Paws & Play Gundogs

Paws & Play Gundogs Pet Gundog Training for any breed or cross breed of gundogs. All training is run by a qualified and accredited instructor.

Positive & Choice-based Gundog training, outside & all year round for all levels whether it be for fun & a hobby or to work in the field. Fun Pet Gundog Training using positive reinforcement, choice, and reward-based methods for any breed or crossbreed of gundog that are primarily pets or for those wanting to work their dog out in the field. The training helps to stimulate their brain, keeps them

physically & mentally fit, & helps to give you a good level of control over your dog. Labradors, spaniels, and other gundog breeds can and do make great pets, but it’s also important to remember that they have been selectively bred for generations to hunt and retrieve in partnership with us. Gundog style training helps to harness these instincts and drives of your pet gundog in order that you get the most from them as you’re fulfilling their hunting instincts.

To end yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting Bess and her owners for their first 1-1 session.Bess is a 6-month-old Wo...
19/08/2026

To end yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting Bess and her owners for their first 1-1 session.

Bess is a 6-month-old Working Cocker whose owners had been doing some training at home, but they’d hit a roadblock and weren’t seeing the progress they were hoping for.

As with all my 1-1s, I started by assessing where they were currently at. We looked at what they’d taught Bess so far, I gave them some honest feedback, and highlighted the areas that needed improving.

One of the biggest things we addressed was recall. Bess had been given too many opportunities to ignore her recall cue, so it had started to lose its meaning.

Rather than trying to rescue it, we made the decision to start from scratch. We introduced a brand new verbal recall cue alongside a new whistle, giving us a fresh foundation to build on.

Hi, if we’ve not met before, I’m Lindsay, owner of Paws & Play Gundogs, and helping owners understand why training works (or sometimes doesn’t!) is a huge part of what I do.

One thing I’d love you to think about is this…

Before adding distractions, ask yourself whether your cue is actually reliable in the environment you’re already training in.

If your dog regularly ignores a cue, they’re practising ignoring it. Every repetition teaches them something, and if nothing happens when they don’t respond, they quickly learn that listening is optional.

Build reliability first. Then gradually increase the difficulty. That’s how you create cues your dog can trust and respond to, even when the world gets more exciting.

Another term finished, and messages like this never lose their impact.Watching dogs like Amber grow in confidence and se...
18/08/2026

Another term finished, and messages like this never lose their impact.

Watching dogs like Amber grow in confidence and seeing the relationship between dog and owner strengthen is exactly why we do what we do for owners with pet gundog breeds.

Every session is about more than throwing dummies, teaching retrieves or whistle cues. It’s about giving owners the knowledge, confidence and support to enjoy training their dog and the journey that comes with it.

A huge thank you to Amber’s owner for taking the time to leave this review.

★★★★★
“Another term completed and I can’t thank Paws & Play Gundogs enough for all the help, patience and encouragement along the way.

The training, advice and support have been brilliant and it’s lovely watching Amber learn and develop.

I’d highly recommend Paws & Play Gundogs to anyone looking for knowledgeable, caring and supportive gundog training.”

Thank you Louise for trusting us with Amber’s training. We can’t wait to see what you both achieve next term.

Gundog Training | Peak District Gundog Training | Reward Based Gundog Training | Labrador Training | Spaniel Training | Sheffield Gundog Training | Countryside Dogs | Working Dog Life

One of the most interesting questions from last week’s Story Q&A wasn’t actually about dogs.It was about us.“How do we b...
17/08/2026

One of the most interesting questions from last week’s Story Q&A wasn’t actually about dogs.
It was about us.

“How do we build confidence as handlers?”

Because we spend so much time thinking about whether our dogs are confident enough… we rarely ask ourselves the same question.

The truth is, confidence doesn’t come from knowing everything.
It comes from experience.
From showing up.
From trying.
From making mistakes and learning.

A few things that can help:

• Stop comparing yourself to others, and stop comparing your dog’s progress to other dogs. Every dog and handler are on their own journey.

• Stop making every training session a test. Your dog doesn’t need to “pass”. Training is communication. Keep sessions achievable and finish on a success.

• Notice the small wins. The check-in they offered. The calmer response to a distraction. The tiny improvement you might have missed a few weeks ago. Those moments build confidence for both of you.

• Film your training sessions whenever you can. As strange as it sounds, watching yourself back is one of the best learning tools. You’ll often notice things you missed in the moment; your timing, your body language, your dog’s responses, and the little improvements that are easy to overlook.

• Practise where you can succeed. Confidence grows through successful repetitions. Yes, you want to train in more challenging environments, but only when your dog is ready. Build success first, then gradually increase the difficulty.

• Choose your support wisely. Find trainers and a training group who encourage you, guide you and help you grow. The right trainer will tell you honestly where things need improving, but they’ll also celebrate what’s going well and help you find the path forward.

