Gundog training holidays: what's the deal?

If you’ve ever felt like your dog is capable of more, but weekly training just isn’t quite getting you there, you’re not alone.

Many handlers reach a point where progress feels slow, inconsistent, or frustrating not because the dog lacks ability, but because there simply isn’t enough time or continuity to properly join the dots.

That’s where gundog training holidays come in.

But what actually happens on a gundog holiday, and are they really worth it?

What is a gundog training holiday?

A gundog training holiday is an immersive training experience where you step away from everyday distractions and focus fully on your dog.

Instead of trying to squeeze learning into short weekly sessions, you and your dog train over consecutive days, with time to practise, reflect and ask questions in between.

Most gundog holidays combine:

• structured training sessions each day

• time for dogs to rest and process learning

• varied ground and real-life training scenarios

• accommodation either on site or nearby

The emphasis isn’t on drilling dogs endlessly, it’s on quality training, clarity and balance.

Why does immersive training work so well?

The biggest difference between a gundog holiday and standard training is immersion.

Dogs learn best when:

• training is consistent

• expectations are clear

• learning is reinforced over time

Training across several days allows patterns to change more quickly. Issues like steadiness, confidence, control and responsiveness often become clearer,  not because dogs are pushed harder, but because they’re given the space to understand.

Handlers benefit just as much. Instead of going home and trying to remember what was said the week before, you:

• see problems as they happen

• understand why your dog is responding the way they are

• get guidance while you’re actually working the dog

For many people, this is where things finally start to make sense.

Who are gundog training holidays for? 

Gundog holidays suit a wide range of dogs and handlers, but they’re especially helpful if:

• you’ve done training but feel a bit stuck
• your dog is capable but inconsistent
• you want calm control without suppressing drive
• you’d like to train on varied, realistic ground
• you want to understand your dog better, not just follow instructions

They work well for:
• pet gundogs
• working test competitors
• shoot dogs
• young dogs building foundations
• experienced dogs needing polish or confidence

What matters most isn’t level it’s mindset. A willingness to learn, observe and reflect goes a long way.


 

Who are they not for? 

A gundog training holiday may not be the right fit if:
• you’re looking for a quick fix without changing anything
• you don’t enjoy being hands-on with your training
• you’re not open to honest feedback

These holidays aren’t about judgement, but they do require engagement and responsibility from the handler.

What does a typical day look like? 

At Completely Gundogs, We offer a range of three day gundog training holidays at my grounds just outside Llandinam, near Newtown, in Mid Wales.

The holidays are split into different levels to accommodate novice, intermediate and advanced gundogs.

All breeds are welcome on our novice holidays, which are mixed-breed groups, but our intermediate and advanced gundog holidays are breed specific (retriever or spaniels breeds only). 

While each holiday is slightly different, most days include:
• a morning training session (9.30am-12.30pm)
• a break to allow dogs to rest and absorb learning
• an afternoon session that builds on earlier work (1.30pm-3.30)
• time to ask questions and watch other dogs train

Rest is deliberately built in. Dogs aren’t overworked learning happens just as much between sessions as during them.

Over the three days, we will work to ensure that the dogs are able to expand on their skills of marking, taking memories and blinds. We will generally look at retrieving over obstacles, hunting and holding an area, stopping and handling, as well as the usual heelwork, delivery and steadiness. There are usually walked-up scenarios in cover crops and our woods and water training sessions.

Depending on the dogs' and handlers' experience, the time of year, and the weather forecast, the intermediate and advanced holidays will also include an off-site training session.

I am very grateful to have permission to use fantastic pieces of land. The mountain ground with incredible panoramic views for the handlers, and is part of a large commercial shoot. This ground allows the dogs to work in a more diverse range of terrain and provide the opportunity for more challenging training scenarios.

What level must my dog be at to come on a gundog training holiday?

As a rough guide, the novice and intermediate holidays are suitable for all breeds of gundogs working at Grade 2 to Grade 3 level. For those not familiar with The Gundog Club Graded Assessment Scheme levels, gundogs attending the novice and intermediate holidays should ideally have:

• a reliable recall,
• basics off lead heelwork,
• started training a stop whistle,
• understanding of left, right and back direction casts,
• been introduced to blind retrieves,
• a basic delivery, and
• some steadiness.

As a rough guide, the advanced holidays are suitable for retriever breeds only working at Grade 4 to Grade 5 level. For those not familiar with The Gundog Club Graded Assessment Scheme levels, gundogs attending the intermediate holidays should ideally have:

• a solid recall,
• good off lead heelwork,
• a stop whistle at a distance,
• understanding of left, right and back direction casts,
• confident outrun on blinds,
• a reliable delivery to hand, and
• good steadiness.

An important note on shot...

I often use starter pistols, bang boxes and dummy launchers on the holidays, particularly for the intermediate and advanced groups.

As such, dogs attending the higher level holidays should be happy and confident with the sound of shot. While not essential, it is also preferable that dogs attending the novice level holidays have been introduced to shot at least once before attending.

I do ask that everyone gets in touch before booking so that I can do my best to ensure that you end up on the right holiday.

Where can I stay while I am on a gundog training holiday?

As well as Completely Gundogs, I also run a holiday cottage business Mid Wales Holidays.

Handlers are welcome to book our self-cater accommodation which includes Penrhyllan, the one-bed modern barn conversion which sleep up to 4, Y Beudy, the two-bed cottage which sleeps up to 5, or our touring caravan. We also now offer Yscubor a first floor open plan barn conversion that can sleeps 4 in one open space.

I always block out extra nights either side of the gundog holidays to ensure handlers can stay the night before and on the last day if they wish and some on the three day holidays also choose to extend their stay for the whole week.

