"I have a Portugese Water Spaniel that I plan to keep as a family pet mainly, but I would like to work him too so that I can work on his obedience with a focus. I've always had Labs and Setters before so I'm a bit stumped as to what I could do with him. He doesn't seem to have a nose for game. Any ideas? Thank you, Amira."

The answer

H&C blogger and gundog expert Howard Kirby replies: "Hi Amira, as you know the Portugese Water Spaniel is bred to be a very intelligent and tremendously energetic ‘fisherman’s dog’ with great swimming and diving traits.

Click for success

Perhaps one training method you might consider is clicker training. This training method is really suited to intelligent breeds and can be used to motivate your dog to offer all sorts of behaviours.  Clicker training can be great fun, for both dogs and their handlers.  You might consider simple exercises such as, “look at me”, and “basic obedience”, but once your dog has got his head around ‘clicker work’, you will find that the sky’s the limit.

Clickers work for most dogs

Teaching him to retrieve should now be easy once you have established the basics.  You might like to watch Mullenscotes head trainer, Annie Buckley, working our Battersea Superstars, Henry and Dexter, on the H&C website.  Visit www.horseandcountry.tv/episode/hc-how-howard-kirby-episode-7.  Clicker Training is really accessible to all, if you google ‘Clicker Training’ you will find some excellent websites to help you study the training system. 

Please do keep us up to speed with your progress, and any training you do.  If you would like any further advice then please do contact us again through the H&C website. It would be really great if you could send some pictures of your fella so we can all monitor his progress.

Good luck, Howard."