What Happens at a Gundog Training Assessment?

If you're struggling with your gundog, it can sometimes be difficult to know where to start.

Perhaps your recall isn't reliable. Your dog pulls on the lead, becomes completely distracted around other dogs, won't deliver a retrieve properly or seems brilliant at home but forgets everything as soon as you take them somewhere more exciting.

Or perhaps there isn't actually a major problem at all. You might simply want somebody experienced to look at your dog, see where you're at and help you decide what to work on next.

That's exactly what our gundog training assessments at Kugae Gundogs are designed to do.

Why Do We Start With an Assessment?

Before we can tell you how we'd train a dog, we need to see the dog.

Every dog is different.

Two owners might contact us with exactly the same problem — perhaps both dogs have poor recall — but the reason behind that behaviour could be completely different.

One dog might lack basic training. Another may understand the recall perfectly well but has learned that ignoring the handler is more rewarding. Another might simply have been given too much freedom too soon.

That's why we don't believe in giving every dog exactly the same solution.

An assessment gives us an opportunity to meet you and your dog, see what's actually happening and work out the most sensible way forward.

What Happens During the Assessment?

Our assessments usually last around 30–45 minutes and take place here at Kugae Gundogs in the Lincolnshire Wolds.

We'll start by talking to you.

We want to understand a little about your dog, including their age, breed, previous training and what you'd ultimately like to achieve.

Some owners want a fully trained working gundog.

Others would simply like a well-mannered family dog that walks nicely, comes back when called and can enjoy the countryside safely.

Both are perfectly valid.

We'll then have a look at the dog and their current level of training.

What Are We Looking At?

The assessment isn't an exam and there's no pass or fail.

We're simply trying to understand the dog in front of us.

Depending on the dog's age and experience, we may look at things such as:

How the dog interacts with the handler

Heelwork
Recall
Response to the whistle
General obedience
Focus and attention
Retrieving ability
Delivery
Steadiness
Confidence
Behaviour around distractions
How much freedom the dog can currently cope with

We certainly don't expect every dog to be able to do all of these things.

If they could, you probably wouldn't need us!

What we're interested in is understanding what the dog already knows, where the gaps are and why you're experiencing the problems you're having.

We're Assessing the Handler Too

This might sound slightly worrying, but it shouldn't!

A big part of gundog training is actually handler training.

Dogs learn from what we do every single day. Our timing, body language, consistency and the amount of freedom we give them can all influence their behaviour.

Very often we'll make a small adjustment to what the handler is doing and immediately see a difference in the dog.

That's good news.

It means you don't necessarily have a difficult dog. You may simply need a slightly different way of communicating with them.

Our job isn't to criticise what you've done previously. It's to show you how you and your dog can move forward together.

You Don't Need a Working Gundog

Despite the name Kugae Gundogs, your dog doesn't have to work to come to us for training.

We see plenty of owners who have working-bred Labradors, Springer Spaniels and Cocker Spaniels that are primarily family pets.

The problem is that these breeds have often been bred for generations to work.

They're intelligent, energetic and naturally driven dogs.

If that drive isn't channelled in the right direction, owners can sometimes find themselves with a dog that makes its own entertainment!

Gundog training can provide structure and purpose even if you never intend to take your dog anywhere near a shooting field.

What Happens After the Assessment?

Once we've seen your dog, we'll talk honestly about what we think would help.

There isn't one route that suits everybody.

For some dogs, we may recommend one-to-one training, where we can work specifically on the areas you need help with.

Others may be ready to join one of our group training classes, allowing you to progress your training while working around other dogs and distractions.

For dogs requiring more intensive work, we may discuss residential training.

And sometimes, you may simply leave with a clearer understanding of what you're doing well and what you need to concentrate on at home.

The purpose of the assessment is to give you a plan rather than leaving you guessing.

When Should You Book an Assessment?

You don't need to wait until everything has gone wrong.

In fact, we'd much rather see a dog before a small issue has developed into a much bigger one.

You might benefit from an assessment if:

Your dog's recall is becoming unreliable
Your dog pulls excessively on the lead
Your dog becomes "self-employed" when given freedom
You're struggling to maintain their attention
Your dog won't retrieve or deliver consistently
You're unsure how to progress their training
You have a young gundog and want to start correctly
You're considering residential training
You want to prepare your dog for working in the field
You simply want an experienced opinion on where your dog is currently at

Sometimes one session can highlight something very simple that makes a significant difference.

How Much Does a Gundog Training Assessment Cost?

A training assessment at Kugae Gundogs costs £25 and usually lasts around 30–45 minutes.

For us, it's the best way to start because we can give you advice based on the dog standing in front of us rather than trying to diagnose a training problem through a message or email.

Start With the Dog You've Got

One of the most important things in dog training is to work with the dog you've actually got — not the dog you think you should have.

Some dogs mature quickly. Others take longer.

Some are naturally very biddable. Others have enormous drive and need more careful handling.

That's part of what makes training gundogs so interesting.

A good assessment gives us a starting point.

From there, we can help you build a training plan that's realistic for you, your dog and what you ultimately want to achieve.

Book a Gundog Training Assessment

If you're struggling with your dog's training, aren't sure what to work on next or simply want some professional guidance, get in touch with the Kugae Gundogs team to arrange an assessment.

Whether your goal is a well-mannered family companion or a working gundog, we'll have a look at where you are now and help you decide on the next step.

Sometimes you don't need to completely change your training.

You just need someone to show you where to start.

Contact us - 📞 WhatsApp: 07505 014363 📧 Email: info@kugaegundogs.uk