Important Post.
Please read and share!!https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙏🏼" title="Folded hands (mittelheller Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Folded hands (mittelheller Hautton)">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="☺️" title="Lächelndes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Lächelndes Gesicht">

I’ve pondered all day how to write this so here goes.

I’ve been asked by a friend to do this post to help set expectations with new owners about the challenges of training their first Gundog breed.

As pups arrive with their new families never have Gundog Trainers been in more demand and more important.
To be clear
I’m not a Gundog Trainer. I couldn’t be further from one if I tried.
Gundog Trainers teach you to get the best from your dogs.

Theres an unrealistic expectation of novice handlers. Some believing these little pups will be ready for work at 18 months with an hour a week and a tennis ball!!

I often hear people say
“I can’t believe it, they’ve never chased anything before”https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😬" title="Grimasse schneidendes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Grimasse schneidendes Gesicht">
When asked how much Game they’ve seen I’m always amazed to hear
“they haven’t. But I’ve put wings on dummies and have a rabbit ball”.

I’m not here to suggest it can’t be done. I do it for goodness sake so truly anyone can, just not with a few hours and a tennis ball alone.
My dogs are far from perfect. As you know the foundations are set early but, what people don’t see, the hours & miles on shoots all year.

Take Solo,14 mths, had 60+ shoot days (smell, see & hear the day from the truck), hours on scented ground with both feather & fur flushing everyday from about 10 weeks.
He’ll start his first season with more time on a shooting estate than many Gundogs have as they retire.
AND ...

He will still make mistakes and piss me right off!!https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😂" title="Gesicht mit Freudentränen" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit Freudentränen">

Bracken has sat on over 100 pegs, in over 200 hides and been beating or picking up lord knows how many times, hundreds for sure and guess what, he’ll make mistakes toohttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤷🏼‍♀️" title="Achselzuckende Frau (mittelheller Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Achselzuckende Frau (mittelheller Hautton)">

You will not have a Gundog in a couple of weeks, months or sometimes even years without unbelievable effort!
With access to the best facilities, limitless time on your hands and training from the best, it’s still unbelievably hard.https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙏🏼" title="Folded hands (mittelheller Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Folded hands (mittelheller Hautton)">

But worth ithttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😊" title="Lächelndes Gesicht mit lächelnden Augen" aria-label="Emoji: Lächelndes Gesicht mit lächelnden Augen">