Working Flatcoated Retriever Development Programme Level 2A Training Day
December 16 @ 8:00 am - December 17 @ 5:00 pm
Would you like support introducing your Flatcoat to the shooting environment?
This December the Society are offering a Shoot Experience Day and, in conjunction with this, a training day for dogs that have little or no experience of picking feather or fur.
The two training days will be held near Retford on 16th and 17th December 2025. The trainer will be Andrew Sweeney. Both days are suitable for novice (or more experienced handlers) with young or novice Flatcoats, who wish to progress their dog into a ‘live game environment’.
The ‘Shoot day’ is aimed at those whose dogs have had little or no experience of being in a shoot environment. However your dog must be of the standard expected of the WFRDP 2A training days – for dogs that have not previously picked fur and feather. On the shoot day your dog will be able to sit through drives, help sweep up afterwards and also have the possibility of picking wounded game. Shoot etiquette and despatching game will also be discussed. The aim is by the end of the day, you should understand the role of the ‘picker up’ and what is required of your dog on a shoot day. It should be possible to sign off some skills on the 3A WFRDP Checklist.
The following day, the game shot the previous day will be used to develop retrieving skills based on the WFRDP ‘game pathway’ Level 2A. This day is aimed at those whose dogs have had little or no experience of picking fur or feather and who wish to gain experience in control, obedience, hunting and retrieving a variety of fresh, previously shot game. On this day blank shot will be used to simulate the shooting environment. There will be the opportunity to do individual retrieves, marks and memories, some walked up training and potentially simulated drives.
Dogs taking part must already have a complete retrieve and delivery to hand, and should be capable of some off lead heel work, be steady to shot, thrown dummies and other dogs working, and be able to hunt effectively in different cover and conditions. If your dog is not reliably delivering to hand, or is unsteady on canvass dummies, your dog is not yet ready for this training.
The cost of each day will be £65 per day for FCRS members. Non members are also welcome. The cost to non members will be £70 per day. Preference will be given to those attending both days or to those who have previously completed Level 2A training.
Please use this link below to apply for a place on both or either day.