Where to Start

Step 1: Consultation with Carl
Bring your dog(s) in for a consultation to meet Carl. Together we'll assess our dog's needs and establish a tailored training plan.
We'll address all behavioural issues such as running in, pulling, barking, heel work, and more. Training your dog is the easy part-sometimes it's the owners who need more help!

Training Options

⚫1 on 1 sessions
⚫Small and Large Group Sessions
⚫Residential Training
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Gundog Puppy Group

Our Gundog Puppy Group takes place every Sunday morning at 9:30am. These early stages are incredibly important in your puppy's development. Whether you are hoping for a working gundog, a well-behaved family pet, or a competition dog for the field trial world, building the right bond with the handler from the very beginning is essential. Get these foundations right and everything else becomes much easier. Get them wrong and you can often feel as though you are always trying to catch up. At Kugae Gundogs, we work with all types of gundog breeds and, through years of hands-on experience, we know how to help both you and your puppy start on the right path. In our Gundog Puppy Group, we focus on the key foundations, including:
⚫Heelwork on the lead
⚫Heelwork off the lead
⚫Retrieving
⚫Building focus on the handler
⚫Social skills around other dogs
Our aim is to give your puppy the best possible start, while helping you develop the confidence and understanding needed for the journey ahead.

Novice Gundog Group

Our Novice Gundog Group is designed for all types of gundog breeds and focuses on helping handlers build a dog they can confidently take anywhere. At this stage, we develop the key foundations needed for both working dogs and well-manned companions. Just as importantly, we guide handlers so they understand how to get the best from their dog.
Throughout the sessions, we concentrate on:
⚫Heelwork on the lead
⚫Heelwork off the lead
⚫Reliable recall
⚫Building strong focus on the handler
⚫Managing and improving reactivity around other dogs
This group is all about creating control, consitency and confidence. With the right guidance, you and your dog will begin to work as a team both at home and out in the real world.

Intermediate Gundog Group

Our Intermediate Gundog Group is designed for dogs and handlers who have established the basics and are ready to progress their training further. At this stage, we build on control, consistency and understanding. We develop a higher level of obedience while introducing more advanced gundog skills. The focus shifts towards working your dog at greater distances, improving responsiveness, and maintaining control is more challenging enviroments.
Throughout this group, we cover:
⚫Advanced heelwork on and off the lead
⚫Steadier and more reliable recall
⚫Introduction to controlled retrieving
⚫Sit to the whistle
⚫Improving steadiness and paitence
⚫Building focus around higher distractions
We also finish each session in our Shoot Barn with tea or coffee. This gives you the oppourtunity to socialise your dog in a relaxed enviroment, helping them settle and behave in more public settings. This stage is all about refining your dog's ability and strengthening the partnership between handler and dog. As a result, you will gain the confidence to handle your dog in more demanding situations, whether in the field or everyday life.

Novice Working Gundog Group

Our Novice Working Gundog Group is designed for dogs and handlers who are ready to move from basic training into more practical, working scenarios. At this stage, we begin to shape your dog into a more capable working companion. We focus on developing control in real-life enviroments while introducing the early stages of working a dog in the field. Training becomes more purposeful, with an emphasis on steadiness, responsiveness, and understanding what is expected when out working.
Throughout this group, we cover:
⚫Steady heelwork in more challenging enviroments
⚫Reliable recall under distraction
⚫Introduction to simple retrieves in varied terrain
⚫Beginning directional control
⚫Sit to the whistle in practical situations
⚫Building steadiness around movement and other dogs.
This group is all about bridging the gap between training and real working conditions. As a result, you will start to see your dog develop into a more controlled, focused, and reliable gundog.

