Here are some useful tips for moving onto marks and then blinds across water.By Jo Laurens

This is a slight bonanza of a wandering episode, where I waffle about prepping for our upcoming litter, woes around tick products, why it's a useful training opportunity to have a dog which is highly aroused... in your yard and how to train many dogs at once. It's a bit all over the place and it's got something for everyone. Sort of.…

I talk about prioritising your enjoyment of the actual activity of working your dog in the field, separate to any achievements, goals or objectives. It's not about the destination, it's about the journey. I also talk about the importance of splitting your training and structuring your work with blinds. Be a lumper and not a splitter. Finally, we've…

In this episode I waffle in response to a listener's question about using bird launchers and control at the flush of game.By Jo Laurens

This episode is an assortment of amazingly interesting things. It's like a box of Quality Street, only with a lot of The Purple Ones.By Jo Laurens

A quah episode (question and answer) about a dog who is under good control in training scenarios - but out of control, in trials.By Jo Laurens

In this episode, I talk about the skill and concept which is 'lining'. I introduce my new course (creatively called 'Lining') - which you can get a discount on using code Lining30By Jo Laurens

Why we need to ensure a split doesn't develop (hopefully this intrigues you enough to listen to more!)By Jo Laurens

This episode is not necessarily going to provide the structure some of you really want - because I don't think that's helpful, for puppies. But it will give you some broad pointers...By Jo Laurens

This is a slightly jam-packed episode which leaps around various different subjects!By Jo Laurens

In this episode, I respond to an email from a listener about a dog which became worried about specific (unknown) elements of competition.By Jo Laurens

In this episode, I talk about feeding raw on a budget. And about the ethics and implications of selecting for dogs which experience verbal aversives as strong aversives. (Thereby circumventing the banning of certain 'tools'.)By Jo Laurens

In this episode, I waffle about trials as a form of assessment.By Jo Laurens

Roche just cut her foreleg on (we think) barbed wire. The quote for sedation and stitching was astronomical. I ramble about what is going on, systemically, and about various societal factors from poverty to capitalism in a failed attempt to make sense of any of this...By Jo Laurens

In this episode, I talk about how to help dogs make the transition to picking up game.By Jo Laurens

How do you find a shoot? Is your dog ready to work on a shoot? What is required from them? What different kinds of shoots are there? What are the roles on a shoot? This is all things shoots 101.By Jo Laurens

In this episode, I look at a recent research paper called 'Comparison of the Efficacy and Welfare of Different Training Methods in Stopping Chasing Behavior in Dogs' by Johnson & Wynne https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14182632By Jo Laurens

In this episode, I talk about why the best way forwards is for us all to advance together - instead of fostering division and us/them splitting.By Jo Laurens

I talk about how to stop mouthing or rolling of the dummy (it's the clicker retrieve again, this time the part of it called 'proofing the hold against food').By Jo Laurens

In this episode I answer a few listener questions and then waffle about why we need to keep shot unattached to a retrieve for as long as possible. Shot means 'sit'. Like the sit whistle means 'sit'.By Jo Laurens

In this episode, I focus on how to weave yourself and the environment together - rather than thinking about yourself as being in 'opposition' to the environment. All those juicy reinforcers out there are not a threat to your ongoing control of your dog. They are simply more reinforcers you can use to train your dog, with the caveat that they are in…

I talk here about my experience with immunotherapy for Ren's extreme allergies. Whilst there seem to be so many people around with itchy dogs, it seems that not many have explored immunotherapy and there isn't much information about it out there....By Jo Laurens

I last spoke with Collette back in 2019, pre-Covid. Her life has changed in so many ways over the last 5 years, I wanted to catch up with her again and hear about her new ventures. If you want to connect with Collette, check out her websites midwalesholidays.com and completelygundogs.co.uk - and, if you're looking for a pup, her affix is Windlemoor…

I describe the way that one part of the Clicker Retrieve process ("Proofing the Hold Against Food") is a powerful tool for teaching a dog not to drop on exiting water. And I help a listener who wants to train both straight line blinds AND 'hunt it up' blinds.By Jo Laurens

