The finishing touches

As we are nearing the start of the season, now is the time to make sure you are taking advantage of the long, light evenings and putting in some useful training sessions. The grouse season is only days away, with the partridge and pheasant seasons not far behind.

The first thing you need to do is be honest about what has not been brilliant either over the summer or towards the end of last season. Hopefully, by now, you have already started at least some drills to improve certain aspects of your dog’s work. Now is the time to fill in the gaps.

I start with the basics for all my dogs, no matter their level or age. These are so often overlooked for many reasons. First, they are rather boring. Not only for the dog, but for the handler as well. Walking