Advanced Working Gundog Group

Our Advanced Working Gundog Group is designed for experienced dogs and handlers who are ready to work at a high level in realistic and demanding enviroments. At this stage, we expect a solid foundation to already be in place. The focus is now on precision, consistency, and control under pressure. Training reflects real working situations, where your dog must remain steady, responsive, and reliable at all times. We challenge both dog and handler to perform with confidence, even in high-distraction enviroments.
Throughout this group, we cover:
⚫Advanced heelwork in working enviroments
⚫Consistent and immediate stop to the whistle
⚫Blind retrieves and memory retrieves
⚫Advanced directional control at distance
⚫Maintaining steadiness around game, movement and gunshot
⚫Handling in more complex and pressured scenarios
This group is about fine-tuning performance and producing a dependable, well rounded working gundog. As a result, you will have the confidence to handle your dog in the field, on a shoot day, or at competition level.

Simulated Gundog Training Days

Our Simulated Gundog Training Days are designed to prepare your dog for the real thing. Gundogs perform at their best under pressure. Thereford, these days are carefully structured to replicate a real shoot day as closely as possible. Using one of the Kugae gundogs automatic simulated clay trailers, we create a realistic shooting enviroment. Eco clays are fired over the line, with gunfire adding to the atmosphere, while your dog is expected to sit calmly and steadily on the peg. Behind the line, picking-up dogs wait paitently, just as they would on a live shoot day. At the same time, our automatic dummy launchers fire dummies to simulate falling game. We also place cold game in the field, giving your dog the oppourtunity to retrieve in a realistic and controlled setting.
Throughout the day, we focus on:
⚫Steadiness on the peg
⚫Remaining calm under gunfire and distraction
⚫Marking and memory retrieves
⚫Working as part of a team
⚫Retrieving dummies and cold game
⚫Handling in a live shoot-style enviroment
These days are ideal for dogs progressing towards working shoots or for handlers who want to experience a realistic training enviroment. It's the perfect step between training and the real shooting field.

Working Spaniel Training Days

Our Working Spaniel Training Days are designed for dogs that are already working in the field and are steady to birds and shot. These days focus on refining ability, improving consistency, and developing a confident, controlled working spaniel. Training is centered around the key elements of spaniel work, ensuring your dog performs effectively and reliably in a real shooting enviroment.
Throughout the day, we concentrate on:
⚫Hunting patterns and ground coverage
⚫Sitting to shot
⚫Retrieving from a variety of terrain
⚫Maintaining steadiness and control
⚫Working in line with other dogs and handlers
All our training days take place on our shoot based in Lincolnshire, providing a realistic and varied enviroment for both dog and handler. These days are ideal for those looking to fine-tune their dog's performance and gain confidence in the field.

Retriever Training Days

Our Retriever Training Days are designed for more advanced dogs and handlers who are looking to take their training to the next level. These days are focused on refining control, building consistency, and developing a confident, capable retriever in more demanding enviroments. Working in a group setting naturally adds pressure for both dog and handler. As a result, it provides the perfect oppourtunity to test and improve your training under realisitc conditions.
Througout the day, we concentrate on:
⚫Sitting paitiently to shot
⚫Walking to heel off the lead in a line
⚫Blind retrieves
⚫Advanced retrieving skills
⚫Maintaining control in a group enviroments
⚫Building confidence under pressure
Training alongside other dogs helps replicate real shoot day situations. Therefore, your dog learns to remain steady, focused, and responsive at all times. These days are ideal for handlers who want to push their training further and produce a reliable, well-rounded working retriever.

Novice Water Training Day

Our Novice Water Training Day is perfect for introducing your gundog to water in a fun, controlled, and natural enviroment. Most gundogs love water, and watching them retrieve from it is a real pleasure. However, early experiences are important. Therefore, we focus on building confidence while keeping the training enjoyable for both dog and handler. Our training takes place in a carefully selected natural setting. The lake offers shallow margins that gently slope into deeper water, making it ideal for dogs at all stages. Some dogs will jump straight in, full of confidence. Others may prefer to explore the edges first before taking the plunge. Either way, we work with each dog at their own pace. Once they are comfortable, most quickly gain confidence and begin to enjoy the work - often turning into little "ducks" in no time.
Throughout the session, we focus on:
⚫Building confidence in and around water
⚫Encouraging natural retrieves from the water
⚫Developng control and focus
⚫Creating positive, enjoyable experiences
⚫Strengthening the bond between handler and dog
This day is all about setting your dog up for success ensuring they are happy, confident, and capable when working in water.

