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Training Grounds - how to find them locally

Updated: Aug 26, 2020


So unfortunately we lost one of our favorite training grounds yesterday, a nearby Regional Park. Staff came out and informed us that we are no longer allowed to work out there. It's not our decision, and we can live with it, but it sparked a new search for training grounds in our area since Pepper has a hunt test coming up this weekend.

Finding training ground for amateurs is difficult. Unless you own grounds or have access to some, hunt test training can seem out of reach. I'm here to tell you that it can be done if you know where to look.

  1. Use your home to the fullest. A lot of the work we do is with puppies and young dogs. You would be surprised what you can do with hallway (I'm thinking dixie cup drills), a patio (hello, place/force fetch), or a small backyard (baseball, force to pile). We have even set up training areas in the garage/driveway for late night sessions.

  2. Check into public parks. Local recreation facilities can be a great place to work, as long as you follow regulations and ask permission first. Oftentimes you can train early in the morning in soccer fields, little league fields, or even playgrounds if no one is around. We have several local parks with ponds surrounded by walking paths. It's one of the easiest places to access water since there is no vegetation, and most people out walking seem to enjoy the show!

  3. Public hunting areas/WMAs. Most trainers also are hunters and have their hunting licenses already. Sometimes there are local WMAs or hunting grounds that can be accessed and used for training. These are ideal places to train with live birds/shotguns/wingers that you may not be able to use at other public places.

  4. Churches, schools, hotels, apartment complexes, municipal buildings. Lots of government and private business buildings are surrounded by large fields and sometimes ponds. It's easy to find a phone number to call and ask permission to train during times they are closed.

  5. Social Media. It never hurts to ask for suggestions on social media. Sometimes you may have a friend or friend of a friend who has a field and is interested in learning about dog training, or would accept some kind of barter to work on their land (a six pack never hurts!).

  6. Hunting Clubs. Ask around for local hunting clubs that may be accepting new members. If you are interested in hunting/fishing locally as well as training, it might be a good investment to join a club if they have good grounds.

  7. Local dog training pros/kennels. Lots of pros and kennels will let you come out and train with them, though often for a fee. This can be a great option once in a while when you are preparing for a test where you need to honor other dogs, and to simulate that test experience. Also, you have the benefit of bird boys and fliers (sometimes).

  8. Cold call/door knock. It never hurts to ask. Get on google maps and search for good looking fields and ponds. You can get on the tax assessor's website for most counties and get owner's names and phone numbers so that you can drop them a line. Be polite, and be aware that a lot of people will not be interested in people randomly calling to use their fields. Some people however are very receptive and interesting in what you are doing.

While some of these techniques might seem uncomfortable at the time, they can really pay off. If you have just a dog or two, you may only need a few areas to work. Get creative with your setups, vary the types of work you do, mix in some socialization (Lowe's, Petsmart, etc.), and you can get a lot done without owning premier property or sending your dog to a pro. Leave me comment if you know of some other ways to access grounds, or if you try out some of the tips above I'd love to know the results. Happy training!

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