Why Spring Is the Best Time to Train Your Gundog (Even If You Don’t Feel Ready)
Collette May 
Spring is one of the best times of year to make real progress with your dog.
If you’ve been thinking about doing more with your gundog, but keep telling yourself “we’re not quite ready yet”, you’re not alone.
In fact, it’s one of the most common reasons people delay booking training.
But here’s the reality:
Spring is one of the best times of year to make real progress with your dog.
The “not ready” trap
Many handlers wait until:
• their dog is more consistent
• recalls are perfect
• steadiness is better
Before they commit to more structured training.
But that’s a bit like saying:
“I’ll go to the gym once I’m fitter.”
Training is what creates that readiness.
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Why spring is such a powerful time to train
1. Momentum after winter
Dogs are coming out of winter with energy, drive and enthusiasm.
If that’s not channelled properly, it often turns into:
• over-excitement
• inconsistency
• frustration (for both dog and handler)
Spring is the perfect time to shape that energy into something productive.
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2. Time to prepare for the season ahead
What you do now directly impacts:
• summer training
• working test readiness
• the next shooting season
Small improvements now compound massively over the next few months.
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3. Training in real conditions
Longer days, better ground, and varied environments allow for:
• more realistic scenarios
• better learning
• calmer, more focused dogs
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Why a few days makes such a difference
One of the biggest breakthroughs for many handlers comes from simply having:
• time to focus
• space to think
• guidance while it’s happening
Instead of trying to piece things together week by week, everything becomes clearer much more quickly.
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You don’t need to be “ready”
This is the important bit.
You don’t need:
• a perfect dog
• perfect handling
• everything already in place
You just need to be open to learning and willing to show up.
That’s where progress starts.
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Thinking about training this spring?
If this has been on your mind for a while, now is a really good time to act on it.
There are still a few spaces available on upcoming April and May gundog training holidays.
👉 https://www.completelygundogs....
If you’re unsure which would suit you and your dog best, just get in touch — I’m always happy to help.