If all our Mid Wales Holidays accommodation is fully booked, there are plenty of dog-friendly BnBs locally too, which we can recommend based on previous clients' experiences.

Provided you choose suitably sized accommodation, you are welcome to bring family, partners, or friends to stay with you.

We now also have Starlink WiFi, which covers the cottages, barns, and caravans. This is useful for people who want to work remotely while you are training during the day.

Or there are tons of things for them to see and do in the local area - you might also want to check them out too.

Just 10 minutes down the road is Llanidloes (voted one of the most desirable places to live in Wales), a very pretty old Welsh market town, with a friendly community, lots of unique shops and places to eat and drink.

Newtown is 15 minutes away in the opposite direction. Set on the banks of the River Severn, this historic market town is famous for its arts and music with museums, art galleries and theatre. It offers a good selection of pubs, restaurants, supermarkets and shops.

Machynlleth, Rhayader and Builth Wells are all within driving distance too, as are Shrewsbury and Ludlow to the East.

Local attractions include Gregynog Hall and Powys Castle, plus there is access to steam train rides, canal boat trips, golf, clay pigeon shooting, simulated game shooting, driven game shooting (during the season), cycling, and horse riding.

There are numerous lovely walks and woodland areas to explore right on our doorstep. We’re located within easy travelling distance of Hafren Forest, Clywedog Reservoir, Elan Valley, and multiple nature reserves.

If you want to go further afield, Aberystwyth and the stunning Welsh Cambrian coastline and beaches are less than an hour’s scenic drive away with plenty of stunning scenery and a traditional town with unique shops. Many areas of outstanding natural beauty, the incredible Snowdonia National Park and the Brecon Beacons are not far either if you fancy more to explore .

Can I organise my own gundog training holiday in Mid Wales?

If you're an experienced group of gundog training friends or trialers, or you are a professional gundog trainer who wants to bring their own clients, we'd love to host you here too.

Our ground has been selected as a venue for both spaniel and retriever working tests and provides ample opportunities to test dogs of all abilities.

You and your private group will have access to:

• One rough wood with dense cover and cleared tracks for handlers. Great for spaniels.
• One open wood with a wide, clear avenue through.
• Two height-adjustable log jumps into the open wood.
• Two grass fields with mown strips, reedy grass areas for hunting and undulation.
• One round jumping pen.
• One cover crop field.
• One medium size pond in the main field with gentle, sloped entry on one side. Fenced either side to discourage dogs running around.
• One small pond with island.
• Full and half-height stock fencing with barbed wire removed for jumping.
• One enclosed agricultural barn with water and electricity, and seating for 14.
• One open agricultural barn for sheltered training, or undercover parking.
• Toilet and shower block.
• Starlink WiFi access in the holiday cottages, training barn and caravans.

There is also the option to hire our equipment, e.g. dummy launchers, bang box, bolting rabbit, ball dropper etc.

Depending on dates, I can set up drills and scenarios, put blinds out and throw marks so you'll all get to enjoy training.

There is also the potential to use my off-site training grounds which include much more challenging mountain terrain which are used as part of a large commercial shoot during the season.

The on-site self-catering accommodation will take 8-14 people. If you want to bring a larger group, there are plenty of other tried and tested dog-friendly accommodation options nearby too.

What if I can’t come on a group holiday?

Group gundog training holidays are not for everyone. The dates might not work for you, or you might not want to do three full days of training.

For those who want to train here on my grounds, whether you're local, just here for the day, or want to book a stay in one of the Mid Wales Holiday cottages to get your gundog training ‘holiday’ fix, you can also book private 121 training lessons with me.

A one-to-one is also a great option if your dog is not comfortable around other dogs and would therefore struggle on one of our gundog holidays. Or if your dog is working at a puppy Grade 1 or Grade 2 level and isn't quite ready for one of our gundog training holidays.

We can focus the sessions on troubleshooting a specific problem you're having, or I can help you push your gundog training on by setting up some scenarios and exercises using the amazing facilities here.

I don’t typically bring my dogs out while I am instructing, as the training is all about you and your dog, but if you do want to work on honouring and being steady while another dog is working, then I do have some reliable stooge dogs we can work with.

During their stay, most handlers will choose to do a couple of sessions in the morning each day and then use the grounds for private practice in the afternoon.

If you would like more information about booking a group or private gundog training holiday here at Completely Gundogs, please email me (Collette) on info@completelygundogs.co.uk with a rough idea of what you’re looking for and when you’d like to come.

Will my dog cope with a training holiday? 

This is one of the most common concerns, and often the biggest surprise.

Most dogs settle quickly into the structure and benefit from:
• consistency
• clear expectations
• working alongside other dogs

Training is always adapted to the dog in front of us. Confidence, steadiness and welfare come first progress is never forced.

What do handlers notice when they go home? 

Common feedback includes:
• “I finally understand what my dog needs from me”
• “Training feels calmer and clearer”
• “I feel confident continuing on my own”

Dogs often go home more settled, more responsive, and with a clearer understanding of their role.

Perhaps most importantly, handlers leave feeling empowered, not dependent.

Are gundog training holidays worth it? 

If you value:
• long-term progress rather than short-term fixes
• understanding over instruction
• quality time training your dog

Then for many people, a gundog training holiday becomes one of the most valuable training investments they make.

Thinking about joining a gundog training holiday? 

If reading this has made you think a gundog training holiday could benefit you and your dog, you can view the upcoming Completely Gundogs holidays below.

Each holiday is designed with a specific focus and level in mind, and numbers are intentionally kept small to ensure calm, effective training for every dog and handler.

👉 View upcoming gundog training holidays here
https://www.completelygundogs....

If you’re unsure which holiday would suit you best, just get in touch, I’m always happy to help you decide.