HPR TRAINING - HOW DO YOU BEGIN?
The Large Munsterlander Club also hold Field Trials and Working Tests. Field Trials are aimed at experienced owners with trained gundogs. However, if you are struggling to find knowledgeable owners and training opportunities in your area and you have a young LM that you have started basic training with, you should consider coming to watch, or even enter a Working Test. More information about Working Tests and what is entailed is given under Working Tests 2015 . If entering is too daunting a prospect, all dogs are welcome to come and watch, including unentered dogs. It is a good opportunity for new owners to come and see what gundog work is all about, as well as providing an opportunity to meet experienced owners who could offer advice and recommend local HPR trainers and groups. The club holds one Working Test a year, in July, at Beaconsfield, but there are many other Working Tests held by other HPR clubs over the summer months, a list of which can be found at www.hprftinfo.co.uk.
Ask other owners of HPRs to recommend local trainers. There are several experienced HPR trainers who offer one to one, weekly or monthly training, a few of which can be found under training days on hprftinfo.co.uk.
The Large Munsterlander Club, has a related post within the Committee. One of the ideas behind this post is to direct owners to sources of help and information, in particular other more experienced owners of Large Munsterlanders who could perhaps offer advice, meet up with you or recommend trainers or groups in your area. Please can contact the Events & Training Coordinator or Field Trial Secretary if you need help finding appropriate HPR training. |
Having decided you would like to learn more about training your Large Munsterlander as a gundog where do you start? Regardless of whether you want a reliable shooting companion, to compete in Working Tests, or would simply like to understand and work with your dog’s natural ability, finding suitable help and advice in your local area can be tricky.
The Large Munsterlander Club hold occasional training days with Rory Major, an experienced HPR trainer and successful competitor, in Lincolnshire. One of these days might be a good place to start if you are interested in gundog work, or even if you are having general training problems, with, for example, your recall. 
The Large Munsterlander Club hold two Natural Aptitude Tests per year. The Natural Aptitude Test is a perfect starting point for any owner wishing to learn more about the natural inbuilt capability of their Large Munsterlander. There are also experienced owners on hand, to offer help and advice.
Another possibilty is The Gundog Club, a relatively new organisation that offers 8-week courses. The Gundog Club's graded training scheme has 6 levels of award, Grade 1 (beginner) to Grade 6 (master). Currently they only have 2 grades for HPRs, Grade 1 and Grade 2 (junior). Many experienced HPR trainers and field trial competitors are now running training courses for the gundog club, however many courses do not accept HPRs and some of those that do could be more geared towards the more traditional Spaniels and Retrievers. Although the courses are very basic, the gundog club has been a good springboard for many novice HPR owners. 
|