💬 What is one thing you feel more confident doing with your dog now compared to when you started?

One of the biggest mistakes with Recall, I see often with young pet gundogs, especially Spaniels, is giving unlimited fr...
15/08/2026

One of the biggest mistakes with Recall, I see often with young pet gundogs, especially Spaniels, is giving unlimited freedom before the owners have built enough value in the relationship.

They’ve learnt to choose what has become the most rewarding option in the early months, and for many young pet gundogs, that’s the environment.

The more they practise entertaining themselves on every walk, the more valuable the world becomes, and the harder recall can start to feel.

This isn’t because sniffing, hunting and exploring are bad. These are natural behaviours, and exactly what our dogs were bred to do.

The key is making sure you are part of those rewards too.

Every walk is teaching your dog something.

If the environment always pays better than you, recall becomes much harder as adolescence arrives.

Instead, make yourself part of their adventure.
👉 Reward check-ins.
👉 Play together.
👉 Train little and often.
👉 Release them to sniff as a reward.

Train a dog that learns the best things don’t just happen around them... but they happen with you.

That’s how you create a dog that wants to come back, not because they have to, but because being with you is just as rewarding.

Connection first. Freedom second.

Have you noticed your dog’s recall change as they’ve got older? Let me know below.

If we haven’t met…

Hi, I’m Lindsay, a gundog trainer helping pet dog owners use gundog training to build better behaviour, a stronger bond and real-life skills through positive, reward-based training.

📍 Peak District | Sheffield | Chesterfield

Gundog Training | Working Cocker Spaniel | Peak District GunDog Training | Reward Based Gundog Training | Labrador Training | Spaniel Training | Sheffield Gundog Training | Countryside Dogs | Working Dog Life | Gundog Trainer

14/08/2026

How many training vests does one trainer actually need? 👀

Apparently… 5… I do have my eye on a 6th 😂

Because obviously one vest is for training, one is for muddy days, one is for pockets, one is for that particular training session, and the others?

Well… I’m sure they all have a purpose. 😂

Over the years I’ve tried a fair few training vests, and I definitely have my favourites depending on what I’m doing.

For me, the essentials are:

• Plenty of easily accessible pockets
• Comfortable enough to wear for hours
• Easy to move around in
• Practical for carrying dummies, starter pistols, launcher remotes, rewards, toys, leads and all the other stuff we somehow end up carrying
• And preferably something that survives being covered in mud & survives the rain!

So here’s the question…

How many training vests do YOU own?

And if you have a favourite, tell me what it is. I’m always interested in what other gundog owners and trainers actually recommend.

If we haven’t met…

Hi, I’m Lindsay, a gundog trainer helping pet dog owners use gundog training to build better behaviour, a stronger bond and real-life skills through positive, reward-based training.

📍 Peak District | Sheffield | Chesterfield

Gundog Training | Working Cocker Spaniel | Peak District Gundog Training | Reward Based Gundog Training | Labrador Training | Spaniel Training | Sheffield Gundog Training | Countryside Dogs | Working Dog Life | Gundog Trainer

13/08/2026

How I teach a Spaniel to quarter from puppyhood 👇

When I start introducing a spaniel to quartering, I’m not trying to create a perfect pattern straight away.

Most spaniels already have a natural desire to hunt and will develop their own way of moving through an area.

What I’m looking to do is harness that instinct, build the desire to chase and encourage the pup to learn that hunting and moving with me is part of the game.

This is a simple game I like to start with puppies.

🐾 Let the pup chase the dummy
🐾 Occasionally you can throw it out and encourage them to follow it
🐾 Bring the toy back in and repeat
🐾 You can then progress to removing the toy here & there and see if they’ll follow your hand instead
🐾 Bring the toy back in and reward them with another chase

With both Ellie & Maola here, I’m using the Rabbit Puppy Dummy to create movement and encourage that little bit of chase.

The aim isn’t precision at this stage.

It’s about taking something that already comes naturally to a spaniel and helping them understand that hunting, moving and following my direction can all be part of the fun.

The pattern will develop as the pup learns.

For me, it’s about starting young, keeping it fun and building the foundations without taking away that natural hunting desire.

If we haven’t met…

Hi, I’m Lindsay, a gundog trainer helping pet dog owners use gundog training to build better behaviour, a stronger bond and real-life skills through positive, reward-based training.

📍 Peak District | Sheffield | Chesterfield

Gundog Training | Working Cocker Spaniel | Peak District GunDog Training | Reward Based Gundog Training | Labrador Training | Spaniel Training | Sheffield Gundog Training | Countryside Dogs | Working Dog Life | Gundog Trainer

September/October Courses Are Now LiveIf you’ve been thinking about starting… or getting back into training… this is you...
12/08/2026

September/October Courses Are Now Live

If you’ve been thinking about starting… or getting back into training… this is your nudge.

