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SUNDAY SCHOOL IN ACTION On a Sunday afternoon we gather together at the kennels as a group of up and coming handlers and their dogs. The training is all about getting fundamental behaviours and skills entrenched in the dogs before we venture out into more challenging training. Today we were looking at focus, steadiness and timing in handling. This is always a fun group of enthusiastic handlers, a joy to work with and so rewarding.... Over the past few weeks it has been so encouraging to see how everybody has progressed. Here are some insights into what this fun but focused group got up to today.....

We have seen the Golden Retriever, now for the Labs retrieving....I believe that it is most beneficial to continuously work on steadiness in the working gundog, and once this becomes reliable, to be creative in proofing the behaviour. Here we see Jasper and Major working together. The send is by name, one dog being sent whilst the other remains in the sit watching. Both dogs are worked by one handler, adding to the challenge for both handler and dogs. What is not desirable is the barking and whining from the non working dogs that can be heard in the background....

Training on Thursday saw a lovely retrieve carried out by Wendy's Golden Retriever, Raleigh. On this short video we see steadiness, focus, determination and style...all in a beautiful training environment. The mark made by Raleigh is very good, as is the nose work as he passes the pigeon, and the retrieve is done with the minimum of fuss and handling.

Photos from T'Shinga Kennels's post

GUNDOG FIELD TRAINING The Intrepids, the Gundog Field Training Group of T'shinga Kennels, has been hard at work with their faithful gundogs. The training is for all Field Gundogs, with the focus on retriever training. Pointers have been doing very well as they also ply their retrieving skills. Thursday was a perfect day to be out in the field, and some lovely work by handlers and dogs was undertaken. Great fun and wonderful fellowship...which, after all, is what it is all about. Another great asset is our amazing Veterinary team. They have just been up to the kennels to do all our annual inoculations. It is such a great comfort to have Brian and his wife Jenny on board, so reassuring, and greatly appreciated.

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INTREPIDS AT WORK AND PLAY It has been a busy few weeks for the Intrepids, lots of ongoing training in preparation for the start of the Trialing and Shooting season. This past weekend saw some great results in the first Field Trials held by the The Field Trial Association in Johannesburg. But it does not end there for training. Today saw us hard at work as we continued to condition our dogs to different types of game, including rabbit, duck and goose. It was an intensely busy day, culminating in a celebratory braai to celebrate last week's successes....here is an sight into some.of the proceedings......

Photos from T'Shinga Kennels's post

TODAY'S INSIGHT Over the past two weekends we have been conducting a series called "Introduction to Shot and Game Bird". The aim was to ensure that the dogs were gradually orientated to shot in a way that does not cause gunshyness, as well as introducing the dogs to the type of game they will be working with. This is a high value exercise as it also hones the skills of handlers and dogs as well as promoting a high standard of ethics and protocols.....here is a brief insight:

THE QUEST FOR STEADINESS We have mentioned it before, and need to continously reinforce it....and that is the need for steadiness in our working gundogs. We need to constantly strive to proof and polish this essential ingredient for success in the field, and not only for the field, but in our general obedience training. The video shows five dogs at work under one handler, two of which come from a different handler.....something that can be achieved through sound, repetitive training...

STILL GEARING UP..... Gunner had the same problem as Indy, and through the same steady programme of graduated steps forward Gunner has moved his game another rung higher up the ladder....here he is on his second Guinea Fowl retrieve this afternoon. Note how important it is to be the classic "Airport Welcoming Committee" as your dog returns to you.....

STILL GEARING UP.... Indy has battled with retrieving birds, especially Guinea Fowl. Through a slow and steady process we crossed the threshold today....it is so rewarding when success comes....

GEARING UP: One Tuesday afternoons are set aside for those who aspire to high achievement in the coming Field Trial and Wingshooting season. This demands high working standards from handlers and dogs, as well as uncompromising ethics and conduct....

GEARING UP: Five

GEARING UP: Two