Gundog Training

SHOW DOG or GUNDOG or BOTH? 


Excerpt from ‘The Flatcoated Retriever’ book by Paddy Petch:

"The Flat Coat has lost a great deal of the popularity it had a hundred years ago when it was the shooting dog for gentlemen. It has been superseded by the other Retrievers, particularly the Labrador, but having said that, the Flat Coat is still the only truly dual purpose Retriever out of the three for the same dogs are both shown and worked. At present there are not the structural differences to be found in this breed as in the other two, when show and work strains almost look like two different dogs. Flat Coat Retriever enthusiasts are trying hard to retain the working side of these dogs and while not everybody has either the time or the facilities to reach field trial standards, most People can train a dog to fetch a dummy and reach working test levels.”

Gundog Training Sessions


Our regular gundog training sessions are held at three different venues:


East Linton (East Lothian) -  every third Sunday morning - puppies, 09:15-10:00; Beginners and Advanced, 10:00 to 12:00. There is a charge of £2 per handler to cover the hire of the ground.


Dundonald (Ayrshire) - held every third Friday evening, 19:00-20:00. There is a small fee  for this session to cover the field hire depending on how many handlers turn up on the evening. This session is suitable for puppies and beginners.


Dechmont (West Lothian) - held every third Friday evening 19:00-20:00. This is more suitable for puppies that have some basic obedience, or beginners.

We cater for total beginners and the more advanced. Although none of us are professional trainers we have a wealth of knowledge and experience between us that we are happy to pass on. Training covers basic obedience, eg heelwork, recall, sits, stays etc and of course, there is some retrieving. As the dogs advance we move on to directional and distance work. We also hope to re-introduce the club Gundog Training Assessments for those that would like to take them.


All we ask (apart from having a flatcoat) is that you are a member of the Flatcoated Retriever Club of Scotland.

If you would like further information or would like to attend the training, please contact Lindsay Kinnaird,

Email Lindsay.kinnaird@btinternet.com Tel. (01899) 225491

FRCS Gundog Training Group 2021

(from left to right) Lindsay Kinnaird with Nuis, Peter Sweatman with Flint, Lorna Rowan with Narah, Wilma Laing with Aki, Kirsten McLeod with Evie, and Linda Howson with Kenzie. Photo courtesy of Peter Howson.


It is thanks to Peter Sweatman whose son in law manages the estate that we can train here.

Gundog Training Assessments

Information for Handlers
  1. The handler must have been a member of the Flatcoated Retriever Club of Scotland for at least 4 months before taking an assessment. 
  2. Dogs must be at least 6 months old before taking grade one. 
  3. Assessments must be taken in order. 
  4. No bitch in season may be entered in an assessment.
Grade 1
Heelwork: The handler will walk the dog on a loose lead for 20 yards, then sit the dog at the 20 yard marker.
Sit / Stay: The handler walks the dog off lead, to the 20 yard marker then sits the dog using the stop whistle. The handler leaves the dog and walks back to the start, waits 30 seconds then returns to the dog.
Recall: The dog is asked to sit at the start line, the handler walks to the 20 yard marker, waits 30 seconds then recalls the dog by voice or whistle and quietly replaces the lead.
Retrieves: Two single marked retrieves, in clear view the first at 15 yards the second at 20 yards.

Grade 2 
Obedience: The dog walks out at heel, off lead, to the 30 yard marker, the dog is left on stay command and the handler returns to the start. The handler waits 1 minute then recalls the dog but stops the dog, with the stop whistle at a predetermined location on route before finally calling the dog back in.
Retrieve 1 (Memory): The dog walks out at heel and sits at the marker, a dummy is thrown out in front by the handler, the dog returns to the start at heel then is sent for the retrieve.
Retrieve 2 (Double Mark): Two dummies are thrown at right angles to each other. The first dummy is to be picked by the dog – handler to choose which dummy, before sending the dog. The second dummy is picked by the handler.
Walk Up:  Two dogs, in line, at heel on the lead. Walk forward a few paces then stop, a dummy is thrown and the first dog is sent, the second dog must sit quietly, this is then repeated for the second dog.

Grade 3
Obedience: The dog walks out at heel to the 40 yard marker and is left on the stay command. The handler walks back to the start, waits 1 minute then calls the dog, the dog is stopped at a predetermined point on route, a dummy is then thrown to one side and the handler sends the dog for the dummy.
Retrieve 1 (Double Mark): Two dummies are thrown into light cover, both are to be retrieved by the dog, the assessor will nominate which dummy is to be retrieved first .
Retrieve 2 (Mark and Blind): A marked dummy is thrown at 60 yards into light cover, the dog is sent for the retrieve, as the dog is returning a second dummy is thrown into the same area, the dog is then sent for the blind.

Grade 4
Retrieve 1 (Blind): The dog is sent for a 50 yard blind retrieve from cover.
Retrieve 2 (Double Mark): One dummy is thrown over an obstacle, the second into cover, both dummies to be retrieved by the dog, the handler will nominate which dummy is to be retrieved first.
Retrieve 3 : A marked retrieve from water.
Steadiness: The dog is asked to sit next to the handler, a dummy is thrown and a second dog is sent past the sitting dog for the retrieve.
Walk Up: Two or three dogs in line with one mark and one blind for each dog.

Grade 5
Retrieve 1 (Mark and Blind):
A marked dummy in cover with a blind over an obstacle, both dummies to be collected by the dog, the blind to be retrieved first.
Retrieve 2 (Distraction): A marked dummy is thrown over an obstacle, the dog is sent for the retrieve, the distraction dummy is thrown as the dog is returning.
Retrieve 3 (Water Work): The dog is sent to collect a blind from over water.
Control: The dog is sent for a marked retrieve but is stopped (when requested by assessor) a second dummy is thrown, the dog is sent for the dummy as required by the assessor.

 All retrieves at grade 5 will be with shot.

Further Information
Each exercise will be marked out of 20, to achieve a pass, each exercise must have 14 out of 20. Marks will be deducted,
  • If, in the obedience exercises the dog moves without command or is unsteady at any time. 
  • Not retrieving to hand (with the exception of grade 1, where the dog must bring the dummy within 3 feet of the handler).
  • For barking or whining.
  • For overhandling.
  • For excessive use of voice or whistle . 
Also taken into account will be the speed style and natural hunting ability of the dog on retrieves and on water tests, the ability of the dog to enter water confidently and to swim reasonably well.
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