What’s holding your gundog training back?

Collette May Author

Gundog training can sometimes feel like a never-ending process with little progress, and it’s not uncommon to feel stuck at times.

I’ve had many handlers reach out to me, asking why they’re just not getting it - and whether it’s their handling skills that need improvement, or if their dog has too many bad habits or genetic limitations, like lack of drive.

If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. It can be so easy to get frustrated and feel like giving up when things aren’t going to plan, especially when you’ve put in so much effort.

But often, the truth is, it's not about being perfect right away. It’s about reassessing and understanding why some of your gundog’s behaviours might not be “perfect” yet.

Sometimes, there are things we just can’t control, like the developmental stage our dog is at (hello adolescence) or their breeding and natural temperament.

Other times, it’s a case of understanding that progress in any new hobby or sport takes time, and the journey is just as important as the destination.

As a gundog trainer, and now also with a mindset coaching approach to my work, I understand how important it is to zoom out and look at the bigger picture when things feel like they’re at a standstill. It’s normal to hit a few bumps along the way and it’s how we deal with the mental side of training that can make a huge difference in the long term.

In this blog, we’ll explore five key areas that might be slowing down your progress. Whether it’s time, your dog’s personality, your own motivation, or your mindset, I’ll offer some tips on how to work through these challenges and keep moving forward. No matter where you are in your gundog training journey, there’s always a way to keep improving.

1) Time

Sometimes, you’re doing everything right, and all you need is a little more time and perhaps some patience.

There are two types of people I see when it comes to gundog training - those who feel they don’t have enough time, and those who have too much time but not enough patience.

Let’s look at both, because they each come with their own set of challenges.

The first group is made up of handlers who feel they’re too busy to dedicate enough time to training. Between work, family, house chores, and everything else, it can be difficult to carve out time for your dog’s training, and I get it.

Life is busy. But here’s the problem: some handlers in this group either expect their gundogs to just “get it” on their own, or they become stuck at the same level for too long, not realising they’ve missed key parts of the training process.

Just because your dog has natural instincts to hunt or retrieve doesn’t mean they automatically know how to stop, be steady, take directional casts, ignore one dummy for another, go over water, jump fences confidently, etc.

These things take time to teach.

When you don’t train consistently or allow for enough focus on the basics, it’s easy to stagnate. If you know you haven’t done enough training, it’s important to recognise that these gaps will need to be filled before you can progress to more advanced work.

On the flip side too, I also see too many handlers who have the time but don’t have the patience. These are the people who are spending hours every day trying to cram in as much training as possible, thinking the more they do, the faster their dog will learn.

Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. Gundog training is a marathon, not a sprint.

You cannot fast-track your dog’s development and training for long hours can often be counterproductive. Dogs need time to process what they’ve learned, and training too much in one go can lead to confusion and frustration for both you and your dog.

So, whether you’re struggling to find time or training too much, the key to progress is balance. Remember that shorter, consistent training sessions are far more effective than trying to fit in hours of work all at once. Keep your sessions focused, consistent, and rewarding, and trust the process.

2) Your Dog’s Personality and Stage of Life

Each dog is unique, and their personality or stage in life can significantly affect their progress with gundog training.

Some dogs are natural learners, and they seem to get it right away. They’re quick to understand what’s expected of them, which makes training feel easy. On the other hand, some dogs need more time to fully grasp their role, and that’s completely normal.

Some dogs have an abundance of drive and enthusiasm, which can make it tricky to keep them steady and focused. They’re constantly on the go, eager to work, and this drive is a blessing but also a challenge. Others may lack the motivation to hunt or retrieve and could need a little extra encouragement, which can also feel like an uphill battle.

Sometimes, it just comes down to the dog, and no matter your skill as a trainer and handler, there will be limits. This is why a lot of field triallers will often move dogs on - once they realise that the dog is just not up to their standards or has eliminating faults, they don’t waste time, they just bring in a new recruit.

