Practical Gundog Training

Nick Ridley, Fran Ardley

• Publisher: Quiller
• Year: 2025
• eBook ISBN: 9781846894091
• Edition: 0

Nick Ridley and Fran Ardley have five decades of combined experience of training and working their gundogs in the field, so there are very few situations that they haven't encountered. In this straightforward and easy-to-follow guide, they share their expert knowledge and advice with both the novice and the more experienced trainer, enabling them to get the most out of their gundogs. Practical Gundog Training takes a different approach to previous publications and instead of focusing solely on one breed, it concentrates on exercises that owners of all gundog breeds can follow. Although aimed at the gundog owner who plans to work their dog in the shooting field, the book will also be useful to those trainers who own pet gundog breeds. Training scenarios including the place board, whistle work and working with more than one dog are featured. Each subject covers various exercise options, initial training and refresher training, which is especially important at the end of a busy working season.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Foreword by Jenny Campbell
• Introduction
• 1. Should You Walk Your Gundog?
• 2. The Place Board
• 3. Place Board Progression
• 4. Retrieving
• 5. Heelwork
• 6. Marking
• 7. Hunting
• 8. Introducing Whistle Commands
• 9. Steadiness
• 10. Introduction to Shot
• 11. Gun Sense
• 12. Introducing Cold Game
• 13. Obstacles
• 14. Scent and Lines
• 15. Working With Another Dog
• 16. Directions
• 17. Water Work
• 18. Picking Up
• 19. Beating
• 20. Shooting Over Your Dog
• 21. Managing Your Dog on a Shoot Day
• 22. Gundog Terminology
• Acknowledgements
• About the Authors