My husband and I were absolutely thrilled with the 6 Week Gundog Puppy Course! We brought our boisterous, lovable Labrador puppy, Pepper, hoping to channel some of her boundless energy and lay a good foundation for gundog work, or at the very least, a well-behaved companion. This course delivered on all fronts and then some!
From the very first session, Steve was fantastic. He created a really positive and fun learning environment, not just for the puppies, but for us owners too. It was brilliant to be around other new gundog puppy owners, sharing experiences and laughs.
The course structure was excellent, progressively building on skills each week. Pepper, responded so well to their positive reinforcement techniques, and it was lovely not to have to pack food for every session. We saw noticeable improvements in her focus and basic obedience very quickly.
What we particularly loved was the early introduction to gundog-specific skills. The placeboard training was a game-changer for teaching her a 'send away' and a solid 'stay'. Recall was, of course, a big focus, and the trainers had some fantastic, practical tips that have made Pepper much more responsive when we're out and about. Learning the basics of heelwork and the 'this way' whistle command in the later weeks has given us so much confidence for her future training.
The hour-long sessions were the perfect length to keep the puppies engaged without overwhelming them, and the "homework" tasks were clear and manageable, helping us to reinforce what we'd learned. It wasn't just about the exercises themselves; Steve also gave us invaluable advice on building a strong bond with Pepper and understanding her natural instincts as a gundog breed.
Now, at the end of the six weeks, Pepper is a much more attentive and engaged puppy. She’s still her happy, bouncy self, but with a newfound understanding of what we’re asking of her. We’ve got a fantastic toolkit of skills to continue building upon, and we feel so much more equipped to help her reach her full potential, whether that's in the field one day or simply as a wonderfully well-mannered family dog.
We can't recommend Breckland’s 6 Week Gundog Puppy Course highly enough to any new gundog owner. It’s been an invaluable start for Pepper and a really enjoyable experience for us. Thank you, Breckland Gundog Training!
Sarah & Pepper the Labrador
