Beating

[Helen 2]

Just a general question what training does a dog need to take part in a shoot as a beater?

[hily 380]

Minimum training = 100% on the return command.MAX training as a gun dog .

[BellySlater 15]

Hi Helen,

 

All shoots / beats are different. my local shoot has various types and breeds of dogs (and people !). Some are there for a day out in the country with their labs who stay on the lead untill the shoot is over. Others are there with their well trained / working spaniels(and some terriers) doing what the dog is supposed to do. The minimum requirement has got to be recall, the last thing anybody needs is a dog that charges into cover when the guns are not ready. (this would only happen once before the keeper "had a word with you")

 

Seeing a dog work with a good owner is a wonderful thing and probably the best place to learn, but as i said...if in doubt use the lead untill you are confident.

[Helen 2]

Would you be able to work them on the lead or long line till you were sure they would recall in that situation or not?

[hily 380]

Would you be able to work them on the lead or long line till you were sure they would recall in that situation or not?

NO if the dog has any brains it will soon coton on to the fact that the lead is the only thing stopping it and the beating line ai'nt the place to train the dog if your dog sits and stays try finding someone who will let you take your dog into a hen run get between the dog and the hens have the dog staying and you walk about keep a weatherd eye on the dog and see how he reacts this may give you some indication as to how the dog will behave around pheasants having said that a steadying pen is still not the real thing when people dogs and game mix atb.

[Helen 2]

I live on a smallholding so he is good around stock, but the way he reacted when he picked up the scent of a pheasant I don't know. It was like something being switched on in his head.

[upperlane2 4]

I live on a smallholding so he is good around stock, but the way he reacted when he picked up the scent of a pheasant I don't know. It was like something being switched on in his head.

hi helen do u know anywhere u can go for a training session ask a keeper if u can try ur dog 2 see how he reacts 2 game keep a close eye on him dont let him go further than 15-20 yards away if he does this ur on ur way into beating atb

[terrierist 1]

The way I always do it is to 'dog in' for the local shoots. Especially before the season starts. If you have a word with the keeper he/she may let you dog in the boundarys of the shoot.

have you trained your dog to 'sit/stop to flush'? If so, the second it flushes a bird get on that stop whistle as fast as you can. I always keep my whistle in my mouth at all times when working my dogs, it saves vital seconds in fiddling around!!

Also, like alot of guys on here have said, a few days in a rabbit pen which hopefully should have some birds in there too will certainly help! Then I would move on to 'dogging in'

 

I also would like to add that if at any drive you feel uncomfortable taking your dog off the lead, ie tall cover such as elephant grass or such thick cover that you are unable to see your dog then there is no shame at all in putting it on the lead!! I have done myself and I have 3 FTAW in my kennels! Dont ever feel pressured from other beaters!

Good luck with your training and enjoy your beating,

 

Regards, Neil

[blacklab 0]

The way I always do it is to 'dog in' for the local shoots. Especially before the season starts. If you have a word with the keeper he/she may let you dog in the boundarys of the shoot.

have you trained your dog to 'sit/stop to flush'? If so, the second it flushes a bird get on that stop whistle as fast as you can. I always keep my whistle in my mouth at all times when working my dogs, it saves vital seconds in fiddling around!!

Also, like alot of guys on here have said, a few days in a rabbit pen which hopefully should have some birds in there too will certainly help! Then I would move on to 'dogging in'

 

I also would like to add that if at any drive you feel uncomfortable taking your dog off the lead, ie tall cover such as elephant grass or such thick cover that you are unable to see your dog then there is no shame at all in putting it on the lead!! I have done myself and I have 3 FTAW in my kennels! Dont ever feel pressured from other beaters!

Good luck with your training and enjoy your beating,

 

Regards, Neil

 

excellent advice stop whistle & recall. If not 100% sure your dog will do something right don't let him do it.

 

Lee

swingtip gundogs

Edited November 28, 2009 by blacklab

[Helen 2]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

[lilvixen 26]

I also would like to add that if at any drive you feel uncomfortable taking your dog off the lead, ie tall cover such as elephant grass or such thick cover that you are unable to see your dog then there is no shame at all in putting it on the lead!! I have done myself and I have 3 FTAW in my kennels! Dont ever feel pressured from other beaters!

Good luck with your training and enjoy your beating,

 

Regards, Neil

 

excellent advice stop whistle & recall. If not 100% sure your dog will do something right don't let him do it.

 

Lee

swingtip gundogs

 

From a Gamekeepers point of view one of the most annoying things can be someone in the beating line with a dog on a lead, especially in thick cover. They usually get tangled up and get out of line or just avoid the cover and go up the outside. I expect my dogs to walk to heel(off the lead) no matter what is in front of them, and life would be a lot easier if everyone who took their dogs beating did the same!

 

Matt

[Rory4 267]

Ive only been beatin for 5 weeks, but the beat i go on is pretty chilled out and everyone pretty helpful, had my little collie whippet on lead first time more for me to learn the ropes.recall real important, also walking at heel is good is awkward tryin make way round with dog on lead and broken to pheasants, deer, hares and whatever your dog might want to chase. think the stop command most important. as someone already said get your dog used to going 20 feet then call back to heel. eventually will keep looking back for you to make eye contact. hope this helped only learning myself. is great when comes good specially when is old blokes been doing it forever then you see there dog not listen and runs off while yours behaving.

 

atb

[Helen 2]

I am now rather worried, I told a clay pigeon shooting friend of mine what I was intending. He says I must be mad either the dog will get shot or I will and most people go shooting drunk and dont obey the safety rules. Is this true? Also something about wearing goggles and a special jacket "just in case"

[samearl14 11]

I am now rather worried, I told a clay pigeon shooting friend of mine what I was intending. He says I must be mad either the dog will get shot or I will and most people go shooting drunk and dont obey the safety rules. Is this true? Also something about wearing goggles and a special jacket "just in case"

 

 

Clearly he's never been on a good shoot

[Rory4 267]

Your friend got be pulling your leg. The shooters might share a sip of sloe etc but thats it. they are all competetive and pay a few quid to shoot so would not ruin it by being pissed. never heard of a special jacket, most people where something waterproof and strong so does not get ripped on brambles etc. no one will fire anywhere near you or the dog. Just go for it let us know how you get on