Harley and I started our journey with Lindsay last year first having a 1-1, where Harley was wild to start with, constantly pulling and unable to walk “Nicely”. I also wasn't confident in letting her off the lead as she's just run off, not listen when called and with little engagement as the environment took over.
Over the coming months of patience and training, together with Lindsay’s advice and guidance and LOTS of practice, Harley became a lot more settled and attentive on walks.
We then joined the adolescent class, where we learned how to connect better.
I started to get engagement and was able to make learning fun for both of us and I started to understand those Cocker Spaniels traits.
Harley and myself were now really getting to enjoy the training and decided we were ready for the next challenge - The Pet Gundog foundation course.
This is where Harley really began to shine, working on the foundations of sit, stay, using the place board, together with forming the hunting pattern and her favourite thing of all - Retrieval, this became even more apparent during one of Lindsay’s Gundog Scurry events.
Fast forward a year and I now had full confidence in letting Harley off the lead in the park and even the woods, without worrying about her running off and best of all going on holiday and her being able to play on the beach and not being bothered by the presence of other dogs - all she was interested in was fetching the toys back and being with us - All she ever wants to do is to please.
The next course on the list was the Grade one, never did I think we would get to this stage and certainly never thought we’d have a chance of passing it.
Well, we went and tried so hard and got better and better each week, doing heel work with no lead, her recall was getting better and better and her retrieves were getting further away. Her hunting was more established and we were working together as a team - a great one at that!
Finally, the day of the test arrived and she absolutely nailed it - passing with a DISTINCTION. Can't believe we did it!
I have never been so proud. It was an emotional day and yes there were tears, tears of joy.
We have loved learning all the new skills and I loved teaching it to her.
We've come a long way, but our journey isn’t over yet though, this is just the start - Grade 2 here we come.
