Training Programs
After an initial consultation and questionnaire, Edisto Gun Dogs will observe and evaluate your dog and discuss realistic expectations for your retriever. Temperament, prior experiences, proper socialization, learned boundaries and structure, hunting drive and many other factors play an important role in accessing if your dog is a good candidate to become a gun dog. Many owners do not realize the time that is needed to teach and create successful habits in a dog, so this is an opportunity to discuss how to practically make that happen within the owner’s time frame and budget. It will take a few weeks for your dog to become acquainted with our trainer, facility and routine so a commitment to a minimum of three months training is desired to see advancement in behavior and gun dog skills. Our goal is to create an obedient, trained gun dog for you and your family to enjoy and be proud of.
This is our hope with our own dogs and it is our hope for you, too.
(During training, we are in constant communication with our clients informing them of their dog’s progress via text and email. Owners are always welcome to set an appointment to come out and help with the training of their dog as we encourage the dog owner to learn how to handle their dog and maintain their dog’s training long term.)
Basic Obedience
Duration: 12 weeks*
An obedient, well-trained dog is a delight to its owner and others who are around it. No one wants an unruly, disobedient, and chaotic dog in their home or in the field. Most dogs thrive with boundaries and predictable routines. Well-trained dogs are happier and healthier than untrained dogs, and so are their owners. Obedience training should begin as soon as possible and is fundamental to future gun dog training.
Getting your retriever to be obedient requires firm and consistent obedience work on a daily basis. It also requires you to earn the respect of your retriever. If you do both of these things, you will see a definite change in the behavior of your retriever and the reward will be a dog that listens to you and obeys your commands. That’s where Edisto Gun Dogs Basic Obedience Training program can help. Our trainers have the knowledge, experience and time needed to teach, correct and enforce the training.
Mastery of obedience commands varies from dog to dog but usually requires several weeks of consistent, daily training. In our Basic Obedience Training, your dog learns to follow the basic commands of “sit” (stay implied), “heel” (on lead), “here”, “place” (stay implied), “quiet” and “kennel”. Proper obedience training is the foundation to any great dog whether he is a family pet or an outstanding gun dog.
*Please keep in mind that every dog learns at his own pace. For this reason, all training program times are approximate and can vary depending on the dog.
Started Gun Dog
Duration: 12 -16 weeks*
In our Started Gun Dog Training each dog is evaluated for intelligence, trainability and natural hunting desire and a program is designed around each individual dog to ensure his natural talents are tweaked and honed so he becomes a working retriever. Dogs in this program have usually mastered basic obedience (sit, heel, here) and have learned to become steady on lead. If not, needed obedience will be incorporated into the training since it is foundational to the dog’s success.
Upon completion of our Started Gun Dog program, the dog is expected to perform at the Started dog level. He will be able to retrieve single retrieves at marks thrown at various distances up to 100 yards. The Started Gun Dog is expected to sit patiently beside the handler and wait for the bird. Once the bird is shot, the retriever is expected to mark the downed bird, retrieve the shot bird when sent, and then return promptly to the handler. The dog is expected to come heel, sit and deliver the bird to the handler.
In this program, the dog is exposed to varying terrains (land and water) and weather (rain, heat/cold) as well as other dogs in the field. Force Fetch is also done at the level to ensure the dog delivers to hand. Whistle signals are also incorporated in place of the verbal commands of “sit”, “here”. The dog is exposed to and trained for multiple hunting scenarios using gun fire, live birds and decoys as well as hunting blinds, boats and traveling in a dog box. When a dog leaves the Started Gun Dog program it is ready to hunt.
*Please keep in mind that every dog learns at his own pace. For this reason, all training program times are approximate and can vary depending on the dog.
Advanced Gun Dog
Duration: minimum 20 - 24 weeks or more*
Prerequisite: Completion of Started Gun Dog Training
Our Advanced Gun Dog Training takes your trained retriever to the next level. Our Advanced Gun Dog Training program includes off-lead obedience, multiple marks (doubles and triples), honoring, hand signals and blind retrieves on both land and water.
Upon completion of our Advanced Gun Dog Training (Level I), your dog will be ready to retrieve fairly difficult double land and water marks, perform land and water blind retrieves outside of marks, honor, and understand diversion shots. Your retriever will also be steady off-lead.
If more advanced training is sought (Level II), the training progresses considerably and the dog is trained to pick up difficult triples out to 150 yards and run multiple blinds through more difficult and challenging scenarios. This is considered Master level work and requires a dog with a strong desire and high level of trainability with a good attitude towards work. This level of training is dependent not only on the dog’s ability but also the commitment of the owner.
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