http://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/

Teach Your Gundog, Haslemere (2025)

09/06/2025

Our Foundation Gundog Classes are the perfect starting point for all breeds, over 8 months of age, whether they’re total beginners or you’ve dabbled in a bit of obedience training already.

These sessions are tailored for pet gundogs and working breeds alike, and you don’t need any previous experience to join.

If you’re unsure whether gundog training really is right for your dog, here’s some key things to consider:
· Gundog breeds were born to hunt and retrieve, it’s in their DNA.
· Giving them an outlet for these instincts helps them stay calmer and more settled at home.
· It’s a brilliant way to prevent unwanted behaviours like chasing, barking, or destruction.
· And most importantly, it’s fun. For both of you.

In our Foundation Gundog Group Classes you'll learn how to:
· Build engagement and focus
· Introduce heelwork, recall, and steadiness
· Develop a reliable retrieve chain
· Understand your dog’s personality and motivation

These small group classes are a friendly, supportive place to start your training journey, whether you want to work your dog in the future or simply enjoy time together outdoors doing something purposeful and rewarding.

Classes are held in Haslemere on the Surrey/West Sussex/Hampshire border on Wednesdays and Saturdays. No need to commit to 6 or 8 week blocks, the groups run on a rolling basis so you can start anytime and simply choose the dates that work best for you.

If you're still not sure this class would be a good fit for your or your gundog, please DM or email [email protected]

Otherwise, to book your first session head to: https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/products/foundation-gundog-classes-wednesdays

07/06/2025

If you can recall your dog over an obstacle, you can move on to teaching them the concept of recalling over water before adding in an over water retrieve.

Here are the steps to teach your gundog to recall over water:

If your dog has already been introduced to water you can now practice this recall over a small stream. Take them through the stream to the far side, leaving them in a sit-stay until you go back over the stream and recall them.

You can now start to increase the depth and size of the body of water.

At some point, it will become impossible for you to walk your dog through the water to the other side. At this stage, I would suggest that you sit your dog on the side of a small pond that is familiar to your dog, throw a piece of food or a floating toy into the water, then walk round to the other side, recall your dog, clicking him for direct entry.

This stage will need some practice in order to avoid letting your dog think they can run around the pond, this is why we place food or toys.

Want to learn more about water work with your gundog? Read our latest blog here: https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/blogs/news/sending-your-gundog-over-water

05/06/2025

Incredibly grateful to share these thoughtful words from Sean James, who has been helping his 2-year-old Vizsla, Oscar, find purpose and focus through gundog training:

“My two main goals are to be able to take Oscar anywhere he is allowed and to give him a purposeful outlet for his specific needs.

After a lot of searching, I came across Jules's 'Teach Your Gundog' website. Multiple reads of Jules's profile, experience, methodology and blog posts led me to book an in-person group lesson.

I found Jules to be very knowledgeable, attentive and empathetic. I felt like this was finally a trainer and method that I could commit to for Oscar's long term training.

Some people might say that it's wrong to follow just one person and one method, and while taking bits and pieces from other trainers may be beneficial, Oscar needed a steady thorough trainer/program that reflects the type of trainer/person that Jules is.

To start with, I focused on 'focusing in the environment, recall and heelwork'. The improvements in Oscar, in a short space of time, have been eye-opening and I didn't think he would improve so quickly.”

Sean’s words reflect exactly why Teach Your Gundog exists - to provide steady, thoughtful, and ethical training that supports both you and your gundogs, no matter what your goals, over the long term.

Oscar’s progress is a brilliant example of what’s possible when you commit to focusing on one thing and working together, one step at a time.

Thank you Sean, for sharing Oscar’s training journey - so glad to have you both as part of the Teach Your Gundog community.

03/06/2025

If you're looking to get started with your over water retrieves, you might be looking to start with some simple land-based obstacles first, such as ditches, fallen logs, bales or any other jumps.

Here are the steps to follow to first teach your gundog to recall over an obstacle.

Walk your gundog to the opposite side of the object you are going to recall them over and sit them up about 1 or 2 metres away. You want them to be able to pick up some speed if they need to jump, but you also don’t want to put them so far back that they consider it more efficient to run around or past the obstacle to get to you.

Walk back round to the other side of your obstacle and recall them.

Some dogs will understand what you want instantly. Others will try to run around the side no matter how close you sit them. For these dogs you might need to step over or through the obstacle yourself rather than going around it for them to be encouraged to do the same.

You can click or use verbal reinforcement as they cross the obstacle in response to their recall whistle, and then pay them on return to you.

Once you have achieved the recall over the obstacle, you can gradually move your dog further away from the obstacle, as well as moving further back yourself so you are recalling them over a longer distance.

