23/09/2026
Getting Ready
It’s important that Shirley gets the opportunity to go out and simply be a dog.
With the amount of energy, drive and desire to hunt that he possesses, he needs time where he can gallop, explore and enjoy himself. But that freedom comes with boundaries.
For Shirley, that freedom happens in a securely fenced, relatively distraction-free paddock that is free from wildlife. This gives him the opportunity to stretch his legs, burn off some of that boundless energy and maintain his fitness, without putting him in a situation where his natural instincts are constantly competing with the training.
But whilst Shirley is enjoying his freedom, I also remind him that I’m still there.
These sessions give me an opportunity to quietly rehearse some of the behaviours that we are going to need from him when it really matters.
A recall.
A stop whistle.
A sit and stay.
Focus on me.
Presentation.
The finish position.
None of these exercises need to turn a free-running session into a formal training session. In fact, quite the opposite.
The aim is to make the training part of the fun.
I might allow Shirley to gallop around and explore, then use a whistle to bring him back. When he responds correctly, he gets rewarded with food. I want him to understand that responding to me is worthwhile and that coming back doesn’t mean the end of his freedom.
Then I let him go again.
That is important.
Recall should not always mean the fun stops.
By allowing him to return, receive his reward and then go back to being a dog, I can build a really positive association with coming back to me.
The same principle applies to the other behaviours.
During these free-running sessions we can quietly tick off a huge number of the basic behaviours we need from our dogs. With good timing, clear instruction and appropriate rewards, a simple walk or free-running session can become an incredibly enjoyable and productive training opportunity.
And importantly, it remains enjoyable for both of us.
For a dog like Shirley, this balance is particularly important.
He needs an outlet for his energy and his natural instincts, but he also needs to understand that even when he is free, there is still a relationship between us. I want him to learn that listening to me doesn’t restrict his freedom — it actually helps him enjoy it.
The ingredients are simple
You don’t need complicated equipment or an elaborate training ground.
First and foremost, you need a securely fenced, relatively small area where you can safely allow your dog some freedom without the distractions of wildlife or other uncontrolled situations.
Then just three basic ingredients:
A dog.
A whistle.
Some food rewards.
And, perhaps most importantly, good timing.
Reward the behaviour you want, when you want it.
Give the dog the opportunity to repeat it.
Then let him get back to enjoying himself.
For Shirley, these seemingly simple sessions are another small piece of the preparation for the HPR Championships.
Getting him physically fit is important.
Getting his mind right is important.
But making sure he understands that working with me is something he genuinely wants to do — even when he has the freedom to choose otherwise — is perhaps even more important.
Freedom, fun and training don’t have to be separate things. Done correctly, they can all become part of the same lesson.
