Seadogs Training

03/12/2025

Training Tip: Build Engagement First

If your dog is struggling with loose-lead walking, recall or focus outdoors, start by strengthening engagement. Many common training challenges stem from a simple issue — your dog isn’t fully connected to you.

A dog that chooses to pay attention finds heelwork, recall and fieldwork far easier. A dog that isn’t engaged tends to drift off, switch off or become “self-employed”.

Try adding short, fun focus games into your walks and training sessions. Reward your dog for checking in, choosing you over the environment and staying mentally connected.

When your dog enjoys working with you, everything else falls into place.

If you’re having trouble building that engagement, feel free to get in touch — we’re here to help you develop a motivated, attentive companion. 🐾

02/12/2025

28/11/2025

For anyone unfamiliar with game shooting in the UK, there’s a whole team behind the scenes who keep a shoot day running smoothly. Yes, you’ve got the Guns, but they’re only one part of a much bigger picture.

There are the Landowners, Gamekeepers and Shoot Captains who plan, manage and oversee the day. The Beaters who move birds towards the line. The Pickers-Up who, with their Gundogs, recover wounded and dead game cleanly and safely. And the Game Carriers, who ensure every bird is handled properly, counted, and cooled quickly so the meat stays in perfect condition — it is food at the end of the day.

And of course, we can’t forget the catering crew, keeping the Guns well fed throughout.

Each role plays a vital part in the rhythm and success of the day.

Alongside Sorrel’s brilliant work, the rest of our picking-up team put in a cracking shift this week — steady, reliable, covering the ground and making sure everything was picked cleanly and safely.

Once the day ends, the work carries on. The dogs are checked over carefully, with any knocks or scratches cleaned and treated before they’re made warm and dry. Mine are fed a good two hours after finishing so they can settle properly, and the truck is cleaned out ready for the next day, especially when working back-to-back days.

Evenings indoors are all about recovery and comfort — Red LED light therapy, gentle heat treatment where needed, massage, and Reiki healing to help ease any tension and support their wellbeing. Then it’s cosy time, keeping a close eye on how they’re recovering.

When we’re out shooting, the priorities remain simple:
Dogs first. Then the Shot Gun. Then, and only then, do you sort yourself out.

And once everyone’s happy and settled… a well-earned whisky never goes amiss.

26/11/2025

📣 Our next round of group classes is almost full!

Thank you to everyone who has booked onto our January dog training classes — many are now sold out.

Our March group classes are also proving incredibly popular, with some already fully booked,
Including our The Beating Dog course, and others down to limited spaces. If you’re hoping to join us for puppy, beginner gundog
, intermediate and advanced training, or confidence-building sessions, now is the time to secure your place.

🐾 Don’t miss out — book ahead to guarantee your spot and get your dog ready for a brilliant year of training!

24/11/2025

A real milestone for young Sorrel today!

After several outings with me and the rest of our picking-up team at Seadogs Training, Sorrel has been taking everything in quietly — mostly walking to heel on the lead, watching, listening, and absorbing the atmosphere. Over time, we built up to short, gentle sessions of hunting up, followed by having her sit well back to watch a full drive from start to finish.

She’s now had plenty of exposure to birds, shots, other dogs working, and the whole rhythm of the day — including seeing game being taken and handled properly.

This morning she joined Gin and Iris to work a ditch and sitting to a partridge she flushed, and then this afternoon, on the penultimate drive, she sat steady as anything and watched a big drive unfold. Gin was busy picking runners and was even complimented by a Guns guest, said it was beautiful to see. For us lovely to hear.

We had a c**k pheasant that had been hit but sailed a long way, as they often do. Gin and Sorrel swept through the wood, the hedge line and the headland. Once we were close, I called Gin back and let Sorrel continue. Not long after, she located the c**k bird dead, lifted it cleanly, and delivered straight to hand.

We left it there — the perfect moment to finish on a high.

And the best part? We get to do it all again tomorrow. 🟤🐾

Seadogs Training
Stour Valley Gundog Training Centre - Gundog Training for you and your dog
Millies Wolfheart Gluten Free Working Dog and Sporting Complete
Pureflax
ACME Whistles
Breckmarsh Gundogs

21/11/2025

🌿 New Blog: How Fatigue Affects Your Gundog’s Performance 🐾

Our working gundogs give their all throughout the season — from hot summer training days to long, cold winter shoot days. But even the best-trained dogs can show changes in focus, behaviour and responsiveness when fatigue starts to creep in.

In our latest blog, we explore:
🔸 Why fitness matters (but over-conditioning can backfire)
🔸 How to support your dog on back-to-back shoot days
🔸 Nutrition and recovery tips
🔸 The subtle signs your dog is tired — not naughty
🔸 Why understanding fatigue leads to safer, happier working dogs

If you rely on your dog to perform at their best, this is a must-read.
👉 Read the full blog here: https://www.seadogstraining.co.uk/how-fatigue-affects-gundog-performance-throughout-the-season/