Dog Training

Delmar’s Dog Training Group

This is why we do it……………..

The Delmar Waterfowl Club would like to invite anyone interested in training hunting retrievers to join our group. Prospective members will have access to a training pond, equipment, a basic four-run self-service kennel and a supply of penned mallards on private property. Our goal is to create an enthusiastic group that will be focused on our dogs in a stress free environment. Members must take an active role in the work associated with maintaining the grounds, equipment and supply of birds.

Location

The club and training facilities are located at the Northeast corner of Routes One and Eight in Dover Delaware.

Click here for directions to the club

Dues

Delmar is operated as a non-profit and dues are simply used cover expenses.

Delmar Waterfowl members: $130
All others: $330

Annual dues include five flyers per year. The cost of additional live birds is $6.50. Extra birds can be paid for by using our electronic payment site. Click here to purchase additional live birds.

Dues are payable upon joining or on January 1st. We can not carry unused bird over to the next year, since we will not keep birds after November 15th. Membership will be limited to 40 and existing Delmar members have priority.

Guests are permitted and arrangement must be made one day in advance. Guests are limited to five sessions and a waiver of liability must be signed before any guest comes to the farm. The fee for guest is $25.00 per dog.

Training Availability

The club will generally schedule group training days for one full weekend day (Sunday) and one other on a weekday evening (Tuesday or Wednesday). The training facilities will be available for another weekend day (Saturday 10am-3pm) and an additional full weekday. Therefore, the facilities will be available for four days a week between March 1st and November 1st. Members may bring no more than two dogs for each training day. All other days between November 1st and March 1st will be limited to Sundays (8am till dark) only and no live birds will be available. The training grounds will be closed on the following dates:

December 22nd – January 21st
September 1st – September 16th
November 21st – November 30th

An e-mail notification will be sent to all members for training days and a separate internet discussion forum will be available for discussion purposes. Click here to visit the dog training discussion forum.

The training days will be divided in two groups (introduction/puppy and hunt test group) and set up based on the desires of those attending each day. The hunt tests set-ups will generally not be stretched to field trail lengths for group training days. However, the majority of the group training working retrievers will generally prefer more realistic hunt tests which would include: gunfire, duck blinds, boats, decoys and thick cover. There are other organizations which offer field test scenarios.

Equipment

Our intention is to provide most of the required equipment in one location. Members may choose to donate other equipment to the club during the training season for all to use. Just bring your dog and go.

• 450 square foot pen at the farm to hold approximately 50 mallard ducks for training purposes.

• A three-acre technical pond built strictly for dog training.

• Ten acres of mixed cover planted in corn/sorghum/millet and cool season grasses for upland work.

• Grass strips mowed in “Double T” patterns for additional ground work.

• Other equipment such as: starting pistols, bumpers and dummies will be kept in the training shed.

• Use of Delmar’s four-run Kennel during the day.

• Four-dummy, bumper boy set in the pond for solo training.

Members also have access to the “Upland Clubhouse” that has a sitting area, bathroom, freezer for dead birds and a small deck with a separate parking area. There is a force fetch bench and a drying rack for birds.

Work Days

Every training member is required to perform two work days per year. This will consist of maintaining our equipment, working on our training grounds, caring for our live mallards or other projects specifically relating to the dog training group. Members may choose to buy-out of these days at a cost of $100.

Joining

Prospective members must complete the following application and meet with the Club President and at least two other dog training members. Membership is by invitation only and any member can be removed at the sole discretion of the club president for any action deemed detrimental to the training club. Click here for a printable membership application.

The Training Day Announcements will be posted on the website with a time and date.

Cost: None for members of the Waterfowl training group, $25 per dog per session for a guest; additional $6.50 per live flyer (assuming availability)

Objective:

Fun, constructive Hunt Test training without a lot of down time. We will set up multiple marks and blinds. Distances would normally be Hunt Test distances but in some instances and at the field marshal's discretion training set-ups maybe longer. Keep in mind each dog/handler can assess each training module and shorten the marks or limit the factors to fit their training needs. The emphasis will be on efficiency and fairness. It is expected that a minimum of 2 training set-ups per session will be run. Remember training is for teaching, the only winner at a training session are the dogs that learn, not the handler who "wins". Our training sessions are geared toward training dogs and handlers, not competition.

Rules:
All handlers will be limited to 2 dogs.
All handlers will take their turn(s) in the field throwing birds.
All dogs will be current on all vaccinations
Females in-heat are not permitted
Dogs that are people or dog aggressive are not permitted

Required equipment:
All handlers must bring the following, a duck call, dog whistle, white shirt or jacket, camo shirt or jacket, and hopefully a dog. For a complete list of typical training equipment needs, see the corresponding post under waterfowl training group header.
Equipment will be located at the club. Handlers can bring their own equipment but it must be clearly labeled. Handlers please stay till the end to assist in clean-up. All handlers will sign in and remit a waiver of liability form prior to commencement of 1st training session.
Please sign up for the announced training days as early as possible. Guest payments must be made prior to day and no refunds are available. Payments can be made on the DelMar payment gateway.

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