In 2023, MSDA continues to hold the very popular Training Days for Flushing Dogs. The objective is to prepare dogs to enter and successfully pass an AKC Spaniel Hunt Test, or for you to just enjoy time in the field with your dog. These training days offer fun, constructive upland/flushing training with live birds without a lot of down time, along with an opportunity to continue old friendships, make new friends, and get more involved with MSDA’s activities.
Photographer Matt Toth was at the March and July Training Days. All of his photos, just a few of which are shown below, are available at www.mtfieldsports.smugmug.com , or follow links for specific MSDA training dates below. (Click on any photo below to enlarge it and move through the slide show.)
From March 24, 2023:
From July 8, 2023:
Training dates so far in 2023:
- At Royal United’s Fort McCord fields in Chambersburg, PA:
- Saturday, February 25 (Small Group/Master Level only)
- Friday, March 24
- At Rebel Ridge Farms in Elkton MD: MSDA’s annual Field Day on Saturday, April 15 .
- At Mt. Ararat Farms in Port Deposit, MD:
- Saturday, June 10
- Saturday, July 8
- Saturday, September 9
We are also planning additional training days for fall and potentially early winter.
Most sessions fill up, so registration is open only for a limited amount of time. When available, the registration link is posted on this page. Specific registration dates and more detailed information about the next session also are sent via email to those interested. See the link below for how to sign up for these special emails.
The fee for each Training Day is $25 per dog for MSDA members, and $30 per dog for non-members. Birds, usually chukar, are extra. Bird prices may vary during the training season, and the number of birds per dog is usually limited. Also, if your dog hasn’t run on live birds before, please don’t order live birds; there will be birds available at the discretion of the instructors for newbie work.
All attendees will be required to sign an MSDA liability release. Most of you have already signed this on your membership form or when attending another MSDA activity. If we have your form on file, you do not need to sign again. Otherwise, please read it and be sure that you are willing to sign before you register for the Training Day. In addition, for training sessions at Mt. Ararat Farms, all attendees will also have to sign the liability release for Mt. Ararat Farms for 2023.
Owners and handlers are reminded that they are responsible for their own dog’s actions and that good sportsmanship is expected at all times. If dogs (or humans!) exhibit inappropriate behavior or aggression, you will be directed to leave the Training Day immediately and may be excluded from future MSDA training sessions. Such decisions are made exclusively by the event chair, or other event committee member in the chair’s absence.
Click here for information, including some great photos, from the 2022 Training Days.
If you are interested in receiving specific information about the Training Days for Flushing Dogs, including when dates are selected and when registrations will open and close for each training day, sign up for our mailing list, which is managed by MailChimp (or edit your preferences if you’re already on the list). On the form, be sure to click “Yes” for “Interested in Training Days for Flushing Dogs”.
Please direct questions to the Event Chair, Steve Surprenant, via Surprenant@mdsportingdog.org.