Acer Gundog Training

Dog Training at Acer is for owners of pet gundog breeds such as Labradors, Spaniels & HPR dogs living in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and South Cambridgeshire.

Our clients tell us that they want to live harmoniously with their gundog. They want to enjoy going out for walks without feeling stressed. They certainly don’t want to have their arm yanked out of its socket and to suffer the frustration of seeing their dog disappear over the horizon and completely ignore them every chance it gets.

Gundogs are bred to work in the field and not to lie asleep on the sofa all day, waiting for their owner to return from a day at work. They like to run, to hunt, chase and retrieve things. Generations of selective breeding have gone into making these behaviours part of your dog’s natural instinct.

Acer Dog Training helps the pet gundog owner translate all of their dog’s drive and energy in a positive way. We can help you develop a harmonious relationship with each other based on co-operation and fun.

Whether you have a new puppy, an exuberant teenager, or a mature adult dog, we have training to suit your needs.

Don’t just take our word for it, this is what our clients say about us:

- He pulls on the lead all the time

“I have been going along to Individual training sessions with a goal of progressing to the gundog classes. After the first five minutes it was clear that my dog had the bug and it only took another five minutes for me to follow. In the few sessions that I have been to with Mark, my dog is almost unrecognisable. He has gone from being a terrible puller on the lead (the one thing my wife wanted him to improve on), to receiving praise from my wife and others on how good he now is on walks.”
- Ben C

- He won’t come back when I call

“We took our dog to Acer. The reward-based training techniques are brilliant. We can really see an improvement in our dog’s recall & retrieving and we continue to work on everything we've learnt. Would definitely recommend.”
-Sharon D

- He’s badly behaved around other dogs or people we meet

“Not only is my dog more well behaved and focused whilst out and about he is also calmer around the house, not only due to the increased physical activity he is getting from the sessions and on his walks, but also and probably more importantly the mental stimulation. My dog is not the only one who is benefiting from training with Mark, I am now more confident as a handler and my wife has also commented on me being happier around the house as well! Mark is very patient and always on hand for advice if required. He has really made massive improvements in a short space of time and I can not praise Acer Dog Training enough. The individual sessions have allowed me to fully focus on my dog whilst Mark keeps a watchful eye and corrects the beginners mistakes that I make. We both look forward to developing into a great Handler and Retriever team in the coming months and years!”
-Ben C

“Our dog loves these classes and has improved so much. Mark is great working with each breed’s unique characteristics and outdoors in a real-life setting. Thoroughly recommend Acer dog Training.”
- Sarah M

“I take both our dogs to separate classes, all of us love it! Mark is extremely knowledgeable and makes all of his classes both fun and rewarding, really strengthening the bond between us. The classes are very relaxed and Mark takes time with you individually, as well as working together in a group, have already learnt so much, would thoroughly recommend him.”
- Emma B

- What is gundog training?

Gundogs are now the most popular pet dogs in the developed world. Acer Dog Training will help you to harness your gundog’s desires to hunt and retrieve and channel them into activities that use their natural instincts.

At Acer Dog Training, our style of training is aimed at ensuring your gundog’s urges and passions are controlled and exploited in the best way possible.

- Can I bring my pet dog to gundog training?

The vast majority of working gundogs in the UK today, are first and foremost, pets.

Most gundog owners do not work their dogs every single day, even in the shooting season. Most gundogs live indoors and spend their evenings snoozing on a rug in front of the fire.

Many of the owners that come to us for dog training have no interest in taking their dog on a day’s shooting, their primary interest is in having fun teaching their dog good manners and building a lasting bond with their companion.

- Where are training sessions held?

Most dog owners train their dog to sit and come when called within the confines of their home, or maybe at a class in the local church hall. The trouble is, these environments won’t equip you to deal with all the tempting distractions that your dog will face when you are out and about together in the countryside.

Our training sessions take place outdoors in the countryside around Steeple Morden, South Cambridgeshire. We choose this environment because it is ultimately where you want to enjoy spending time with your canine friend and not to have to worry about unruly behaviour.

We offer training in the form of individual sessions and group classes.

- We use positive reinforcement training methods

Some of the traditional methods used in training working dogs are based around punishment and have now been shown to cause behavioural problems such as aggression further down the line.

We believe in using positive reinforcement training methods to motivate and build the strongest bond between owner and dog. By applying rewards which are pleasurable to your dog, there is a very good chance that he will be encouraged to repeat a desired behaviour again and again in the future.

To find our more, head over to our website at: www.acerdogs.com