Things to know BEFORE a training day:

1. Setting goals. Understand what you want for the end picture and how to get there. We are here as volunteers to help, but you must be clear on what your true end goals are so we can help you get there.  

2. Do your homework. You may or may not need birds for the skill you are training. Learn the basic obedience of (i) Recall; (ii) Quartering in the field; (iii) Being calm around other people and dogs. 

3. Aggressive dogs are not allowed!  An aggressive dog is defined as, but is not limited to, a dog that has, without provocation, bitten, attempted to bite, attacked, or attempted to attack a person or another dog.  Aggressiveness is not manifested by a dog that growls, pulls away or gets fearful and snippy due to not wanting to have teeth or coat checked.  This dog is reactive, not aggressive. Cases of aggression at any NAVHDA International or Chapter event, including but not limited to tests, local training days, Aims & Rules clinics, or social events, should be reported to the Director of Testing and the Director of Judge Development within 72 hours. Letters describing the aggressive incident should be submitted by the individual(s) who witnessed the event.  The owner or handler should also submit a statement describing the incident. Pictures/videos may be submitted along with these statements. 

4. Respect the property. No trash, dead birds or driving in the mud or outside of wheel lines. Thank landowners if you encounter them.  Game birds are required by state law to have flagging on them. We sweep the fields with a steady dog in spring before putting pups in the field to prevent nest destruction of wild birds. Please don’t run pups in the field until this is done. 

What to expect at a training day:

• Volunteer mentors will typically only be available to help on one set of bird(s) in the field. Typically, we do 3 birds per run in the field.  

• If birds are available and you are getting comfortable with equipment, you are welcome to run again once everyone else has had a chance to run.  

• Plan to help out wherever you can.  

• An envelope should be available for you to self-monitor your day’s expenses (training day fees, birds, etc.). Please be sure to turn in your envelope with payment.  

• If you ordered birds – take them and pay for them if they are available. Especially ducks! Our volunteers work hard to get these days organized and the last thing we want is to deal with left over birds at the end of a long day. Conversely, don’t take more than you ordered unless you confirm with the Training Day Coordinator near the end of the day.  

• Don’t get birds out of crates alone. It is usually a two-person job. If bird(s) escape when you are handling it is your bird. Someone paid for it and it’s unfair to them to short them at end of the day.  

• Natural Ability dogs don’t need to see many chukars in the field. We believe in using pigeons in launchers so that we can control their behavior and avoid mistakes.  

• Always be aware that a new pup that has not been gunfire conditioned may be in the staging area. Staging area is a SAFE AREA. Ask if there are pups around before shooting near the staging area.   

• Always have your dog under control. Nothing will ingratiate you less to the mentors than having your dog jump on their truck and scratch it because the dog smells birds in the back of their truck and nothing will make you less popular than your dog running out of control through the field blowing up someone else’s only birds for the day.