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1
Mar
2010

Howard's friends The Cannons and their dog

Howard Kirby is the proprietor of Lains Shooting School and Mullenscote Gundogs, where he specialises in training a variety of dogs (and handlers!) from companions to specialist gundogs. In his weekly blog, Howard shares his experience of the dogs and people that pass through his school and his top tips to train your dog.

"I'm writing this blog whilst on a six day break based in the depths of rural Devon. What an amazing place, just two hours drive from us and we are in some of the most stunning countryside you could ever hope to see. The purpose of this break was for nothing more than a few days away from shooting and gundogs. Taking me away from shooting and dogs is just about the most ridiculous and painful thing you could ever do to me. We’ve discussed this before; I know I’m not alone with this addiction!

We have been here for five days now and I have been clay shooting for four of those, sadly; found myself parked in a lay-by on three occasions peering over the stone bank to watch a shepherd working collies on sheep (never give up an opportunity to watch dogs working sheep, awesome, and yes I was watching the collies not the shepherdess) and found myself constantly thinking about what I’m going to do when I get home. Right, now I know that some of you might be thinking ’Get a life Kirby, you’re a geek, your're obsessed, don’t you have anything else in your unimaginative little life etc etc.' Well my answer is... I’m guilty but you know what? I don’t want to change it!

Although I am on a ‘bus-mans’ holiday, the change of place and countryside has been extremely relaxing and I have spent the week gossiping with some wonderful people, sitting and just chatting is not something I get much of a chance to do, but I’ve found it extremely therapeutic and of course great fun.

This short but relaxing break is something that as dog trainers you should keep uppermost in your mind; we are always advising as to how important it is to ensure that you manage your dog's training regime and general day to day training. But just with your dogs, it’s important to allow ourselves some time out. And this is where it gets a little confusing for novice dog owners.

Lots of people buy working breeds believing that the dog should have an idyllic boundary free lifestyle. For most dog owners this is not very realistic; dogs without boundaries - both physical and mental - more often than not get labelled as ‘problem dogs.’ Unless you are fortunate enough to own half of Wiltshire, you will be exercising and working your dogs on either public or private land, allowing your dog the opportunity to charge around chasing anything and everything with a pulse - rushing up to and introducing its self to other dogs and people will inevitably cause conflict with both humans and canines alike.

Careful management, training, keeping your dog focused on you rather than its surroundings are just a few of the things that are essential ingredients when mixing up ‘The Cake Mix’ that makes for successful dog training."