Winter survival guide: dog training edition

Our blog this month comes from guest writer, Sarah Drake, Head Trainer at Hollindale Working Dogs. Sarah is based in Yorkshire where she runs gundog training courses and workshops, 1:1 sessions and is also available for behavioural cases.

As the dark nights are drawing in and the weather begins to turn, finding time and motivation to train our dogs can be challenging. Use this guide to maintain your sanity in the coming months.

Quality over quantity

Less daylight means less time for training. Reduce the duration of each session and focus on quality over quantity. Fitting in 10 minutes each day is much more achievable than an hour.

Make a plan

Having a plan at the outset of each training session helps focus us on the task at hand. Do this before you leave the house. Trying to decide what exercises to do whilst stood in the driving rain with a dog that already resembles a swamp monster is not the most efficient way of organising yourself.

Track progress

To improve the quality of our training sessions, we must track what we’ve done and how it went. After each session, make short notes on paper or in your phone. You could even plan tomorrow’s session whilst you’re at it!

Use adverse conditions to your advantage

Wind and rain are inevitabilities in the UK. You can use the weather as distractions to test your dog’s ability. In particularly adverse conditions, make sure the exercise you do with your dog is achievable and safe. 

Dark mornings and nights can be used to add extra challenges too. Scent work and retrieving in the dark really tests a dog’s ability to use its nose rather than its eyes.

Get the right gear

Having the right equipment makes winter conditions so much more bearable. Feeling cold and wet is a sure way to put you in a bad mood which is not a good headspace to be training in.

For you:

• A dummy vest or jacket leaves your hands free and is great for carrying around wet or muddy kit.

• Layers are key to coping with the unpredictable weather. As the famous saying goes, there’s no such thing as bad weather – just bad clothes!

• A head torch keeps your hands free, and wearing something bright or reflective means you'll be seen.

For the dog:

• Wet weather is hard on equipment. Canvas dummies can pick up a lot of mud and become smelly, so keep them clean & dry. If you're not sure what to use, take a look at the blog 'Keeping training dummies in tip top condition'. On particularly muddy days, you can switch to PVC or plastic water dummies which can be easily cleaned.

• A good rub down or putting on a drying coat at the end of a session means a little less wet dog smell in the car or house (although I can't promise miracles!). A Ruff and Tumble drying coat is a godsend at this time of year.

• A brightly coloured lead is much easier to find if it’s dropped.

For the home:

• Consider a waterproof or anti-bacterial bed for the winter months – these are great for the kitchen or boot room. They are hard wearing and designed with active dogs in mind.

Train at home / in the garden

Sometimes it’s just more practical to stay at home in certain conditions. The good news is that loads of great training can still be achieved there and it’s a great opportunity to work on those foundations.

Some ideas for indoors:

• Positions - sit, stand, lie down, heel, front, middle etc.

• Hold an item

• Tricks - paw, chin rest, spin, twist etc.

• Retrieve delivery

Some ideas for the garden:

• Scent work

• Heelwork

• Sit stay

• Mini retrieves

• Recall

Rest is important too

They do say that “rest isn’t a reward for work; rest is a part of the work” and that is so true in dog training. Don’t hold yourself to unrealistic standards that aren’t achievable. Your dog won’t spontaneously combust if you don’t train every day! Being in the right headspace is important for both of you, so take the rest when it’s needed.

Find out more about Hollindale Working Dogs and the services they offer on their website hollindaleworkingdogs.co.uk