The Ultimate Gundog Training For Busy Owners

Train your gundog to be well-behaved and delightful company without fear-based methods.

Lifetime Access To All Courses

Join Today for £599

Yes, I Want To Learn More 👉

30-Day Money Back Guarantee

Struggling to train your gundog? You're not alone...

Most of my clients have struggled with similar issues. Gundogs are unlike other breeds and need training that channels their natural instincts.

If you can say yes to any of these, then you’re in the right place:

  • You’d love to enjoy relaxed, stress-free walks, but instead, you feel tense, never quite sure if your dog will listen
  • Your dog is generally calm, but around distractions, they’re off, pulling you towards anything that catches their attention
  • You're never quite sure about letting your dog off the lead because the moment something exciting happens, they’re gone, ignoring you completely
  • You feel embarrassed when your dog jumps up at people, barks, or gets overly excitable in public
  • They are now so strong that the constant battle with the lead makes you worry they'll either pull you over or cause an injury.
  • Your dog is great at coming back when there’s nothing else going on, but the moment they see another dog, a squirrel, or something exciting, it’s like you don’t exist

Acer Gundog Training

I Made Every Training Mistake So You Don't Have To

Before I became a dog trainer, I tried the village hall training classes, but they weren’t what I needed. The focus was on tricks like tunnels and putting paws on steps, while I wanted practical skills for my teenage Labrador – like walking without being dragged down the road or letting him off lead without panicking around other dogs.
 
I also went to a gundog trainer who relied on shouting and punishment; traditional methods. My dog hadn’t been taught to sit and stay, so he ran in after every dummy, even ones for other dogs. I was told to shout or scare him into staying put, which only made him too frightened to return with the dummy. When even more fear-based methods were introduced, I decided to leave.

This was what inspired me to become a dog trainer!

I realised that the frustration I was going through was the same frustration so many other gundog owners faced.

I couldn’t find a trainer who truly understood gundogs and used ethical methods – one who wouldn’t have me shouting at or punishing my dogs because I’d unknowingly set them up to fail.

Now, that was 10 years ago. Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to help thousands of people transform their lives with their gundogs.

But the problem became sustainability. I knew I had to do more. I expanded Acer, opened new venues, and brought in more trainers. Yet, I could only help the people who could physically get to my classes in Cambridge.

With the power of social media, I was getting messages from gundog owners from all over the world. Not just from the UK, but from the US, Canada, Australia, and beyond.

That’s exactly why I created the Acer Gundog Training Online Academy.

The exact same training courses we offer here in Cambridge, but available online and with the ability to cover them at your own pace.

The courses I’ve built are the training I wish I’d had before I became a dog trainer.

Inside, I’ll personally guide you through every stage of your dog’s development, so you’ll always know what to do, why it works, and how to adapt as your dog progresses.

Introducing...
The Ultimate Gundog Training Programme

Trusted by 1,000+ gundog owners

This is an all-in-one training programme designed specifically for owners of gundog breeds, especially those raised in family homes.
 
Whether you’ve just brought home your puppy or you’re looking to improve your teenager’s skills, the Ultimate Gundog Training Programme gives you full access to every stage of training – from foundational puppy work to advanced gundog skills.
 
No matter where you’re starting, you’ll have a clear path forward and the expert guidance you need to train a well-behaved, confident and happy gundog, at a pace that works for you and your family.

With The Ultimate Gundog Training Programme You Get:

  • A proven step-by-step process to train your dog at your own pace using my force-free training framework
  • Daily coaching and support directly from Mark
  • Lifetime access to all 3 courses inside the programme
  • Confidence in training your dog the right way within just a few weeks inside the programme

So, what's inside the Ultimate Gundog Training Programme?

3 essential courses with LIFETIME ACCESS

1. Gundog Puppy Course

Covering the first 6-weeks with your new puppy, this course walks you through how to teach all the essential life skills

With just 20 minutes of training each day, give your puppy the best start in life

Settle

Lead Walking

Recall

Socialisation

Retrieving

Hunting

Puppy Problems Solved

Impulse Control & Focus

Separation Anxiety

Resource Guarding

This was what Hettie said about the course

We joined a few months ago having had many gundogs over the last 30 years ( varied spaniel breeds) but nothing like the challenges we were experiencing with Tara. After a few of the lessons we had to go back to puppy stages. BUT today I walked 8km across, open fells, bracken, forestry, streams, through livestock with the lead in my pocket and a dog by my heel and happily hunting with recall and focus. An amazing feeling that at times I wasn’t sure I’d achieve with Tara.
Hettie Walker
Cumbria, UK 🇬🇧 

