Gundog Assessment Programme

A CLEAR ROUTE THROUGH YOUR GUNDOG TRAINING

Since forming the Gundog Trainers Academy nearly a decade ago, and through working with thousands of gundog owners, handlers and trainers, we really appreciate how helpful and rewarding it is to have clear targets to aim for, with measurable criteria.

The Gundog Assessment Programme (GAP) gives handlers a structured way to train and progress with their pet or working gundog.

Across six levels, you will develop useful gundog skills, strengthen them around distractions and work towards greater competency through practical challenges.

GAP uses ethical, evidence-led and non-coercive training methods. It gives you clear goals without asking you to rush your dog or progress before they are ready.

Six levels split over three stages to help you reach your goal.

  • Foundation: build the skills

    The Foundation levels introduce the skills that you and your dog will need. You can take time to create understanding, develop clear communication and build reliable foundations.

  • Enhanced: strengthen the training

    The Enhanced levels add proofing. You and your dog will practise your skills as distance, distractions, excitement and other demands increase.

  • Graduate: demonstrate competency

    The Graduate levels bring your learning together through practical training challenges. At Level 6, handlers working towards the full programme can demonstrate that their dog is ready to work on a shoot.

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GAP assessments provide clear checkpoints throughout the programme. They can help confirm when your dog is ready to move forward or identify a skill that would benefit from more practice. There is no need to rush and progress should always be guided by the dog in front of you.

How far you take GAP is up to you. Your goal may be a well-trained pet gundog who can enjoy more freedom outdoors. You may want an enjoyable activity that provides suitable outlets for hunting, searching, carrying and retrieving. You might want to prepare a dog to work throughout the shooting season or build reliable skills for Gundog Working Tests.

You do not have to complete all six levels for your training to have value and you can take GAP as far as suits the life you share with your dog. We have purposefully made sure that GAP is suitable for pet and working gundogs. There are options to take assessments without shot and you absolutely do not need to work your dog on a shoot to take part.

Launching September 2026

We are thrilled to say after over a year's hard work writing and refining all six levels, the GAP assessor handbooks are finally heading to the printers. The guides for Levels 1 and 2 have also been signed off, complete with handy waterproof crib cards printed and secured on a handy clip ring for use in the field.

We will introduce GAP to our Accredited Gundog Instructors on 11 September 2026. They will have exclusive access at first, before we invite applications from other professional dog trainers who would like to add ethical gundog training to their classes and services.

Availability for assessments and classes will grow as our instructors begin offering training and assessments in their areas. Please use our directory to find your nearest instructor and ask when they plan to offer GAP.

Our instructors are ABTC Animal Training Instructors who have successfully completed the GTA Teacher’s Course, Level 4 assignments and a practical assessment. They must follow our Code of Practice and use ethical, evidence-led training methods that protect dog welfare. You can feel confident that you and your dog will receive knowledgeable, supportive training as you work towards your GAP goals.

FIND A GTA ACCREDITED INSTRUCTOR

Are you a professional dog trainer looking to offer the GAP scheme?

As a family or pet dog trainer, you may already be supporting gundog breeds and their owners in your classes and 121s.

GAP could give those clients some breed-specific training to continue after puppy classes, adolescent courses, recall workshops or general family dog training. It will offer a progressive route for owners who want to understand their gundog's natural instincts and keep developing useful skills to ensure they have a safe outlet for their dog's hunting and retrieving desires.

We will introduce GAP to our Accredited Gundog Instructors on 11 September 2026. They will have exclusive access at first, before we invite applications from other professional dog trainers who would like to add ethical gundog training to their classes and services.

We cannot share every detail yet, but we can confirm that completing the GTA Handler’s Course will be one of the requirements for trainers wishing to apply to offer GAP. Other eligibility criteria will also apply and completing the course will not guarantee approval, but it will give you the practical gundog training knowledge required before an application can be considered.

If you are a family or pet dog trainer and think this type of assessment programme would benefit your clients, now is a good time to consider the 2027 Handler’s Course if you would like to be among the first trainers outside our accredited instructor group who may be eligible to apply.

VIEW THE 2027 HANDLER’S COURSE