Which dummy do I need to start with gundog training?

I regularly hear this question via email, during lessons at dog school or through social media, and I think it is a good question! That’s why I’m devoting a blog to it this week. Which dummy do you need for gundog training?

First of all, it is important to look at what kind of dog you have and what the age of your dog is. Do you have a puppy or an adult dog? And what breed and/or size is your dog? You can probably imagine that it is not very smart to immediately start with a very heavy dummy with a very young dog, but what do you start with?

Dummy for a Pup

For a puppy, it is best to start with a soft puppy dummy to get used to retrieving. These dummies have no strings attached to them that could cause distraction. They are also shaped in such a way that it is easy for the puppy to pick up the dummy. This way they learn to retrieve in a very nice and positive way, and it always remains fun for them. And that is of course best for everyone!

Dummy for an Adult dog

Most adult dogs can start well with a standard 500g dummy. Only the smaller hunting dog breeds, or dogs that have difficulty with this weight, are best off starting with a lighter one. In that case, take the 250g version for example. It is half the weight, and also a bit narrower. Making it easier to carry for dogs with a smaller mouth.

This does not mean that you can never use a different type of dummy during your gundog training! I alternate a lot, and sometimes work with lighter ones, and sometimes with heavier ones. I also like to use very small dummies during my training, especially for small searches.
It is precisely this variety that makes the training versatile and fun for handler and dog.

It can also be fun to vary between dummies to prepare your dog for ‘the real thing’, for example if you start working with your dog in the field or compete in competitions. The retrieves are often a lot heavier (Canadian goose!) and different in shape than a canvas dummy, so it is worthwhile to invest in some dummies of different weights and shapes in the long term. I really enjoy training with dummies from Dog Field, they have a special collection of dummies that are inspired by different bird species.

Where to buy?

I like to buy my dummies online, for example via Hunter Co. They also have a brick and mortar shop in Vaassen. You can also go there for advice, if you need a little more help!