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Our intensive 'experiential' guide training programmes are 1 week in length and are available in both Autumn and Spring. Autumn is the season when we are out with the dogs from dawn till dusk building up their strength and reflexes and then developing their speed and conditioning. In other words, it is the time of year when the guides (and visitors) have the most hands-on time with the dogs.
- Available in Autumn and Spring
- Be put in charge of your own group of dogs alongside a personal mentor
- Quad-bike and sleigh conditioning, gee/haw and individual training
- Modular, flexible course structure tailored to your interests
Autumn training
Autumn is a glorious time to visit this region: the mosquitos have gone and the fall colours are magnificent. We start training in the non-snow months using quad bikes, then progress to sleighs once the snow is deep enough and the marshes sufficiently frozen, so depending on when you visit and how long you stay, you may experience both. Beware, though, that when we first start sleigh training the conditions are challenging — you'll need to be fairly athletic and have a fair amount of stamina to enjoy it.
What you'll do
Whilst here, you will be put in charge (alongside your personal mentor) of a specific group of dogs that you will rotate through both conditioning, gee and haw and individual training through the week. These will include a mixture of leaders, trainee leaders, pups, 2nd season dogs, team and wheel dogs and seasoned veterans — all of whom have slightly different training needs. You will be given the opportunity to learn as much as you want to about the behind-the-scenes planning that goes into the training — for instance, how we compile the teams using computerised systems ahead of time.
Course content
We cover the same modules year-round, but the training we do with the dogs differs with each season. The course is modular: some modules are consistent across all courses and seasons (for instance basic care routines and basic meds) while others can be selected or left out depending on the group's interests. There is a high degree of flexibility built in, and one of the first things we do at the end of your first morning on the farm is sit down and talk through what you really hope to get out of the week.
