Essential Kit

Leads, Collars & Harnesses

Dogs should have a regular length lead with a buckle. This should be attached to a fixed length collar, or a harness. The best harnesses we have found are those manufactured by PerfectFit. You will need a body harness of some type when attaching a Long Line for distance work (see below). We will help you train your dog to walk nicely on the lead without you needing to use equipment that causes pain. As such, we do not allow the use of e-Collars, Choke Chains (full or semi), ‘Gencon‘, ‘Halti’-type head harnesses, Figure of Eight slips, or Extending leads.

No Slip Leads For Puppies & Beginners

When working in the field, it is dangerous for dogs to be wearing anything like collar as this can snag, causing injury or drowning. The use of a Slip Lead in these situations allows dogs to be released quickly and easily, but this is the only purpose they should be used for. A Slip Lead should not be used as a device to strangle a dog with, causing pain and potential injury.

Please do not bring your dog to Gundog Puppy or Beginner Gundog Classes wearing one as they will not have reached the required level of heelwork training. They will spend each session sounding as though they are choking. Only those dogs who attain Junior and Advanced Gundog Classes will be capable of walking to heel without pulling.

For dogs who have been trained to this level, we recommend the use of a Limited Slip Lead which has an adjustable stopper attached which will restrict the amount of tightening on the lead to the size of the dog’s neck.

This type of lead provides the best of both worlds; a lead which can easily be removed, but will not harm the dog’s neck if they do pull (no more than pulling whilst wearing a standard collar anyway).

Food Treats & Pouch

Using your pocket to hold food treats makes them too difficult to access quickly at the time they are required. We therefore recommend you purchase a decent sized treat pouch that can be clipped to your belt for easy access and will hold plenty of high-value food treats. Click here, to purchase one of our treat pouches and collect it at your next training session with us. In order to reward your dog and positively reinforce good behaviour in a way he will remember, ‘high value’ treats should be completely irresistible to him and definitely something tastier than the dried kibble he gets at mealtimes. Pea-sized chunks of roast chicken, cheese, liver, sardines and frankfurters all work really well. If you’re worried about over-feeding your dog, ration his regular meals according to the amount of food used in training.

Clicker

All of our gundog training is based on positively reinforcing the right behaviours in order to encourage dogs to repeat them. The best way to communicate with your dog when training is give feedback using the unique sound made by a clicker. Follow this link to purchase one of our branded clickers and collect it at your next training session with us.

Acme Working Dog Whistles

We encourage the use of the whistle as early as possible in your dog’s training regime.

When working dogs at distance or into cover, especially when it’s windy, the 211.5 pitch provides a higher volume. To be sure of being heard, this whistle pitch is our recommendation for all breeds. The best dog whistles are manufactured by Acme and we have a stock of different colours you can order from our shop here, along with a lanyard.

Long-Line

In the early stages of training, we find it best to use a long line whilstworking with your dog at distance and close to other dogs. This is basically a very long lead, ideally 10 metres long (no more), made of canvas webbing or rubber which can be attached to your dog’s harness. Long-lines should only ever be attached to your dog via a body harness. If attached to their collar they are potentially likely to cause a serious injury.

Retrieving Toys

In order to teach the retrieve, we use play as the best method. If you can engage your dog in a game with a toy, then throw it, there’s an excellent chance he’ll chase after the toy and bring it back because he wants the game to continue. You can purchase direct from our main supplier, Tug-e-Nuff, right here. Use discount code ‘ACER’ and you’ll receive a 10% off your order.

Flirt Pole

As demonstrated in one of the training modules on the online course, a telescopic Flirt Pole is a great bit of kit to have in your bag to generate additional movement and therefore interest from dogs who don’t appear overly keen to retrieve. You can purchase these online from retailers such as Amazon, here. Alternatively, an equestrian Lunge Whip makes the toy move even faster as it has a flexible tip. As they are typically 7ft in length, they are just not very practical to carry around.

Settle Mat (Puppy Course Only)

In the middle section of each class, we will be working on training the puppies to settle. In a nutshell, this means to switch-off and go to sleep. It is much easier to do this if you use a contextual cue such as a mat being rolled out on the ground. During the winter months, it also makes it more comfortable for your puppy to lie on cold & wet ground. You don’t need anything expensive, but ideally it should be a mat that you can roll up and carry under your arm whenever you take your puppy out to the pub or to a friend’s house. It isn’t just for use in class. A rectangle of Vetbed ideal. Alternatively,  shower mat, or an off-cut of carpet are just as good. A towel will just get wet on soggy ground so isn’t suitable.

Training Dummies

Dummies come in various shapes, sizes and materials available online from stockists such as Sporting Saint. The best size to buy for puppies and beginners is a 1/2lb one like these, then 1lb dummies for adult dogs once they get a bit of experience. What’s most important though, is finding something your dog likes retrieving.

Poo Bags

Please ensure you have a supply of poo-bags to clean up after your dog. These bags should only be disposed of in the red dog-waste bins that are situated around the site. Alternatively, please take the bag home with you.

Water

For hygiene reasons, you should bring a water bowl and water for your dog to drink. Bring extra water if it’s hot, or a towel if it’s wet.

Clothing & Footwear

Our training classes are held outdoors and in all weather so please dress accordingly. Remember; there is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing!

Additional Kit

You may wish to acquire the following equipment as your gundog training progresses to Junior Gundog level:

Placeboards

For the Beginner Gundog Improver & Junior Gundog Courses, you will find it helpful to own at least one Placeboard (ideally two). Whilst the training can be undertaken without them, using them will expedite how quickly your dog develops steadiness skills. You can purchase them ready-made from two suppliers we recommend (who will also post them to you):

• Wooden Placeboards (5kg each): here
• Lightweight Composite (3kg each): here

Alternatively, you can make your own with a few offcuts you have lying around the garage and some Astroturf purchased from a local garden centre. The key dimensions for a Placeboard are 24″ x 15″ x 3″. Smaller is fine if you have a Spaniel sized dog.

Training Tab

At the point where we start working dogs off-lead in a class, a useful hybrid between a long-line and having them completely free is a shorter lead, known as a Training Tab. This will help you maintain some control over your dog, but also to drop the tab without it distracting the dog or getting caught around their legs.

Game Bag

A Game Bag can be used to store your long line, dummies, etc and is handy as you will never have enough pockets. As you progress on your gundog training journey, you will undoubtably purchase a lots of additional items. Carrying equipment in a supermarket carrier bag, or a backpack, is really impractical. When these are left on the ground in the are

Handler Vest

A Game Bag can quickly get full with all the paraphernalia that is gradually acquired with gundog training. A better option for carrying items whilst training your dog is a Handler Vest.