These are the follow up videos five days on from the first videos of the 2 black labrador sisters starting out there life as working gundogs.

As you will see in these videos the labradors have become alot more focused on myself and what is needed to activate there food being given to them.

Written and shared from Steve Turner.

Having owned a Brittany hpr dog for the last 4 yrs. i have found that their hunting instinct is very high and recall and retrieving can be very problematic if not dealt with in early training and the control kept on top off, so its always best to go to a professional gundog trainer to keep on top of these things, they are also more difficult as they are asked to do a lot more than a lab or a normal spaniel.

So here we are at Fallowfen Training kennels for the day with our four Brittany’s Sam, Pop, Remi and Gizmo, we arrived around 10.15 for a 10.30 start, Andy Kate and Adam have not been here before. Phillip came out and greeted us, had a chat on what we wanted from the day and put everyone at ease. We then took the dogs for a small walk as they had been traveling from up from Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Derbyshire and Warwickshire. Phillip then started us with some heel work to settle the dogs giving an explanation on why this was done, he also used one of our dogs as a demonstration on correct lead control, from that we went onto incorporating the stop whistle and the need for the stop whistle. We then moved onto a few seen retrieves, one dog started off well retrieving then lost interest, Phillip stepped in and helped the handler to correct and encourage the dog back onto the retrieve all in a relaxed manner. We then moved onto the importance of the sit and stay even with distraction’s how to correct if the dog moved and when to praise the dog. At around 12 noon we went for lunch.

After lunch we  then went down to the rabbit pen most had not been in a rabbit pen before and one dog has had a bad experience in a rabbit pen with another trainer so we were all a little apprehensive, Andy took the plunge first with Remi ( who had a bad experience in the past) Andy walked with Remi around the pen on the lead, Andy lost his nerve a little again Phillip stepped in to help out within 15 minutes Phillip had Remi sat off the lead!! Andy’s words were i am amazed to which we all laughed!. We all had a go in the pen and all the dogs sat off lead with the help from candy the jack Russell flushing rabbits for them, to see this really made the day for us and we had not finished. We then went to use the jump with the exception of Sam, none of the dogs had done this before, but with guidance from Phillip all the dogs achieved it. We then finished the day on simple memory retrieves to which ended the day on a good note!. We then went for coffee and a chat and was joined by Amanda, Phil’s wife before leaving for home, i had a one to one with Phillip and i go to his group session but the other three had never been before.

Since arriving home i have e mails thanking me for organising the day with Phillip and how knowledgeable and friendly he is and his wife Amanda are for taking the trouble to join us making a very enjoyable day, as a group we will be back again. If you want one to one or a group of friends wanting a great day training then Fallowfen gundogs is the place to go, thanks Phillip and Amanda.

Regards from Steve,Kate,Andy and Adam with the Brittany’s.

This video is to try and show how we introduce our puppies into training.

We don’t start until the puppies are 9 – 10 weeks of age. Up till this point all we do is shake their food bowl to encourage them to be very excited around feeding time.

When we are ready to start we are looking at gaining eye contact from a young age, if a dog isn’t looking at you how do you know they are listening. We also Don’t give them any command to sit,. When you first do this you shake the bowl to gain there interest then when they are interested you stand still no words no movement. They will lose interest and continue to move, this is normal.

When they loose interest you shake the bowl again to regain interest. Eventually your puppy will put there bum on the floor for a split second you then put their food down with praise “Good girl or boy”. Within days you will go to feed them and there bum will be glued to the floor and there eye’s will not leave you.

This is the first test or your patience as a owner – handler. This could take up to 10 minutes the first time you do it depending on your dog and surroundings. But done right could give you a lifetime of good eye contact.

Congratulations to Liz Mcdougal and her Golden Retriever bitch Ghillie. Ghillie was sired by Flint – Haddeo Thesfus of fallowfen and mothered by Ivyhouse Khana of Fallowfen.

Liz kindly sent this photo of the line-up at the Crathorne Working Tests yesterday. They have now reached the heady heights of “open” working tests after this “novice” win on 77 marks out of 80 and an entry of 31.

This is a short video of Sky a black Labrador bitch sired by our chocolate stud dog Jim – Pechasi Hazel Nut of Fallowfen. Her dam is our black Labrador bitch Millie – Brocklebank Kitty.

Sky is being trained for a shooting man and is coming on very well. In the video you will see there is very little pressure put on her. She is allowed to run in for the retrieve at this point to keep things exciting but you will alos see every time she is told to stay she then waits for the command to collect the retrieve.

In the video i also use a dummy she has never picked up before, you will see how different she is when this happens and how we over come this to get her back to ourselves. Enjoy!

Hi there Amanda & Philip,

Just thought I would give you an up date on Cairn “wow” its been a really quick three years.

Cairn has matured into a very loving member of our family. she just wants to do what ever you ask, showing, obedience & agility.

Agility is her favourite she has advanced into grade 6 this is just 1 bellow the top grade in only just over 1 year competing she is a bit small so she measures a medium.

We are in the special good citizen final at Crufts again this year now she is older I hope she will not be as overwhelmed this year as she was 2 years ago just to keep us busy she is in the breed ring on the same day and YKC obedience with Callum on Thursday.

This is just to say a big thank you for giving us this perfect little Toller. I have attached some photos, will send video separate.

Janet, Michael & Callum.

This is a short video of ourselves doing some gundog training with Broc our black and white springer spaniel dog. Broc was born 26/12/2011 so still very young but seems to be coming on strong at the moment!!

Fallowfen Gundogs is looking for an apprentice, but there can only be one winner!!