...
MY DOG WILL NOT RETRIEVE
A dog not retrieving is a major problem that I encounter from lots of handlers and again we must understand why all these faults arise. ...
PUPPY TRAINING AND SOCIALIZATION
Puppy training is the foundations of a great companion, this is one of the most important parts of its growing up. Consideration must be...
SELECTING THE PERFECT COMPANION
When you and your family are deciding to purchase a new dog, there are a few things that you need to consider. You need to decide what...
The etiquette for Beating
The etiquette for each shoot may vary but if it is a formal driven shoot with paying guns you will not be far out of place if you...
Intermediate Training Day 17th Feb 2024
It was wet and muddy for everyone, the ground was saturated everywhere. We were set for a muddy day, however the day was not so bad for...
Walking at Heel How we do it
When teaching a dog to walk to heel I often find the people have a very very long lead unfortunately you can't buy the leads I make or...
Taking control of recall
Understanding the Challenge of Recall in Dog Training One of the main things I have as a gundog trainer is recall and the lack of it....
Our Novice day 10/02/2024 Stubbs Hall
What a day we had, some of us met up for breakfast before training to keep our tummies full and then headed to the training ground at...
Sophie and her day at Richmond
Picking up day experience. Saturday 27th January. The day began with us all meeting at the Gamekeeper’s cottage just up the road from...
New One to One dates on line now
Don't miss the chance to train with a trainer to smooth out any issues you may have with you dog. Not always can we cover off each...
Gun dog trainer of the Year 2024
Hello everyone, hope you are well and 2024 is a great start for training your dog. not sure if you are aware but the voting has opened...
Our Journey
Handler- Toni Simpson Dog – Ella now aged 17months HOW IT ALL STARTED. My husband and myself started clay pigeon shooting and really...
Wren and our Journey
Thank you Milly for this wonderful write up with ups and downs and truths My current lab Wren is the third lab and 4th dog that I've...