➡️ Swipe to follow Tully’s journey from puppy foundations to competing, and see what’s possible with consistent, positive training.

From puppy foundations right through to advanced work, every course is designed to meet you where you’re at and help you build a dog you can genuinely enjoy living and training with every day.

This isn’t about creating robotic dogs.

It’s about understanding your dog’s natural instincts, giving them an outlet, and building reliable skills that last.

Whether you’re welcoming a new puppy or ready to progress to the next level, there’s a class for you.

📍 Holmesfield & Bakewell
✔️ Small groups
✔️ Real-life training
✔️ Suitable for pet and working gundogs
✔️ Supportive, positive environment
✔️ Private, enclosed training grounds

To book your place, visit our website www.pawsandplay.online/courses or DM me for more information

If you’re not sure which class is right for you, comment “CLASS” below and I’ll help you choose. 👇

Gundog Training | Working Cocker Spaniel | Peak District Dog Training | Reward Based Gundog Training | Labrador Training | Spaniel Training | Sheffield Gundog Training | Countryside Dogs | Working Dog Life

A common mistake when a dog struggles with delivery is simply doing more retrieves.But if your dog is repeatedly droppin...
11/08/2026

A common mistake when a dog struggles with delivery is simply doing more retrieves.

But if your dog is repeatedly dropping the dummy before reaching you, every repetition is rehearsing that behaviour.

Instead, make the delivery easier and focus on getting it right.

Try:

• Use a placeboard to give your dog a clear destination and encourage them to come all the way back to you.

• Make the retrieve really short. You don’t need distance while you’re teaching the delivery.

• Use softer items if your dog isn’t comfortable with a hard dummy.

• Try smaller, lighter items that are easier for your dog to carry.

• Reward the delivery rather than just rewarding the pickup.

And don’t feel you need to do 20 retrieves in a session.

A few successful deliveries are far more valuable than lots of repetitions where your dog drops the dummy.

Get the delivery right first, then gradually build distance, distractions and excitement.

Training isn’t about doing more. It’s about making the right behaviour easy enough for your dog to succeed.

09/08/2026

Last week I asked over on my Stories what training issues you were struggling with, and this was one of the most common questions…

“Our 10-month-old Labrador has suddenly decided she wants to say hello to every dog on walks!”

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

Adolescence is a huge developmental stage, and it’s completely normal for other dogs to suddenly become much more exciting.

It doesn’t mean your training has failed.

It means your dog’s priorities have changed.

One of the biggest mistakes I see is allowing every greeting because “they just want to be friendly.”

The problem is that every successful pull towards another dog reinforces that behaviour.

Instead, teach your dog that seeing another dog is a cue to reconnect with you.

Reward calm choices.
Reward check-ins.
Reward walking past without needing to say hello

Not every dog your dog sees needs to become a social interaction.

If we haven’t met...

Hi, I’m Lindsay, a gundog trainer helping pet dog owners use gundog training to build better behaviour, a stronger bond and real-life skills through positive, reward-based training.

In fact, one of the greatest skills you can teach is that it’s perfectly normal to notice another dog… and carry on with your walk.

💬 Does your dog struggle more with other dogs, people or wildlife?
Gundog Training | Working Cocker Spaniel | Peak District Dog Training | Reward Based Gundog Training | Labrador Training | Spaniel Training | Sheffield Gundog Training | Countryside Dogs | Working Dog Life

05/08/2026

Because we’re all a little nosy… here’s what I did in just 5 minutes with Maola yesterday.

This session was all about cementing the foundations for directional retrieves before I move her on.

We kept it simple;
• Left and Back
• Right and Back
• Left and Right
• Then finally putting all three together: Left, Right and Back.

And before anyone points it out… it’s not perfect!

Maola makes a couple of mistakes during the session, and I’ve deliberately left them in. Rather than editing them out, I wanted you to see how I simply reset the exercise, helped her get it right, and carried on. Training isn’t always perfect, you or your dog will make a mistake.

Training is about building understanding and setting your dog up to succeed.

Nothing complicated. No hour-long training session. Just five minutes of focused practice, ending while she was still engaged and wanting more.

Those short sessions soon add up to reliable, confident retrieves.

What have you practised with your dog this week?
If we haven’t met…

Hi, I’m Lindsay, a gundog trainer helping pet dog owners use gundog training to build better behaviour, a stronger bond and real-life skills through positive, reward-based training.
Gundog Training | Working Cocker Spaniel | Reward Based Gundog Training | Directional Retrieves | Peak District Dog Training | Labrador Training | Spaniel Training | Sheffield Gundog Training | Derbyshire Dales | Gundog Training Support | Gundog Skills | Countryside Life |

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