Gundog tests – training to win

I have spent many hours watching gundog tests and as a result I have a good idea how to make sure that a dog performs to the best of its ability. Admittedly, you might not win a rosette or bag of dog food but you can do your best, whilst not embarassing yourself or your dog. (Read what do the letters FTCh stand for?)

Starting off in gundog tests

If you’re new to gundog tests, go along for the first time without your dog and watch what happens. The word tests can cover a multitude of events, ranging from a friendly competition put on by your local gundog club to events that are so serious it would be easy to mistake them for a field trial. By the way, the description novice refers to the dog, not the handler!

I think that tests for any breed of gundog tend to be the most fun, particularly those in aid of charity.  There is usually no requirement for your dog to be Kennel Club registered, so if you have a sprocker or even a talented border collie, you can have a go. You will find that the judges are usually friendly and encouraging, and that your fellow competitors will chat to you.

I find that working tests are also great opportunities to develop your gundog’s handling skills.

Getting more serious

Of course, there are events like the annual Kennel Club tests. These are, of course, for KC-registered dogs only, and you will find that many professional handlers will be taking part with dogs that they trial during the season. There will be a sprinkling of field trial champions in the entry but, for the most part, top handlers use events like these for getting their potential trialling dogs used to competition. The judges will all be KC-panel judges and the only smiles you are likely to see all day will be when the winners receive their prizes.

At many tests there are separate events for spaniels and retrievers and my experience suggests that it is the latter that have the most fun. The spaniel tests usually put a great deal of emphasis on quartering and rather less on retrieving, so if you work your spaniel as a picking-up dog you will be at a disadvantage. You can usually enter a spaniel in the retriever section if you ask the organiser nicely and there’s nothing more satisfying than beating the labradors at their own game.

Get your dog test fit

Having decided to enter a test of whatever standard, it is essential to get your dog both fit and competitive. If your dog hasn’t done much since the end of the season, some fitness training is essential. One of the easiest things to do is to give the dog memory retrieves on walks, ensuring that it has plenty of opportunity to gallop decent distances.

Practising is key

Practising the sort of retrieves you are likely to be asked to do is also vital for success. Here the key to success is recruiting a friend or family member to throw the retrieves for you. Dogs that are used to retrieving dummies thrown for them by their own handler can get confused when someone else throws the dummy. If possible, borrow some dummies from a friend, as some dogs hesitate to pick up another dog’s dummy. Train with as great a variety of dummies as possible, as you never know what your dog might be asked to retrieve in the competition.

Most tests use starting pistols to gain the dog’s attention, so some practice with a pistol is also important before the event. This shouldn’t be fired by you, but by the person throwing the dummy for you. Some of the more sophisticated tests now involve remote dummy launchers, but these can confuse even highly competitive dogs if they have never encountered them before. Again, if you practise beforehand you will be much better prepared.

Water work

Almost all tests include water work, so do make sure that your dog is a competent swimmer. I watched an HPR test once where many of the dogs clearly didn’t want to get their paws wet: watching their handlers trying to get their dogs into the water was very entertaining. Even if your dog is a great swimmer, remember that it will be penalised if it puts the dummy down for a shake when it emerges from the water, so practise your deliveries.

When the day of your competition dawns, make sure that your dog has a good walk before the start. If it pauses for a long pee when coming back with the dummy, you will lose points. If possible, walk the course beforehand and study exactly what your dog will be asked to do and note the mistakes other dogs and handlers have made. The better prepared you and your dog are, the higher your chances of success.

This article was originally published in 2010 and has been updated.