Repeat this in various locations, on different obstacles, to start to generalise the concept of recalling over something to get back to you.

Want to learn more about water work with your gundog? Read our latest blog here: https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/blogs/news/sending-your-gundog-over-water

01/06/2025

Whether you’ve got a pet or working gundog, a bouncy adolescent or a dog with some training under their belt, it’s completely normal to feel unsure about which class is the right fit.

If you're unsure about which Teach Your Gundog group class would be the best starting point for your gundog, just drop us a DM or email and let us know a bit about your dog.

We welcome all breeds, ages and experience levels. And if group training isn't right for you or your dog, 121 sessions are always an option too.

To get in touch via email it's: [email protected]

Looking forward to welcoming you to the Teach Your Gundog community.

📸 Alice Loder Photography

30/05/2025

To get started with your over water retrieves, I recommend you teach your gundog the idea of recalling over an obstacle before adding in water.
We can start this exercise with simple land-based obstacles first, such as ditches, fallen logs, bales or any other jumps.

Then, provided your dog is already confident entering water and knows how to swim, once you are happy that they understand the concept of recalling over something you can move on to teaching them the concept of recalling over water.

Finally, if you have a basic retrieve trained, you can then add in the retrieve.

Want to learn more about water work with your gundog? Read our latest blog here: https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/blogs/news/sending-your-gundog-over-water

28/05/2025

The other week, I was working with a group of handlers who were all having similar struggles with their retrieve chain - specifically, with delivery to hand.

Many of the dogs were dropping the dummy short, and in response, some handlers (as they’d previously been taught) were putting the dummy back into the dog’s mouth, trying to get them to hold it until told otherwise.

Delivery issues come in all shapes. Some dogs drop short, others run wide, and some won’t let go at all. A common thread in so many of these challenges? Pressure.

Once we took the force element out of the equation and went back to some clicker retrieve basics, it was incredible to see the shift. The dogs became more confident, more engaged, and, importantly, started to hold and deliver the dummy because they wanted to.

And it wasn’t just the dogs having lightbulb moments. Watching handlers, some who hadn’t trained with food or positive reinforcement before, see their dogs suddenly get it, that was something special too.

Training doesn't need to be a battle. I know we all want results, and sometimes it's hard not to get frustrated when things aren't going right.

But it's only when we stop trying to force the outcome and instead focus on clear communication, timing, and reinforcement, that everything starts to click for our dogs.

26/05/2025

If you are planning to work your dog on a shoot that has a pond, or river, or lake, then there will inevitably be situations where the retrieve will land, not in, but on the other side.

And if you’re not thinking of working your dog, but are looking to enter working tests instead, then these sorts of scenarios will also be purposefully set up to test your dog’s capabilities.

Puppies and young dogs that have been taught to enter the water by repeatedly being sent in for marked retrieves can often get too fixated on the idea that the retrieve will always be in the water.

Instead of swimming across and continuing to run their line, or hunting on the land, they often swim to the bank and turn around, thinking they have missed the article you asked them to pick.

Some dogs can quickly get frustrated swimming in circles, while others will try to retrieve water lilies and sticks in an attempt to pick and return with something.

If you have introduced your dog to water and the activity of swimming with food (as above), then you are less likely to face this problem. By separating the act of swimming from retrieving in the early stages, dogs will not inadvertently learn that water retrieving exclusively involves finding the item in the water.

But, this does not automatically mean that they will understand or think about crossing water, and so it is still a skill you must teach your gundog.

Even for dogs who are happy to swim out over water, there is then also the challenge of teaching them to come back the way they came.

Once the dog’s feet have met the ground on the opposite side, after picking the retrieve their first thought is often to start running around the body of water, rather than swimming straight back to you.

Even if the run is a longer and more indirect route, this may be considered quicker and more efficient in your dog’s mind than swimming back across.

Want to learn more about water work with your gundog? Read our latest blog here: https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/blogs/news/sending-your-gundog-over-water

24/05/2025

Here's what's coming up at Teach Your Gundog in June and July...

