The Gundog Summer Reset: Preparing for the Season

The shooting season may still feel some way off, but summer is the perfect time to refresh your gundog’s training, rebuild fitness and correct small problems before they become much bigger in the field.

The aim is not to train for hours or throw endless dummies. Short, focused sessions will keep your dog interested while improving the skills that matter most.

Start with the basics

Even experienced gundogs benefit from returning to basic obedience. Spend time refreshing:

• Walking calmly at heel
• Recall and the stop whistle
• Sitting and remaining steady
• Waiting before being sent
• Delivering a dummy to hand
• Responding to directional signals

Keep sessions short and finish on a successful exercise. Ten minutes of focused training is often more valuable than a long session that leaves both dog and handler frustrated.

Practise calmness and steadiness

A shoot day includes long periods of waiting while people move, shots are fired and other dogs work. Teaching your dog to sit quietly is therefore just as important as retrieving.

Practise remaining calm in different environments, gradually introducing distractions such as other dogs or activity in the distance.

When working with dummies, do not allow your dog to retrieve every one. Sometimes send the dog, sometimes collect the dummy yourself and occasionally walk away without completing the retrieve. This teaches your dog to wait for instructions rather than assuming every retrieve belongs to it.

Make retrieves more challenging

Once the basics are reliable, introduce exercises that encourage your dog to think. These could include:

• Memory and blind retrieves
• Directional work
• Retrieving through light cover
• Working past a distraction dummy
• Watching another dog retrieve while remaining seated

Increase the difficulty gradually. If your dog stops listening or begins hunting without direction, make the exercise easier and rebuild its confidence.

Rebuild fitness gradually

A well-trained dog must also be fit enough to work for a full day. Walking, controlled running, swimming and retrieving can all help improve fitness, but activity should be increased gradually.

Pay particular attention to older dogs, overweight dogs and those that have been less active since the previous season. If your dog has an existing health problem or has been inactive for a long time, speak to your vet before beginning intensive exercise.

Train safely in warm weather

Working dogs are often so enthusiastic that they will continue even when becoming too hot. During summer:

• Train early in the morning or later in the evening.
• Keep sessions short.
• Carry fresh water.
• Use shaded areas.
• Avoid repeated long retrieves.
• Allow regular rest periods.
• Never leave a dog unattended in a vehicle.

Excessive panting, drooling, bright-red gums, confusion, weakness or collapse can be signs of heatstroke. Stop exercising, move the dog into shade, begin cooling it with water and contact a vet immediately. Kennel Club guidance

Check your dog afterwards

After every session, check your dog’s paws, ears, eyes and coat for cuts, ticks, thorns and grass seeds. Pay particular attention between the toes and around the ears, where grass seeds can easily become lodged.

Finish while your dog still wants more

One of the most common mistakes is doing too much. Repeating exercises until a dog becomes bored or tired can introduce sloppy behaviour and reduce enthusiasm.

Finish each session on a positive result and put the dummy away while your dog is still keen.

Summer training is not about creating a perfect gundog overnight. It is about strengthening communication, correcting weaknesses and arriving at the season with a dog that is fit, steady and ready to listen.

If you have concerns about your dog’s health, fitness or behaviour, consult a vet or qualified gundog trainer.