2. Beginner Gundog Course

Includes: Foundation & Improver levels

This course takes you through how to train the important foundations step by step, so your dog learns to be well-behaved

Practise for 20 minutes a day and you'll notice improvements in your dog's behaviour within a couple of weeks

Heelwork

Steadiness

Recall

Retrieving

Hunting Pattern

Impulse Control

Ignoring Distractions

Using Placeboards

This was what Peter said about the course

I was about to give up on my new gundog. I had gotten zero progress, no heel, no reliable recall, no reliable sit, no reliable retrieve even though i regularly attend training here in Denmark. It was beyond frustrating since this is my 7th dog. I was at that point truly sceptical towards online training, but really desperate to try another approach. Today we passed the "Beginner Gundog Fieldwork test" with Distinction and are still making weekly progress. Your approach to layered training, the use of clickers and placeboards has done miracles for my training and the instruction videos are super simple to follow.
Peter Echwald
Denmark 🇩🇰 

3. Junior Gundog Course

Includes: Foundation & Improver levels

This course will take your dog's skills to the next level, where you learn to work together in true partnership, doing the things they're bred for

Hunting, retrieving, whistle work - it's all covered!

Heelwork (Off-Lead)

Steadiness

Stop Whistle

Marked Retrieves

Split Retrieves

Directional Casting

Memory Retrieves

Quartering (Hunting Breeds)

This was what Evie said about the course

With one official day left of the season I have spent the morning reflecting on how well this little pup has done. Looking back on his first day and how confident he has now become, in every day life and the shooting field, it doesn't half make me proud. I wish I had kept count of how many birds he has picked on his first season. A massive thank you to Mark for such brilliant online courses that have massively helped us get to this point!
Evie Gullis
Shropshire, UK 🇬🇧 

Get Started Today!

Train your gundog to be well-behaved and delightful company without fear-based methods

Join for £599

Yes, I Want In 👉

But that's not all. The Ultimate Programme comes with these 4 BONUSES to make the whole process easier......

Bonus #1 - 7-Day-A-Week feedback and coaching from Mark - yes, that's me! (£500 Value)

Most online dog training programmes don’t give you access to an actual Gundog Trainer – they just offer passive video consumption. Well, this is different!

When you enrol in the Ultimate Gundog Training Programme, you’re gonna get direct access to me. Yes, I’ll be coaching you inside the programme, answering your questions, and giving you feedback on your training setup any day of the week.

This way, you can gradually and consistently see better and better results faster than trying to figure it out on your own.

Bonus #2 Weekly check-ins to keep you on track (£240 Value)

The reason most people don’t achieve the results they want is a lack of consistency. Life gets in the way, and it’s easy to let things drift!
 
With the Ultimate Gundog Training Programme, I’ll be offering (optional) weekly accountability check-ins.
 
It’s up to you what pace you work at and whether you want to join these check-ins, but I’ll be there at the end of each week, asking everyone in the community about their training successes and what they’re planning to work on next.
 
With support from others on the same journey, we’ll all be cheering you on and celebrating your progress. You’re never alone!

Bonus #3 Two Individual Coaching Sessions (£240 Value)

When you reach a point in your training journey where you need focused attention, talking to a dog trainer can make all the difference.
 
These sessions will help you gain clarity on the real problems you need to solve – in the shortest time possible.
 
You can use them at any point during your programme. You could arrange one to get you off to the best start, or whenever you feel like you’re stuck and need some extra help.
 
We’ll jump on Zoom, talk it through, and come up with a solution to get you progressing again.

Bonus #4 Distraction-free online networking and support (£240 Value)

Everything you need to train your dog is inside our online gundog training academy. You can access it through a desktop browser or our easy-to-use app – on any device, as long as you’re connected to the internet.
 
We don’t run a Facebook group because it’s too easy to get distracted. You pick up your phone to check a dog training tip and suddenly find yourself scrolling through your friend’s holiday photos instead!
 
Join hundreds of like-minded gundog owners on the same journey as you. You’ll get tons of support and encouragement to help you succeed inside our training academy.