Advanced Water Training Day

Our Advanced Water Training Day is designed for dogs and handlers who already have confidence in water and are ready to progress to a higher level. At this stage, we focus on control, precision, and reliability in more challenging water enviroments. Training becomes more demanding, with greater expectations placed on both dog and handler. Working in water adds an extra layer of excitement. Therefore maintaining steadiness, focus, and responsiveness is key. Our natural training enviroment allows us to vary depth, distance and terrain, helping to prepare your dog for real working situations.
Throughout the day, we concentrate on:
⚫Steady entry into the water
⚫Controlled retrieves from varying distances
⚫Blind retrieves in water
⚫Handling and directional control in water
⚫Maintaining steadiness around other dogs and distractions
⚫Delivering cleanly to hand
Training alongside others helps build confidence under pressure while replicating real shoot day scenarios. This day is ideal for those looking to refine their dog's ability and produce an confident, controlled, and capable retriever in water.
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  • What Makes a Great Gundog Trainer?

    Training a gundog requires patience, skill, and a deep understanding of both canine behaviour and the specific demands of fieldwork. A great gundog trainer must possess a unique combination of knowledge, experience, and empathy to successfully bring out the best in a working dog. Whether you are training a Labrador for retrieving, a Spaniel for flushing, or a Pointer for setting, choosing the right trainer is crucial for achieving the best results.

    Key Characteristics of a Great Gundog Trainer

    1. Experience and Proven Track Record

    A great trainer should have extensive experience with various breeds and training levels, from young pups to fully trained field dogs. They should be able to demonstrate a history of successful training outcomes, whether through client testimonials, competition wins, or working dogs that perform reliably in the field.

    2. Patience and Understanding of Canine Behaviour

    Every dog learns at its own pace. A skilled trainer will understand canine psychology, knowing how to read body language and recognise when a dog is stressed, confused, or responding well. They must be patient, ensuring training remains a positive experience.

    3. Effective Communication

    Training a gundog is not just about working with the dog – the handler must also be trained. A great trainer should be able to clearly explain training techniques to owners, ensuring they understand how to continue training outside of lessons.

    4. Adaptability and Customised Training Approaches

    No two dogs are the same. A great trainer will adapt their methods to suit different breeds, temperaments, and learning styles. They should be flexible and able to modify their training plan based on the individual dog’s progress.

  • 5. Ethical and Humane Training Methods

    Modern gundog training should be based on ethical and humane principles. A great trainer avoids outdated or harsh methods and instead uses reward-based training, consistency, and clear commands to encourage a dog’s natural abilities.

    6. Strong Understanding of Fieldwork and Gundog Roles

    A skilled trainer must have a deep understanding of the specific role a gundog is expected to perform, whether it’s retrieving, flushing, or pointing. Their training should incorporate real-life hunting scenarios to prepare the dog for actual field conditions.

    7. Good Facilities and Realistic Training Environments

    A great gundog trainer should have access to appropriate training environments, such as fields, woodlands, water sources, and controlled game areas. Training in diverse conditions ensures a dog is well-prepared for any situation it may encounter in the field.

    8. Professionalism and Reliability

    A great trainer should be punctual, well-organised, and committed to helping both the dog and owner succeed. They should provide structured training plans, offer progress updates, and be available for ongoing support.

    9. Passion for Gundogs and Training

    A true gundog trainer is passionate about their work, genuinely enjoying the process of shaping a dog’s skills. Their enthusiasm is often reflected in their training sessions, making learning enjoyable for both dogs and owners.

    10. Willingness to Continue Learning

    The best trainers never stop learning. They keep up to date with new training techniques, canine psychology advancements, and field trial standards. They may also participate in professional development courses or attend gundog competitions to refine their methods.