Positive Training, Positive Results
About Gundog Training in Kent
We provide ethical gundog training for both pets and working dogs.
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Our focus is on training you as the handler/owner and empowering you to develop your dog and build a strong partnership based on trust, fun and the strongest bond.
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We do not use labels on our training methods as our approach is entirely flexible to you and your dog, but our training philosophy is around keeping training fun and achieving success through positive experiences.
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We do teach and encourage owners to set boundaries with their dogs, but through the lens of actions vs consequences. We do not tolerate any form of harsh handling.
Gundog Training in Folkestone
Folkestone sits between the chalk downland of the Kent Downs AONB and the wide, flat expanse of Romney Marsh — two completely different landscapes for gundogs, and both within easy reach. It's a brilliant location for handlers who want to train in genuinely varied terrain, from the exposed hilltop country above the town to the ditched, waterlogged fields of the Marsh where wildfowling and picking-up have a long tradition.
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The Gundog Coach works with handlers in and around Folkestone, offering 1-to-1 gundog training sessions that are tailored to your dog's breed, age, experience, and the goals you want to achieve. Whether that's a well-mannered companion on cliff-top walks or a steady, biddable working dog for the shooting season, we'll build a training plan that fits.
The Landscape Around Folkestone
The downland above Folkestone — the same chalk ridge that runs all the way to the White Cliffs of Dover — is classic gundog country. Open fields, hedgerows, copses, and farmland that sees pheasant and partridge through the shooting season. Below the Escarpment, the country flattens out toward Hythe and the Marsh, where water and wildfowl feature heavily.
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This variety is genuinely useful for training. A dog that can work focused and steady on an open hillside and also handle the scent-heavy, distraction-rich environment of the marshland edges is a well-rounded gundog. We train in the kinds of environments your dog will actually face — not just in an empty field.
Training for Pet and Working Gundogs
Not everyone training a gundog in Folkestone is heading to a formal shoot. Many of our clients simply want a dog that is a genuine pleasure to walk in the countryside — that comes back reliably, that doesn't disappear over the horizon after a pheasant, and that has a job to do on a walk rather than creating its own entertainment.
Gundog training is one of the most effective ways to achieve that with a spaniel, Labrador, or any retrieving breed.​
For those who do work their dogs — picking up, beating, or rough shooting — we can prepare your dog for the specific demands of the shooting field. Steadiness to flush and shot, hunting patterns in cover, and cold game retrieves are all part of what we cover.
Sessions Available
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1-to-1 gundog training sessions (1 hour) — £40
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Online consultation and video review — £35
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Puppy foundation training from 8 weeks
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Spaniel and retriever specialist sessions
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Steadiness and gundog control
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Pre-season preparation for working dogs
Covering Folkestone and Surrounding Areas
As well as Folkestone itself, we work with handlers from Hythe, Sandgate, Hawkinge, Lyminge, Elham, Saltwood, and the villages of the Elham Valley. Get in touch to discuss where you're based and we'll find a session location that works for you.