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Since 2022, MSDA has been offering very popular Flushing Dog Training Days. Starting in 2024, this has expanded to include different groups to address the wide range of upland skills needed based on the experience of our handlers and dogs. This page currently provides information for two of these, the “Skill Building” and “Advanced Work” groups. Information about the third component, Field Obedience classes for Newbies and Novices, will be available soon.
The Skill Building group will assist handlers and their dogs to develop and refine the skills needed to run spaniel hunt tests at Junior and beginning Senior levels and/or to develop a well-trained flushing/hunting dog. Each training day, the leaders will hold sessions that teach handlers and their dogs’ skills in one or more of these areas – quartering/hunting, flushing, retrieving (land & water), and hunt dead work. The group is limited to 6-8 dogs per training day, depending on the topic offered. Janet Ciarico and Trish Jackson will be leading this group, including some group activities and working one-on-one with dogs and handlers.
The Advanced Work group will be strictly practice for master-level experienced handlers. This will be a somewhat larger group of handlers who will offer peer-to-peer advice, but there will be no instruction, and will need to operate quickly and efficiently. Participants will submit specific training requests in advance, which the group leaders and gunners will try to accommodate. Steve Surprenant and Brian Schmidt will be leading this group.
If you are interested in receiving specific information about the Flushing Dog Program, including timely email notification when dates are selected and when registrations will open and close for each group, 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 for Flushing Dogs”.
All attendees are 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 an activity. In addition, for sessions at Mt. Ararat Farms, all attendees will also have to sign the liability release for Mt. Ararat Farms for 2024.
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 immediately and may be excluded from future MSDA activities. Such decisions are made exclusively by the event chair, or other event committee member in the chair’s absence.
Please direct questions to the Event Chair, Steve Surprenant, via Surprenant@mdsportingdog.org.