1,000+ gundog owners have used my programmes

Here's what they're saying
"I am finding the online training course really helpful and the feedback you provide in the chat is always so quick and seems to get to the issue quickly. Seeing changes in my dog and knowing I have a forum to share success and failure without being judged is enough for me."
By Alison Cameron
By Alison Cameron
"Really enjoying the online course with our Springador, she is 6 years old so has been subjected to our own training. She’s a good girl and since working with your methods is more focused on me than she was, and seems to enjoy a training session. Really pleased I signed up for the online course and I am sure we will find it invaluable in the future with a puppy (no plans at the moment though)."
By Eleanor Sedgwick
By Eleanor Sedgwick
“Finding this online training incredibly good. Supportive, kind, available. So glad I signed-up for my rescue dog…. don’t think I’d have got her out the door without it. It’s much slower with a rescue than from a puppy, and this course allows you to go at the dog’s pace.”
By Debbie Kay
By Debbie Kay
"I joined Mark’s free Bark To Basics Course and really liked it so then signed up for the rest. These have been really helpful. I have just completed the Beginner Gundog Foundation course over several months. Working slowly and consistently. At last achieving some really good results. Bracken is much calmer."
By Trish Croke
By Trish Croke
"I like where I can do it in my own time, that really does work with me. For me, I like having access to the videos, because I can go in, and if I feel I’m getting something wrong, or I need to refresh. I really like it, and it works if you persevere, you put in the time it does work. It’s train the trainer, and then the dog, and it is amazing how it comes together."
By Madeleine Gibson
By Madeleine Gibson
"It’s a self-led system and that’s exactly what suits what I need. You’re not telling me what to do and when to do it how to do it other than you’re giving me like a how-to guide which is very interactive which is really helpful. As a model for dog training I found it really refreshing because it was something I could relate to. It’s meant that I’ve now feel far more confident with my working dog than I’ve ever done before."
By Bex Redford
By Bex Redford
"I'm doing the online version of your programme. Although I have the knowledge of the pieces of the jigsaw, I didn't always put everything together correctly, so had many strong behaviours but also weak spots and holes in my training. I have taken both of my adult dogs right back to the beginning and I am working through your course methodically, with great results."
By Elaine Pattinson
By Elaine Pattinson

Enrol today in the
Ultimate Gundog Training Programme

Here's what you're gonna get

Gundog Puppy Course

£150 Value

Beginner Gundog Course (Foundation & Improver Levels)

£250 Value

Junior Gundog Course (Foundation & Improver Levels)

£300 Value

Zoom Calls With Mark (2 x £120)

(2 x £120) 

£240 Value

1 Year Access To Support Space (12 x £40) 

(12 x £40) 

£480 Value

Mark Personally Coaching You

£500 Value

TOTAL VALUE:           £ 1920

OFFER PRICE:           £ 599

Get Started Today!

Everything’s Included

Ultimate Gundog Training Programme

  • Gundog Puppy Course
  • Beginner Foundation Course
  • Beginner Improver Course
  • Junior Foundation Course
  • Junior Improver Course
  • 2 x Zoom Calls with Mark
  • Email support from Mark
  • 12 Months Online Support
  • Silver Rosette & Lanyard on completion of Beginner level
  • Gold Rosette & Lanyard on completion of Junior level
  • 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
  • Offer Price £599
  • or 3 Monthly Instalments of £200
Yes, I Want In 👉

30 DAY MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE

Signing up for an online course is a big deal.

It’s potentially life-altering for you and your dog.

But you also don’t want to just throw money down the drain for a program that “might not work” or you “might never get to”.

I get it. Trust me I do. That’s why I want you to make a truly informed decision. You can only do that once you are on the inside, actually using the programme

So, try it risk free for 30 days.

Consume all the content if you want. Take advantage of everything. Ask as many questions in the support group as you want. Join me on a Zoom Call and we’ll agree your personal training plan for your dog.

If you don’t feel like it’s the perfect programme to help you reach your goals then I will personally give you a full refund. No questions asked and no hard feelings.

And if you want, I’ll also audit your situation and provide you with my recommended path forward so you can still make progress to your goals, whether that’s another trainer, a book, or just general advice.

I want you and your dog to succeed !

Training a gundog can be difficult without the right support.
Each dog is different and so there is no 'one-size-fits-all' solution

Hear from some of my students and their unique stories

Alison’s Story

UK 🇬🇧

Alison’s Golden Retriever, Monty, was getting over-excited in the village hall training classes he used to attend. Alison said it was difficult to retain information from the class, meaning he wasn’t making progress.

