Training Courses

Cherwell Gundog Club aim to run training for gundogs of all standards.

Our courses are run by experienced gundog competitors and instructors. The number of attendees is strictly limited to ensure a good ratio.

All courses must be pre-booked and dogs must be registered for the entire course. If you are unable to attend a particular session for any reason the cost is not refundable.

All dogs attending these courses must be sociable and fully vaccinated.

2019 - fortnightly courses (course booking form below)

Course dates for retriever and Spaniel courses are as follows (all Sundays):

12th May, 26th May, 9th June, 23rd June, 7th July, 21st July

Retriever - Beginners Course 9.30 - 10.30

The beginners course is for dogs that have learned the basics of healing on/off the lead, can be recalled and will retrieve when on their own. The aim of the course is to build on this base so that they can act on these commands in a group environment which is much more exciting. With this in mind, we would expect a dog to be at least 9 months old. Through the course we will build on the above and work on steadiness, marked and memory retrieves, encluding directional commands. Booking form below.

Retriever - Intermediate Course 11.00 - 12.30

The intermediate training course is for dogs that have started gundog training. Before the course begins they must be able to: heel, sit & stay, recall, be steady, marked retrieve, memory retrieve. Through the course you will build your skills, handling at a distance, longer unseen retrieves, jumps, split retrieves, varying terrain. Booking form below.  

Spaniel Training Course 9.30 - 11.00

For beginner & intermediate dogs over 9 months old which have basic recall & play retrieve. Sessions will focus on: general control and steadiness, recalls away from distractions, walking to heel, sitting to flush, stop whistle, dummy retrieving and directional control. Booking form below.

Water Training - Sunday 24th March - 3pm - Bodicote Nr Banbury

This will be run, as in previous years, as a partly ‘self-help’/partly instructed afternoon. The area has a narrow river with Ford (where first retrieve and confidence building can be done) and it also has fallen trees/heavy reeds to build the experience of more confident dogs.
Besides the river, we have access to a canal where we can send dogs from the towpath, across the canal, out into a field so dogs get used to crossing water etc.
Anyone interested, please contact Will Organ at info@cherwellgundogclub.com

NB. This training doesn’t have the capacity to practice longer water seen/unseen retrieves, I’m afraid, but we do have access to a lake for this purpose - anyone interested, let us know and we will set something up.

Spaniel Training with a Kennel Club ‘A’ Panel Judge - Long Itchington - 27th April - morning

Bob Aldenton is a very skilled spaniel trainer and has agreed to hold a group training session for us. There is so much that can be learned from an opportunity like this. The cost will be £20 a dog.

Anyone interested, please contact Will Organ at info@cherwellgundogclub.com

Hunting/rough shooting training - 7th April - Morning

Craig & Courtney Killpack are experienced and skilled spaniel handlers who regularly compete in Field Trials. They have agreed to run a group training session, teaching hunting skills using live and cold game. The cost will be £20 a dog.

Anyone interested, please contact Will Organ at info@cherwellgundogclub.com

Cold Game Training

We expect to hold a cold game training session nearer to the start of the shooting season. If you plan to be using your dog in the field and would want to attend this, please could you let us know. When this has been run by the Club in the past, it has been evident that too many of the attending dogs did not have the retrieving basics sufficiently engrained to successfully move onto this stage which creates a considerable heightening of the dogs excitement. Respect for game is essential in the working role of a Gundog and it’s handler and so we would like to chat with any participants well ahead so we can work together to get basic delivery etc. sorted beforehand.

Anyone interested, please contact Will Organ at info@cherwellgundogclub.com