But, if you got your gundog primarily as a family pet, chances are rehoming them is just not going to happen, and unless you’re lucky to have the space, multiple dogs might not work for you either. If that’s the case, it’s important to accept the dog you have in front of you and work with them to the best of their abilities.

If you’re assessing your dog’s personality, you also need to remember that age plays a huge part in this too.

Puppies often lack focus and can find it hard to stay still or concentrate, which can make training feel like a constant battle. It doesn’t mean they’re not going to come good.

Then we have adolescence, which is one of the most challenging stages, with dogs testing boundaries and seeming to forget everything they've learned. It’s a frustrating time, but if this is you, remember, it’s just a phase, and providing that you stay consistent, they’ll eventually grow out of it.

Finally, if you started gundog training with an older dog, they may be slowing down, or some past behaviours, like dropping a ball at your feet instead of in your hand, may now be so ingrained that they’re harder to change. This isn’t the end of the road. It just means you might need to adjust your training approach and expectations.

3) Lack of Knowledge

When you’re new to dog training, especially gundog training, it can often feel overwhelming. There’s so much to cover before we even start to look at breed-specific behaviours - whether it’s understanding how dogs learn, how to reward the right behaviours, avoiding unwanted habits, or recognising their body language.

With gundog training too, you also need to understand the job these dogs were bred for (even if you don’t plan to work yours) and it's essential to know why we teach certain behaviours as well as other finer details like working the wind, how scent can change depending on the weather, how to marking the fall of a dummy, and so on.

If your gundog is your first puppy, you may also have unintentionally done or encouraged things that seem normal but can actually be detrimental to your gundog training. For example, telling your puppy off for stealing your shoes or encouraging them to drop a ball at your feet might be harmless with other dogs, but in a gundog, it can lead to hand delivery issues and a reluctance to retrieve.

It’s common to feel like progress is slow or being held back when you first have to learn what to do before you can try and teach it to your dog. It’s easy to get frustrated, but it’s important to give yourself grace.

You’re not just training your dog, you’re learning too. Gundog training is a specialised skill, and like any new skill, it takes time to build. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember that it’s okay to ask for help. You’re not expected to have all the answers right away, and every day is an opportunity to learn and improve, both for you and your dog.

4) Motivation and Mindset

Just like dogs, we humans need motivation to keep pushing forward, especially when progress feels slow. It’s easy to get bogged down in the daily grind, and if things aren’t going as quickly as you’d like or as you’d planned with your dog, it’s hard to stay motivated with your gundog training.

That’s where setting a goal comes in. Whether it’s booking a gundog training holiday, preparing for a working test, or simply setting a goal to mastering a specific behaviour, having something to work towards helps keep your focus and if the deadline is real it should give you a reason to train consistently and fine-tune areas that need attention, even when things feel tough.

But motivation isn’t just about external goals, it’s also about mindset. It’s perfectly normal to question whether you’re “good” at something, especially if you’re not seeing immediate success or are trying to compare yourself to others.

The truth is, no one is born a great gundog handler. It’s a skill that takes time, practice, and perseverance. Everyone experiences moments of self-doubt, and that’s okay, it’s part of the learning process. What’s important is recognising that these feelings are not a reflection of your abilities, but part of growing and improving. With the right mindset, you can work through these doubts and continue progressing.

Remember, the first attempt at something new is never perfect, and that’s perfectly okay. You probably stalled the car on your first driving lesson, but I imagine you got there eventually. It’s about being resilient enough to bounce back if things do go wrong and know that as long as you’re still trying, you’ll be making steps towards improvement.

Working on your mindset can drastically transform the way you approach challenges and progress with your gundog training. A qualified coach, such as myself, can help you uncover limiting beliefs, replace them with SMART goals to give your brain evidence that you are more than capable, and help you develop coping strategies for when things don’t go to plan.

And, as a gundog trainer, I can also help you unpick whether it’s you or your dog causing the challenges and identify the areas that need the most attention, whether it’s training a specific behaviour or working on your mental approach to training.

If you’d like to book a 15-minute chat with me for free - no pressure, no obligations - just an honest conversation about where you are, where you want to be, and how I can help, click here