Developed by Lite Launcher and in association with MAP Working Gundogs comes a whole new concept in Gundog Training .

The system is designed to replicate a shoot days flush of Pheasant , the last 2 minutes of a drive that is the usually the most testing point of the pickers up time in the line. It simulates both audibly, and visually the approach of   the beaters and their trusted dogs, working their way towards the end flush, and the consequential flurry of birds that often emerge as the drive nears its completion.

In a real shoot day this is a testing time for a dog and handler...birds emerge to the shouts of "OVERRRRR" and whistles are blown to maintain control as the usual foray of Springers and Cockers realise the birds are all now reaching the drives end, were the birds must take flight over the guns ...more whistles and shouts from the beaters accompanied by the distinctive flurry wing beat, as the birds frantically take to the air to avoid the dogs ,this is all taken in by the picker up dogs patiently waiting for their time,  knowing there will soon be a fall of birds . As the birds take to the air in ones and twos the guns pick off the select best shots, and the birds then start to fall from the air. The Pickers up still waiting patiently , then as the beaters reach the drives end the final whistle is blown ...now the dogs are sent to pick up the runners and the fallen....and find the ones that fall from sight.

It's a pleasing environment and exciting to participate in...but how do you train for it , thrown dummys and the regular steadiness methods will of course get you to this point, but how can you test your training and weed out you and your dogs weak points, and take stock of your strength's. Well you could always try it out at a driven shoot , but not the recommended route for a dog and handler, who may be good, but without experience the dogs wheels may start to come off under the pressure of such a drive,and that could undo a season's worth of training .

Until now nothing has existed.... developed by LITE LAUNCHER, and tested in conjunction with MAPS own dedicated training ground such a system exists..replicating as near as possible the situation of the drives final leg as above ...stereo spacial sound, belts out the beats noises starting with the pheasants cackles as they move away from the approaching dogs , to the Acme whistles regaining control of the dogs, the dog handlers encouraging their dogs to "GET IN THERE"  then the pheasants start to make their move. The odd birds accompanied by the beaters cry of "OVER" then a shot and a dummy flies over head dropping to the ground, as a tempting retrieve to the waiting dogs ...10 seconds later more calls, more wing beat flurries and another "OVER"..BANG bird comes down and is duly marked then OVER and a pair are taken out and drop left and right ....a full minute and a half passes, and up to a dozen birds are downed around the picker ups , now the retrieving can start ...some dogs will have faltered , some with have excelled ....but matters not, as the whole situation can be re-set and re-run just 15 minutes later ..the dogs assessed and advice given and the training broken down into bite size chunks if needed .

We can provide the experienced trainer,s who all excel in both field trials and real life picking up to assist you and your dogs to get it right on the real day ...by practising on a simulated day . Dogs can be awarded certificates ( SHOOT READY ) if they advance or can show themselves suitable for a real shoot day, which may help getting to the exclusive position of Picker Up in the field . Experienced dogs can too benefit from the simulation, giving the handler the chance to train in a situation similar to what they will encounter on their real days , not something you can do on a shoot day .

For more information contact Gundog Gear at gundoggear@tiscali.co.uk or Gary Macarthy at MAP Gundogs info@mapworkinggundogs.com for advise on training with this equipment at your ground or at the dedicated facilities on the Wirral .