|
At the Gundog Club, we receive a lot of
telephone calls from the public about the problems they are having
with their dogs. There is a demand for one-to-one gundog training
which in some areas exceeds the available supply. Complaints about
trainers are very unusual, and most people’s difficulties are in
finding one at all, not in the service they receive. The vast
majority of the problems experienced by our callers are as a result
of struggling on alone with insufficient knowledge or help.
However, a lack of complaints is not a
good reason for complacency. It is desirable in any industry, for
there to be a consistency in the quality of the standards, methods,
and ability of those offering training, and working gundogs are no
exception. So how do we go about providing this consistency, and in
it’s absence, how do we find a good trainer?
First Criteria - the
trainer's own success
The only way to ensure reasonably
consistent standards in a trainer in any discipline or field of
expertise, is to effectively monitor the results of the trainer’s
work. It is fairly straightforward to ascertain which trainers are
successful in training their own dogs, as the results usually speak
for themselves. Often in the form of competitive success, in
working tests or field trials. This is one of the criteria we use
for including trainers on our own register. Testing the
theoretical knowledge of a trainer can also be helpful, but does not
really tell you how capable that trainer is of passing the knowledge
on.
The trainer's qualities
A gundog trainer offering his or her
services to the public needs to be so much more than just a good dog
trainer. He needs to be first and foremost a good teacher of
people, a good communicator and a motivator. Measuring a trainer’s
success in this respect is far more challenging, and in the long run
can only be achieved by studying the success rates of the trainer’s
students and listening to what they have to say. In the absence of
any such data source, we can initially work with the CV of the
would-be trainer is a more general sense, we can ensure that the
trainer is able to communicate well and take references from those
who have worked with him or her, and witnessed the methods, attitude
and qualities of the trainer. If trainers cannot provide
appropriately qualified references we can arrange for them to be
personally assessed by one of our senior established trainers.
These are procedures we already have in place. But more is
required.
Effective monitoring -
the right way for us
At the Gundog Club, we believe that
quantitatively measuring the success of a gundog trainer as a
‘teacher of people’ can provide useful information. However,
this information is only useful if sufficient breadth of attributes
is recorded, and, if the information is gathered appropriately
(ie professionally, fairly and without favour)
Effective monitoring of this kind is
expensive and takes time. It involves collecting extensive amounts
of data, analysing it carefully, and setting out protocols for
appropriate action where trainers fail to meet standards. The
Gundog Club have set up just such a monitoring programme and collect
extensive feedback on all their trainers from their students. Not
only do we look at the test results and scores of the students
trained by one of our trainers, but also ask student to ‘score’
their trainers on a wide range of attributes. In this way, will we
be able to ensure more effectively, that the trainers registered
with us are indeed succeeding in passing on their knowledge and
experience in a professional and appropriate manner. This
helps us to maintain standards nationally and to protect our
students from incompetence or malpractice.
Compulsory training?
Some will be concerned that this kind of
scheme could become compulsory, and that the nature of gundog
training and trainers could be changed forever. This seems
unlikely when comparisons are made with other sports and
occupations. There are regulatory bodies governing many
leisure pursuits but those wishing to train as independent trainers
are still able to do so. Legislation is not normally indicated
unless health and safety (to humans) is an overriding factor
The Gundog Club does not support the
implementation of compulsory training and/or registration for gundog
trainers but welcomes diversity. We believe that compulsory
training would result in a great wealth of experience being lost if
those who cannot or do not wish to participate in such a scheme were
to lose their right to train others.
In the meantime - how do
you find a good trainer
However, although data is being
collected constantly, our scheme for the continued professional
development of Gundog Club accredited instructors is still in its
early stages, and the
Kennel Club’s own accreditation scheme for instructors has as yet
only two accredited gundog trainers. So for the time being, how
does the gundog owner, looking for some help, choose a suitable
trainer? Should you pick the most successful Field Trial
competitor, ask a friend perhaps, or just go for the nearest? If
you pick the wrong one will your dog be damaged? How do you know
what methods a trainer uses? Are there a lot of incompetent trainers
out there wasting peoples money and doing more harm than good? It
is all very confusing and many people could be excused for thinking
that they are really better off going it alone.
The fact is - there is no single right
answer. Rather a combination of factors to take into account, and
much depends on what you expect from your dog. Recommendation is
always helpful. If you personally know someone whose dog has
benefited from the attentions of a particular trainer, this is a
point in his favour. If you are hoping to compete in Field Trials
you may find a successful top-level competitor can provide you with
a wealth of appropriate experience and skill, which you will not
find elsewhere. However, it is worth bearing in mind if you, like
the majority, simply wish for a well-behaved and effective shooting
companion, there are many good and empathic gundog trainers who have
never competed in a trial in their lives, that will do a very good
job of helping you and provide excellent value for money.
Good coaches are not always *stars*
It is also worth noting, that the data
we have accrued so far at the Gundog Club, does not yet suggest any
strong link between the ability of a trainer to succeed in making up
FT Champions, and his ability to get students through our
Beginner’s Grade One and Two tests. Those trainers with a less
illustrious trialling records are so far producing similar pass
rates in their students as those who are more successful in open
trials.
This is not really surprising, as in so
many walks of life, the best coaches are not always the star
performers. In many fields of expertise now, and in many
organisations, those training others at each level of skill are
just a few steps further up the ladder. Workshops, and
demonstrations, may be given by the top experts, but not day-to-day
training. Provided that trainers are ‘monitored’ this approach can
work well and has been proven in a number of disciplines including
medicine and many practical sports. So don’t be put off if you
cannot find a trainer who is winning consistently in open trials.
Rather look for some of the other attributes of a good teacher.
Many effective and reputable gundog
trainers will have a waiting list, many good trainers will also
provide you with a preliminary session at a reduced rate where they
will assess your dog, find out what your requirements are and give
you a chance to see whether or not they are the kind of person you
are happy to work with. A good trainer will have a sound
understanding of how dogs learn and a great ‘rapport’ with his own
dogs - which should be obvious to you. The right trainer for you
will not use methods that make you feel uncomfortable. The very
best trainers will inspire you and leave you brimming with
enthusiasm for the next session.
Charlatans?
Doubtless, as with any non-regulated
sport there are inevitably those who set themselves up as something
they are not, who make claims to skills they have never acquired or
experience they do not possess. However, we have seen no evidence
to suggest that such characters abound, and it is not likely that a
totally incompetent gundog trainer would last long without being
discovered.
The future
Finally, there are organisations out
there, including the Gundog Club, who are striving to provide a
better system, and in the meantime there are (and always will be)
good independent gundog trainers out there too, both from the field
trial community, and amongst those that do not compete, and/or do
not wish to participate in any scheme. The chances are that
you will be delighted with your trainer, and that your only regret
will be that you didn’t find him (or her) sooner
~
Comments on articles found in this
website are always welcomed Click here to
Go To The Forum |