Check out as well episodes: Episode 86 - getting focus from your dog outdoors Episode 78 - behavioural trilogy (part 3), the super-drive, hunting crazy dog Episode 72 - behavioural trilogy (part 2), food motivation, allergies, body sensitivity and focus Episode 58 - developing reinforcers before contact with game Episode 38 - puppy exercise and dev…

This episode was inspired by the debate between Zak George and Denise Fenzi on Instagram recently. Check out their Stories there if you want to hear what they had to say in their own words.By Jo Laurens

In this episode, I answer a listener question about dogs trying to bring back multiple dummies. I also talk about the importance of having a rigorous training system which begins with the basics and doesn't just want to jump in with the sexy stuff...By Jo Laurens

Did you know that HPRs in the UK are expected to handle? That means: To hold straight lines. To be cast left, right and back. Essentially, to 'be' Retrievers. Some of you might thing that sounds insane....By Jo Laurens

In this episode, I answer listener questions about in-a-row blinds, dealing with frustration in blinds and the use of aversives.By Jo Laurens

Check out episodes 16, 17 And take a look at my online course, Heel.By Jo Laurens

Episodes to check out are: 30, 33, 34, 36, 41, 47, 48, 62, 64, 66, 85, 88 Online courses covering blind retrieves are: Blind Retrieves Remote Stop First Steps in 3HC Training the T DrillBy Jo Laurens

For more help on this one, check out episodes: 82, 87 See the Reliable Recall course, on my website forcefreegundog.com Or check out the chapter on the Reliable Recall in my book, Force-Free Gundog Training: The Fundamentals for Success, available from Amazons everywhereBy Jo Laurens

Check out podcast episodes: 57, 58, 78By Jo Laurens

For more help on this subject, see podcast episodes: 8, 33, 78 And online courses: Marking Focus and AttentionBy Jo Laurens

For more help on this subject, see podcast episodes: 10, 11, 13, 14, 19, 23, 26 For an online course, see the Clicker Retrieve courseBy Jo Laurens

For more help on this subject, see podcast episodes: 5, 23, 49, 51, 57, 58, 62, 76, 87, 89 And check out my online courses: Remote Stop Steady In brief: Build an alternative reinforcer Teach the dog to recall off game before stopping/sitting Teach the dog to stop/sit to flush Teach the dog that access to the game is contingent on their response to …

For more help on this subject, see podcast episodes: 61, 85, 86 and 88 For food motivation help, see episodes 54 and 72By Jo Laurens

In this episode I talk about Marking, as my new Marking course is now available! I also talk about some differences with blind retrieves when it comes to working vs competing with a dog.By Jo Laurens

In this episode I talk about: the future of gundog training and breeding in today's world hard mouth - what causes it, what to do about it, whether you can assess for it switching from the use of aversives daily routinesBy Jo Laurens

Answering many super-interesting listener questions :)By Jo Laurens

I cover a few bits and pieces related not to training itself (how to train a specific behaviour) but how to conceive of various training-related issues in a broader way. Does that sound vague? Well, you'll just have to give it a go. PS I also cover water deliveries.By Jo Laurens

In this episode I waffle. About random questions I've been sent. Have a listen!By Jo Laurens

I talk about whether we should allow dogs free access to the environment or not and also chat about marking problems and lining skills.By Jo Laurens

I talk freely (extremely freely), about training a recall to flush before a sit to flush behaviour.By Jo Laurens

In this episode, I talk about how to get your dog to offer you focus and attention in distracting environments.By Jo Laurens

I chat about the T-Drill and a few tricky corners to consider when training this drill. I also answer listener questions about accessing birds and what to do if your dog is distracted at a working test.By Jo Laurens

Listener questions about how to encourage a dog to hunt wider/more confidently; how to increase food motivation in a puppy; and how much retrieving is too much (physically).By Jo Laurens

Probs with cold game retrieves and a couple of questions about aversivesBy Jo Laurens

In this highly unusual episode(!), I waffle (because usually I don't, right?) about the clicker retrieve and recalls and long-lines.By Jo Laurens

In this episode, I recommend my favourite wellies, boots, coats, training vests, dummies, leashes, treat pouches and more. I also answer listener questions about pointing, marker cues and the 'Go Sniff' exercise in my book.By Jo Laurens