This is what Alison said after joining the programme: “The information in the course is clear. I retain it and I can go back to it, which obviously with a training class, you can’t do that. So you build on every day, you build up a little bit and you think, okay, I’m getting there, you can see progress, which is a really nice way to measure how you’re doing”

Jo & Dave’s Story

USA 🇺🇸

Dave & Jo said they had worked with a local trainer in the US and read a few gundog training books, but neither gave them the steps to take. Training was getting boring and they have busy working lives, so don’t have time to figure everything out for themselves.

This is what Dave said after joining the programme: “I hate to be the person that doesn’t say anything critical, but it just works so well. It’s very structured, like a set of many things that build on each other. Having something that’s so clearly step-by-step has been really helpful.”

Maxine’s Story

UK 🇬🇧

Maxine’s Labrador, Wilma, would become fixated on other dogs and lost focus when they appeared.

This is what Maxine said after joining the programme: “Before, as soon as Wilma was aware of another dog, she was completely fixated on it. But with these exercises, if we are at a sufficient distance, she will do the hand touch and look at me. That’s a massive difference. We had done exercises around building connection at our other training, but never to the point where she would take her eyes off another dog and look at me. Every week, I’m seeing Wilma surprise me by doing things she hasn’t been able to do before.”

Bex’s Story

UK 🇬🇧

Bex had never trained a gundog before and knew her Springer Spaniel, Izzy, needed that little bit more. She was struggling with Izzy pulling on the lead and recall (chasing birds).

This is what Bex said after joining the programme: “Heelwork and lead handling have worked really well. Her recall is a lot better which was my biggest worry because she’s obsessed with birds. I genuinely think, as a model for dog training, it’s really refreshing because it’s something I can relate to. It’s meant that I’m now far more confident with my working dog than ever before.” 

Eileen’s Story

Canada 🇨🇦

Eileen’s rescue Labrador, Sage, is fast and powerful. She would pull on the lead and be gone in seconds when let off. She is also nervous and reactive toward other dogs.

This is what Eileen said after joining the programme: : “I can’t believe how much the heel work piece has helped with leash walking. She was a big, fast, powerful dog that didn’t know much about walking on a leash, so the heel work training was a game changer. The course is excellent. It’s very easy to use. I’m really, really happy with the whole thing.”

Trish’s Story

UK 🇬🇧

Trish wanted a really reliable picking up dog but Bracken has been a real challenge. He was very excitable, anxious and barked a lot.

This is what Trish said after joining the programme: “I have just completed the Beginner Gundog Course over several months. We are at last achieving some really good results. He’s almost stopped barking at everybody and everything. This has taken a long time, but at last achieving the magic that Mark talks about, and with a calm, confident and consistent approach”

Kathryn’s Story

UK 🇬🇧

Getting a Cocker Spaniel as a first dog was a ‘baptism of fire’ for Kathryn!  Her main training issue was recall – Kathryn felt like she was failing and didn’t know what to do.

This is what Kathryn said after joining the programme: “The biggest issue I had with Meg was recall – or a complete lack of it. When she was about 18 months old, I pretty much gave up on going to big fields because I couldn’t let her off a long line. One day, someone stopped me and tried to give me advice, and I nearly cried. I just thought, I can’t do this anymore. But now, she won’t go far enough away from me for me – because she keeps checking back in with me. That’s such a nice problem to have! It’s a much better place to be.”

Debbie’s Story

UK 🇬🇧

Debbie talks about some really bad experiences with gundog trainers in the past in the video. The training issues she most needed help with were recall, pulling on the lead and jumping up when meeting people.

This is what Debbie said after joining the programme: “I hid out of view, called her, and she came. I wanted to cry because I thought, “Oh, it works! It actually works!!”. 

“She jumps up – it’s terrible with people. But today, a jogger was coming, and I thought, I’ll just ask her to look at me. And she did. She sat and looked at me as the jogger passed. I honestly felt like chasing after the jogger and saying, “Did you see that?! She didn’t jump!”

Enrol in the Ultimate Gundog Training Programme today and you could be next!

FAQs

(Frequently asked questions)

Dogs learn best by practising new skills regularly throughout the week in their normal environment where you exercise them. They learn much less from a one-hour training class, where they are often distracted.

This is why we always say that the classes are for the humans to learn the process to train their dogs, not for the dogs to be trained.

You can learn the process just as well by watching video demonstrations. Everything is broken down into tiny steps. Working at your own pace, you simply copy each stage of the process. It’s the implementation that counts, and unlike dog training classes, you don’t have to complete everything in just six weeks.

It can be difficult to remember everything the trainer says in a class, whereas videos can be replayed multiple times.

Ask as many questions as you need if you get stuck. If you upload videos, we can coach you just as well as if you were standing in the same field with us.

