What are you hoping to achieve with your Flatcoat this spring and summer? Would you like to strengthen your relationship with your dog and improve his/her Control, Obedience, Hunting and Retrieving? Then the WFRDP has something for you and your flatcoat.
This spring and summer the Society will be running training for each of the Working Flatcoated Retriever Development Programme levels on dummies. If this interests you, please click one of the links below to take you to the booking form for the appropriate level.
Foundation Level and Level 1
Foundation Level and Level 1 training days will be held in the Cotswolds/S Midlands with trainers Rachel Birch and Graham Clelland on 18th April & 6th June and in the North Midlands Area with Andy Sweeney on 21st June and 12 July. (If you are unable to attend either of these groups and are working towards Foundation Level or Level 1 training you may also use the link to contact us for assistance in finding suitable training in your area.)
These training days are suitable for novice (or more experienced handlers) with young or novice Flatcoats, who wish to improve their partnership with their dog and to gain experience in control, obedience, hunting and retrieving, working towards either Foundation Level or Level 1 of the WFRDP.
Foundation Level training will give you and your dog experience of retrieving canvass dummies and tennis balls (both seen/marked and memories) you will practice heel work and basic obedience and will be introduced to the hunt whistle, the stop whistle and casting, left, right and back.
(Please note that this is not a course for complete beginners to gundog training. If you or your dog are complete beginners to gundog training please contact your FCRS Area Working Test and Training Organiser or the Society’s Working Test Secretary, who will be able to put you in touch with local trainers or Gundog Clubs that will help you get started. You can find details of these organisers here https://www.flatcoated-retriever-society.org/gundog-working-test-training-contacts/ )
Level 1 training offers you and your dog experience of off lead heel work, steadiness to shot, thrown dummies, other dogs working and being left briefly by the handler; your dog will learn to hunt effectively in different cover and conditions, to pick up and retrieve dummies from a variety of different locations, including over obstacles and from water, and will participate in simulated drives and walked up scenarios. After completing Level 1 training you may wish to take the Kennel Club Working Gundog Certificate on Dummies and the FCRS will endeavour to facilitate this by arranging one or more KCWGC Assessment days (TBC). Further details of the KCWGC may be viewed here https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/events-and-activities/field-trials-and-working-gundogs/already-competing-in-field-trials/
Sign up here (or express interest here) for Foundation Level and or Level 1 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GLWD7YX
Level 2B
A number of workshops aimed at those working towards Level 2B are planned in the Midlands and in the Southern Area.
On 28th March and 18th April near Newark, Notts, Steve and Paula Cullis of Tagabea Labradors will cover
- Double marks
- Ignoring distractions
- Retrieves where the fall of the dummy is out of sight
- Blind retrieves
- Hunting and holding an area
On 26th April and 9th May at Burnaston Derby DE65 6LF Jane Fairclough and Sarah Middleton will cover on day 1
- Taking a line
- Blind retrieves
- Retrieves where fall is out of sight,
- Stop whistle, Handling, casting L R and back
and on day 2
- Retrieves from and across water,
- Double marks,
- Hunting and holding an area,
- Going through hunting area to a blind/memory
- Ignoring distractions and
- Stopping at a distance
On 20th June Sally Richardson of Wedgnock Dog Centre CV35 7PX will cover
- Taking a line (including taking a line over obstacles hedges, fences, ditches and over water)
On 10 May, 28 June and 19 July, using ground at Redhill RH1 5QR Chipstead Kent and Westerham Kent, Kelvin Nettleingham and Mandy Smith will covering the skills of Level 2B over three days.
Sign up here for Level 2B –https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GLWTL3Q
Level 3B
This year depending on demand/need we hope to offer either one training weekend (two days) or two training weekends (4 days) at Roanlodge in the Peak District SK17 0TB. These training days will be suitable for handlers with good novice or open Flatcoats, who wish to improve their partnership with their dog and to gain experience in control, obedience, hunting and retrieving. Each training day will build upon the others. The training is designed to give you and your dog experience of Walked up in challenging terrain and cover. Your dog will experience taking a line across challenging terrain, marking in challenging terrain, hunting in challenging cover, blind retrieves and retrieves where the fall of the dummy is out of site. You will gain experience of marking in challenging terrain, using the terrain and the wind to your advantage, and proving your stop whistle, control and handling at a distance.
Express interest in Level 3B training here –https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8HVR7DH
We have managed to hold the cost of the training days at 2024 prices. The cost of the training to FCRS members remains £65 per training day. (the cost to non members will be £70 per day)
We hope that you will be able to join us for training. Unfortunately it is not logistically possible for us to put on training at all levels in all areas of the country. However please note that you may still complete any WFRDP level with an independent gundog trainer or gundog club. Please see our Training page to see what is involved and the Working forms page to download the checklist for the appropriate level.
Additionally there are groups of flatcoat owners training in the South West Area, the Central Area, Wessex and the Eastern Area. Please contact the relevant Area Test and Training Organiser for more information; their contact details are listed here https://www.flatcoated-retriever-society.org/gundog-working-test-training-contacts/.
The Flatcoated Retriever Club of Scotland will be again be holding Foundation/Level 1 training this summer in the Scottish Borders, which may be of interest to FCRS members in Scotland and the very North of England, please contact [email protected] for more information.