06/24/2026
If you train with a group, or you're trying to build one, this is worth a few minutes of your time.
A good training group is one of the most valuable assets you can have as a trainer. A bad one can set you back just as far. The difference usually comes down to a few things that most people never talk about openly.
Here's what I've found separates groups that produce results from groups that fall apart.
1. Access to Resources
A group without the right resources is going to struggle from day one. Grounds, equipment, birds - these don't appear by magic! It's every member's responsibility to knock on doors, secure property, and follow the rules that keep property access available. Show up with your own gear. Don't assume someone else will provide what you need. Shared costs (birds, poppers, bird feed, ATV fuel) should be discussed openly and paid for promptly by everyone.
2. Leadership
Every group needs a designated leader to help ensure that there is direction, communication, a way to resolve issues, and that things get done. Choosing the right person for this job can usually be accomplished through discussions amongst group members and by informal unanimous consent.
3. Two-Way Communication
Communication is everyone's job, not just the group leader's. If plans are unclear, reach out. Don't assume. Apps like Telegram or Slack work well for keeping everyone on the same page from the same source.
4. Shared Responsibility
The work involved in a training day is significant. Grounds need to be reserved. Birds need to be thawed, bagged, transported, and disposed of. Equipment needs to be hauled, repaired, and put away. Setups need to be built, torn down, and rebuilt. Every member has a responsibility to do their share. Don't wait to be asked. When a setup ends, start rolling up holding blinds and get ready to move. Save the socializing for the end of the day.
5. Trainer Education
This sport is complex. If your group wants to compete at a high level, every member has a duty to get educated and stay educated. Attend seminars, watch other dogs run, ask questions, read, listen. You owe it to your dog, and you owe it to the people you train with. An educated group is a productive group.
6. Pre-Training Planning
Groups that show up without a plan waste time, energy, and resources. Before each session, members should talk through their individual training needs and find the common ground. Compromise will be required, but overall everyone should be getting their needs met.
7. Willingness to Adjust and Reset
Not every setup is appropriate for every dog in the group. Telling someone to just "move up" with their young dog is not a solution. Good groups are willing to adjust or reset a test when it doesn't serve all of the dogs present. Everyone deserves to have their needs met, not just the most advanced dogs.
8. Leave Egos at Home
The people in your group are resources. See them that way. Listen with an open mind when someone offers a read on your dog or a thought on your handling. You don't have to take every piece of advice, but the person offering it wants you to succeed. Be secure enough to hear it.
9. Commitment
If you're going to be part of a group, be all in. Show up on time. Bring your gear. Participate. Engage. This is what you owe every member of your group - and what they owe you.
As Pelé said: "No individual can win a game by himself."
The same is true here. The right group makes everyone better. Build it intentionally.
