Kemble's Field
Private Shoot Experience for Gundogs
Private Shoot Experience for Gundogs
The best way to cement your hunting, pointing and retriever training before going on an actual shoot day is to practice everything you’ve learned on live and freshly shot game.
These private live game sessions will allow you to experience walk-up and rough shooting and/or work on your beating and picking up skills (please specify your goals when booking) with your gundog. Those with HPRs can work towards experiencing the full hunt, point, and retrieve chain.
The Gun will be there solely for your and your dog's benefit, allowing you to test your dog’s ability and control in a more relaxed environment than on a formal shoot.
This is a valuable opportunity to work independently from a group shoot experience day or a formal shoot setting to help your dog:
- Learn how to find and follow game scent in different types of cover
- Practice hunting in front of, or walking up behind, a Gun
- Complete the full hunt, point, retrieve chain (for pointing breeds only)
- Develop steadiness to shot and patience over long periods
- Work without a guaranteed retrieve
- Retrieve warm and freshly shot game
- Watch, locate and collect runners
- Navigate water retrieves
As the handler, you will also learn about:
- Rough shooting and walked-up shooting
- The etiquette, roles and responsibilities of game shooting in the UK
- Humanely dispatching injured game
- How birds fall and how to improve your marking skills
Please note: these days are for intermediate and advanced dogs only. While our team will be on hand to answer questions, troubleshoot any issues you're having and offer support, you will need to be confident in handling your dog independently and your dog should already have the basic cues in place (such as recall, heelwork, stop, hunting and retrieving) even if they are not yet "perfect" or proofed around game or highly distracting environments.
Scenarios will be realistic and unscripted, just as they would be on a real shoot and we cannot guarantee anything.
Our Private Shoot Experience for Gundogs, led by Helen, are suitable for:
- Those who think their gundog is ready to work on a shoot (beating, picking up, or rough shooting) but would like some experience in a similar environment before entering a formal setting.
- Handlers who would like to fine-tune their dog's behaviours in a shoot environment.
- All breeds of gundog, including retrievers, spaniels and HPRs, plus any crossbreeds or non-gundog breeds that will be worked on a shoot.
- Dogs which have already been introduced to shot.
- Handlers looking to take their Kennel Club Working Gundog Certificate on Game.
Our Private Shoot Experience for Gundogs are held on the Kemble's Field shoot in Charlton, near Evesham, Worcestershire.
All sessions are 2 hours long. If you have a young dog and would like to increase the likelihood of exposing them to game, we recommend you book earlier in the season (e.g. October and November) and earlier in the mornings, as birds are easier to find. Please use the online booking system below to book your slot. Game will include pheasant and may include partridge and duck. You will be given the option to keep any game shot and assistance will be given on request as to how to prepare game for the table.
All dogs must have been exposed to shot before attending.
Not sure if the group shoot experience days will be right for you and your dog? Please email hello@kemblesfield.co.uk
FAQs
What shall I bring for my dog?
For your dog you will need a limited slip lead, whistle, and a drying coat / towel for rest time.
You may also wish to bring with you a large quantity of high-value treats (something that your dog would not normally have as a meal, e.g cheese, sausage, cooked heart, liver, dried fish, garlic sausage, or chicken) or your dog's favourite reward.
What will I need for me?
Please remember to come dressed in appropriate shoot attire. Wear dark / green coloured clothes, waterproofs, and sturdy waterproof boots.
For the shoot experience days you will also need to bring a beating stick (optional), game carrier, priest, spare trousers for the end of the day, a vest or bag depending on your job.
Refreshments will be provided throughout the day, but you will need to bring your own lunch if it’s an all day event. You will be able to use our kitchen facilities including a microwave, toaster and fridge.
If you are booked onto a group shoot day experience you will be provided with breakfast, game-based finger food and drinks at elevenses, and a light game-based lunch at 4pm. Please let us know if you have any allergies, dietary requirements or preferences by emailing helen@kemblesfield.co.uk
I can no longer attend, what shall I do?
Please email hello@kemblesfield.co.uk as soon as you are aware you will be unable to make it. If you are cancelling on the day, please contact your instructor Helen (as well as emailing) on 07947 043330.
Please familiarise yourself with our cancellation policies before booking they can be found here: Terms of service
How do I get there?
Directions to Kemble's Field, Charlton, Worcestershire, WR10 3LQ.
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The postcode does not take you right to the door so please read the directions before setting off.
Follow Ryden Lane from the village of Charlton, drive past Whitehouse Farm on the left, through the national speed limit sign on the right-hand side, and then take the first track on the left. You will see a sign for Clicker Gundog. Drive down this track to the end and the entrance to the field is on the right-hand side. If you missed the track and reached the purple house you have gone too far, turn round and retrace your steps until you reach a track on the right-hand side, turn right here.
If you arrive early, the gate might still be locked. Please wait in the lane for your instructor to arrive.
Otherwise, please drive through the gates (and if they are closed, please close them again behind you) and park in the car park outside the building on the right.
Toilet facilities are in the building and will be open on arrival.
What do I do when I arrive?
After you have parked your vehicle, please come into the barn initially without your dog.
If it is a warm day, please cover your car first and open any doors / windows to ensure your dog is both secure but has ventilation. Dogs will not be expected to stay / wait in cars if it is hot and dangerous for them to do so.
If you have had a long journey, you are welcome to toilet your dog before coming into the barn. Please keep them on a lead as other training sessions might be in progress and keep to the edges of the field.
You MUST pick up all of your dog’s poo please, which must be bagged and put into the bins provided. Please supply your own poo bags and do not put any unbagged poo directly in the bin.
About Helen Phillips
Your host Helen Phillips is the owner of Kemble's Field and Clicker Gundog, author of the popular ‘Clicker Gundog’ Training Book, co-founder of the Gundog Trainers Academy Ltd, a qualified teacher and Animal Training Instructor with the ABTC, and owner of Cotswold Dawn Hungarian Vizslas.
Helen has been shooting and working dogs in the field for over thirty years and has been breeding Hungarian Vizslas since 1998. Having owned a variety of breeds from crosses, to Spaniels and HPRs, Helen has an extensive understanding of living with and working with hunting dogs.
Currently, Helen owns Vizslas, Jack and Dibble, and English Springer Spaniels, Teal and Wren. All the dogs work in a variety of roles on the shoot from beating, picking up to partner on the peg.
Together with her husband Chris, Helen manages the small shoot at Kemble's Field. Previously, Helen was involved in the organisation and running of a small syndicate shoot in Worcestershire, she has also been responsible for running varied types of beating lines and has worked her own dogs on different types of shoots from large commercial shoots to rough shooting days.
Helen has also achieved the Kennel Club Working Gundog Certificate on Dummies and on Game with both Vizlas and Springer Spaniels. Helen has competed in working tests and participates in grouse counting.