Guide Services
Wing Shooting and Game Hunting with Todd Lutman
Wing Shooting and Game Hunting with Todd Lutman
Gundog Training – Bird Dog – Point Fetch Retrieve. A unique operation due to the fact that we offer actual experience in the field where gun dogs have full opportunity to point wild birds all day long. The ideal get-away destination for owners of Gun Dogs and the perfect space and facility to work your dog.
Bloodspoor Trailing and Mantrailing – Tracking dogs can be classified broadly as either trailing or air-scenting dogs and tracking dogs. In the wilderness tracking and trailing dogs can be deployed from the animal or human last known point.
My training program helps bring the dog’s inherent prey drive to top level. I then begin to mould that natural instinct into the desired behaviour of a confident, well mannered dog. Through the development of conditional responses and learned behaviour, I am able to produce dogs that are proficient in healing off lead, handling on command and confidently steady on birds.
I work in partnership with the dogs as we train, giving them leadership and relying on their natural abilities.
Before they can be ready for any formal training as a bird dog, young dogs need to be given the opportunity to develop their inherent prey drive through exposure to birds.
My Puppy Development program ensures a young dog is excited about birds and is prepared to begin formal training. During this program I introduce dogs to birds and build their enthusiasm for finding birds. Once a young dog is excited about birds then we can properly introduce the remaining 2 month program.
The Foundation Level is taught during the first month of the Basic Formal Training Class. During this month, dogs get to work birds almost ever day, retrieve birds, and get used to being in the field. By using the physical commands of check cords, whoa posts and command leads I’m able to teach fundamental behaviours to the dogs.
Through repetition I’m able to develop conditioned responses. A dog has reached the level of conditioned responses when he will do a certain thing every time when commanded, no matter what his distraction level is. This is the core of my training program where everything builds upon the dog’s conditioned responses to these basic skills.
The Intermediate program (month 2) transforms a dog from mechanical commands to low level remote commands in the field and ultimately verbal commands are overlaid to the conditioned response. At this level dogs are becoming steady on game, learning to honour another dog’s point and quartering on command.
The intermediate level of training occurs during the second month of the program. During the third month of the Basic Puppy Training program they enter the Advanced Level. At this time your Puppy has been through 2 very important stages before moving onto the Advanced Program where they learn to work scent in adverse conditions, how to look for and recognize backing situations, mark and hunt dead birds, retrieve, and take direction and go with you in the field.
We offer a custom training facility with the goal of creating a bird dog that fits the owner’s needs and preferences. All pointing and flushing breeds are welcome to attend any of our programs. We do not specialize in any particular breed. To me it is not the breed that is important, it is the individual dog and his genetic ability to be a bird dog.
Todd Lutman
todd@guideservices.co.za
Mobile: +27 82 419 7486
* We will keep your information private and only use it to provide you with requested information and/or quotations