No. The programmes are specifically designed for gundog breeds but the majority of our clients have gundogs who are family pets and have no aspirations of taking their dog out shooting.

Gundog Puppy Course

For puppies aged under 6 months of age.

Beginner Gundog Course

For dogs over this age but with little/no prior training experience.

Junior Gundog Course

For dogs that have completed the Beginner Gundog Course or have mastered the skills covered in that course (see next question for a list of what that includes).

Successful completion of each course will mean your dog has learned the following:

Gundog Puppy Course

Life skills such as:

  • Eye Contact
  • Settle
  • Managing Frustration
  • Sit
  • Polite Greetings (Other Dogs)
  • Puppy Play & Recall From Play
  • Introduction to Lead & Heelwork 
  • Impulse Control
  • Husbandry (Comfortable Being Handled & Eating Pills) 
  • Avoiding Resource Guarding
  • Targeting – Fist Bump
  • Recall On Walks 
  • Introduction to Retrieving
  • Introduction to Hunting

Beginner Gundog Course

  • Focus (On Handler)
  • Ignoring Distractions
  • Impulse Control
  • Walk a distance of up to 20m on a lead without pulling
  • Sit – on cue, where they are standing
  • Stay seated for up to 60 secs whilst handler stands up to 20m away
  • Recall – using a whistle
  • Marked Retrieving
  • Hunting – hunting in a pattern & turn whistle
  • Hunting – holding an area whilst hunting & hunt whistle

Junior Gundog Course

  • Walk up to 30m off-lead at heel
  • Sit & Stay for up to 2 min whilst handler stands up to 30m away
  • Steady to throw/fall
  • Stop Whistle
  • Recall
  • Marked Retrieving – into cover & at distance
  • Memory Retrieving
  • Split Retrieving
  • Delivery To Hand
  • Directional Casting – left & right
  • Hunting Pattern – quartering inc turn on the whistle

The courses are all self-paced so you can work at your own speed, but best results will come from regular practice and not cutting corners when training each behaviour.

Assuming no prior training, this is how long it should take you to work through each of the courses:

  • Gundog Puppy: 6 weeks
  • Beginner Gundog: 12 weeks
  • Junior Gundog: 12 weeks

From time to time, things won’t go as planned. Such is the reality of training a dog. The good news is, my team and I are here to offer support and guidance along the way.

The courses are all self-paced and you will have lifetime access to all the course content.

Immediately after enrolling, you will be invited to join our exclusive online platform. Here, you can access the online course content, request support, and join in the regular discussions that take place among clients around the world. We’re a friendly bunch, and you’ll receive plenty of moral and practical support. Everyone on the platform is taking part in the same courses as you.

If you purchase all the courses together in the Ultimate Programme, you will receive personal support from me via either the platform, or email if you’d rather keep things private.

Support is available for 12 months with the Ultimate Programme. With the Beginner course, it’s 6 months. That’s double the time it would normally take to complete the course.

My courses are designed to offer a structured format for training your dog in bite-sized chunks. Each behaviour progresses incrementally in difficulty as the course advances. Unlike other online training programmes, mine is not a collection of random exercises but rather a step-by-step approach to training a dog and achieving lasting results.

In line with my professional accreditations, I only use modern, ethical, and force-free training methods based on Positive Reinforcement.

None of the training incorporates traditional gundog methods that involve fear or punishment.

Absolutely not! And I have to warn you that if you don’t actually practise the exercises with your dog, their behaviour won’t change. 

You only need to invest around 20 minutes a few times a week to start seeing results, but please note that there are no quick fixes.

That said, if you decide within the first 30 days that the training isn’t for you, simply email me and I’ll happily provide a full refund.

Get Started Today!

Train your gundog to be well-behaved and delightful company without fear-based methods

Everything’s Included

Ultimate Gundog Training Programme

  • Gundog Puppy Course
  • Beginner Foundation Course
  • Beginner Improver Course
  • Junior Foundation Course
  • Junior Improver Course
  • 2 x Zoom Calls with Mark
  • Email support from Mark
  • 12 Months Online Support
  • Silver Rosette & Lanyard on completion of Beginner level
  • Gold Rosette & Lanyard on completion of Junior level
  • 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
  • Offer Price £599
  • or 3 Monthly Instalments of £200
Yes, I Want In 👉

By purchasing any of the training courses you agree to our Terms & Conditions

Mark Taylor is professionally accredited by the following:

© 2025 Acer Gundog Training (All Rights Reserved)