PUPPY GUNDOG
All breeds under 8 months. No experience required. Saturdays, 09:30-10:30, Haslemere
• 14 June
• 5 July
• 26 July

FOUNDATION GUNDOG
All breeds over 8 months. No experience required.
Wednesdays, 12:00-13:00, Haslemere
• 4 June
• 18 June
• 2 July
• 23 July

Saturdays, 10:30-11:30, Haslemere
• 14 June
• 5 July
• 26 July

PROGRESSIVE BEGINNER
For all breeds that have graduated the puppy/foundation/beginner classes and are working at a Grade 2 and 3 level.
Fridays, variable location and time
• 13 June
• 27 June
• 11 July
• 25 July

Saturdays, 11:45-12:45, Haslemere
• 14 June
• 5 July
• 26 July

PROGRESSIVE GUNDOG
For all breeds that are working at Grade 3 and 4 level.
Wednesdays, 10:00-11:30, Haslemere
• 4 June
• 18 June
• 2 July
• 23 July

MONTHLY ADVANCED RETRIEVER
Open to retriever breeds working at Grade 4 and 5 level.
Fridays, 09:30-11:00, Loxwood
• 13 June
• 11 July

MONTHLY ADVANCED SPANIEL
Open to spaniels working at Grade 4 and 5 level.
Fridays, 12:30-14:00, Loxwood
• 13 June
• 11 July

Can't make any of the dates? Or want to focus on something specific? You can also book one to one sessions with Jules.

For booking and more information head to https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/collections/all

22/05/2025

When it comes to genetics, gundogs do have innate attributes that make them particularly suited for water, like water-repellent double coats and webbed feet. That said, not all gundogs are natural swimmers from the start.

Some dogs will want to get in the water and start paddling straight away, while others will be more cautious. Every dog is different. Even the gundogs known for their love of water can take their time to become confident swimmers.

Under no circumstances should you throw, push or drag your puppy or young gundog into water. If you force them and turn it into a negative and scary experience, you may put them off water for life.

Instead, relax and don’t rush. Focus on making it a fun interaction and go at the pace of your individual dog.

This might mean multiple sessions before they’re swimming, but the extra time spent ensuring a cautious dog is comfortable entering the water by themselves will pay dividends in the long term.

Want to learn more about water work with your gundog? Read our latest blog here: https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/blogs/news/sending-your-gundog-over-water

📸 Alice Loder Photography

20/05/2025

"Jules Morgan is the most intelligent, scientific and gentlest trainer I’ve ever worked with ~ Jon Hadley"

It’s always so lovely to hear feedback like this. At Teach Your Gundog, the aim is always to bring a thoughtful, kind and science-based approach to every session, paired with a calm, compassionate manner that helps both you and your gundog feel supported in your training journey.

No matter how long you've been training, whether you're working through a tricky training challenge or building on foundations, the goal is always the same.

Thank you Jon for your kind words.

And thank you to everyone who chooses to train with Teach Your Gundog - your trust, dedication, and love for your dogs is what makes this work so rewarding.

18/05/2025

The fundamental skill for you to focus on initially is confidence to enter the water and teaching your puppy or young gundog to swim on their own free will. We want them to think entering the water is fun and to do so without hesitation or pressure.

You will want to find a location with easy entry and exit points at this stage. The best place would be a calm lake or pond with no steep banks and a nice flat bottom, which isn’t too precarious underfoot for you or your dog.

At a minimum, you want to ensure the water has no strong currents, steep banks or reeds. And that no hazardous obstacles are hiding in the water that could cause damage to your dog or you.

It is also advisable to wait until the weather and the water temperature are warmer. This is why our water workshops are always held from the end of Spring and the beginning of Summer.

If your dog does not immediately rush to explore the water and is reluctant to get more than their paws wet, go with them to the water's edge. If you have found some water with a gently sloping bank, I recommend walking into the water as far as your wellies or boots will allow you to.

We want to avoid introducing water to the retrieve chain too soon, so I rarely suggest throwing a ball or dummy for our gundogs to fetch. Instead, I usually recommend using food to encourage our gundog puppies and youngsters to take their first swim.

You can use high value treats, such as chicken or sausage, to lure your puppy, then immediately paying them for entering the water and then clicking and rewarding again for any incremental steps they make. There are some great floating dog treats available, I particularly like to use dried lung which floats well and tastes great!

You need to remember that dogs are all very different from one another. Some will be happy to take themselves deeper into the water. Others might still be reluctant. You must observe your dog carefully and determine how slowly you take this introductory session.

At the end of each session, take note of the point on the dog’s body that they were happy to be submerged, as this will act as your benchmark for your next session. The aim is to build the dog's confidence to submerge slightly deeper in each repetition or session.

Eventually, you will get to a point when their whole body is submerged. At this point, you can start to throw treats out of their reach to encourage them to reach forward and commit to swimming.

Be careful not to throw the food in too far, as if they deem it unreachable, you could halt their progress. Small, progressive steps are better.

You can then work on recalling them from the water and you can also begin to put the shake on cue. This will not stop your dog from shaking when it’s not cued, but it will help you to delay it and teach them that you would like them to shake after they have delivered the retrieve to hand.

Want to learn more about water work with your gundog? Read our latest blog here: https://www.teachyourgundog.co.uk/blogs/news/sending-your-gundog-over-water

📸 Alice Loder Photography

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