AFRICANDAWNS GUNDOG TRAINING

At Africandawns we love gundog training. From a highly trained 'pegdog' to sit steady by the guns side through a heavy drive with birds falling all around, to a rough shooters friend and companion working under all conditions. Due to the learning curve, this course is approximately 4 - 6 months, but can vary from dog to dog, depending on it's ability and what
you expect from your dog.  Although Labradors and Spaniels are the most common for this style of training, we have, trained a variety of the HPR breeds.

We have 4 acres set out for training, consisting of rabbit and game pen, large pigeon flight, open training areas, covered jumps and livestock with access to various types of habitat.

Gundog group classes are also held every Sunday morning. They are suitable for all levels, from complete beginners to advanced, and are grouped accordingly. Many of our most experienced dogs are worked in competitions and pick up on shoots throughout the season.

We have had a number of requests from shoots, asking for handlers with reliable dogs for picking up and working on the beating line. These are excellent opportunities for you to work your pet in a real shoot environment, and to put your training into good practice.

Many of our experienced handlers are looking for a chance to take their dogs on a professional shoot. We have several dogs that are of a good working standard, and are looking for opportunities to get them and their handlers out working on a real shoot. We do recommend that you see all dogs and handlers prior to engaging them, to ensure they are suitable for your needs.

We also have our own shoot which we stock each year with pheasant and partridge. Shooting days are let out to people with interest in working there dogs, a trainer will be on hand to give advice and each person taking part will be given ample opportunity to work there dogs. It will all be as per a normal days shoot but every thing will orientate around the working gundog. You can shoot and work your own dog or concentrate on working the dog and bring a friend to shoot for you. We don't have large bags around 50 mainly pheasant and a few assorted. But you will have a good day have lots of fun and hopefully learn and improve your training at the same time.

Sorry, but this part is now fully booked for this season, hopefully we will have a larger shoot for the 2008 season so that we can fit in more days.

As this is seasonal, we also run Educational training days, which start in the spring and with the cooperation of a local farmer, we can provide various training habitats, including good water facilities. We have been asked by a number of clients to start these events again, they have proved very successful in the past and we would appreciate your comments or suggestions as to the style of training that you would like to see happen.

Apart from the events already mentioned, it is our intention to organise events involving well known and respected names from the gundog world to run workshop training days. One suggestion is to put on some clays for the shooter whilst the dogs learn to sit quietly without running in.

You can send your support and suggestions by letter, email or telephone.

We are now taking bookings for a small number of trained dogs, which should be ready by the coming season, and will be priced according to experience. As we no longer keep a number of working dogs for sale, we do however keep a list of trained dogs, so we can always manage to help you find a suitable dog.

Our rabbit pens and other training facilities are also available for hire, by dog clubs or individuals. We are always willing to show people our facilities and very much welcome visitors. Being within easy travelling distance of both London and the Midlands, we are easy accessible, as we are close to the A1, the M1 and the A14.