When the URC Essex Committee organised a Water Training Day, I took the plunge and asked if I could add a group for “show” enthusiasts. I was delighted when the committee agreed! Joy Venturi-Rose of Leospring Labradors has been extremely kind to me, personally, over the years so I knew she would be just the person we needed and was really pleased when she confirmed she would be able to take the training group, writes Alison Scutcher.
The day was a huge success, we started in the morning with a basic skills assessment – bit like boot camp really, to make sure our dogs would walk to heel and recall and a retrieve on land. Once we had all been put through our paces we started with the water retrieves, with each person taking it turns. We did individual retrieves to start with to help build the dogs confidence. We continues this after lunch and then to retrieves in pairs to help with steadiness at the water, finally we progressed to teaching the dogs to retrieve over the water. The whole group had an excellent time, all the dogs succeeded with handlers gaining the tools to take away to aid their future training. My personal thanks to fellow group members, Ann Fanning, Eric Wainwright, Peter Goodge, Rachel Williams, Rebekah Watkins and Dale Elliott for their company and to The United Retriever Essex Area for supporting and encouraging the event.