Training Packages
Taking you from start to finish
The Boavida Training Packages are designed to be all encompassing courses with the aim of producing top quality working dogs that conform to the breed and working standards set out by the JGHV and SAVHDA. We endeavour to get you and your pup through the various SAVHDA tests, and to prepare you for your first hunting season together. These packages are for the first year of your dogs training and hunting career. We ensure that you go from start to finish, for a lifetime of hunting together.
It is important to remember that each dog and handler is a team; and each team has individual needs and requirements. You and your dog will come in at various times based on your needs as assessed by Matthew and his training team. It is also important to remember that the training at home is just as important as your classes at Boavida.
The aim of our Training Packages is always with the end goal in mind. With a clear and focussed plan, we ensure that you not only start off right, but get everything in between right too.
Please note that due to the popularity of our packages, they are currently only available to trainers who have purchased their dogs from Boavida, or have had their puppies assessed by Matthew or one of his team members.
Should you be interested in a training package, please do not hesitate to get in contact with us and we will take you through our process.
The bond between a hunter and his dog can’t be described; but only felt.
- Steve Reider
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Why choose a training package?
With our training packages we coach you with the end in mind. It is our goal to give you a clear understanding and mental picture of what is required of you and your dog to become a true hunting team.
With all of our packages you and your pup will go through socialisation classes, basic and advanced obedience, pointing, backing, search, trained retrieve, drag tracks, water retrieves, blind retrieves, and steadiness to wing and shot. For more on what is included in each package, please read below.
You and your new hunting partner will receive hunting exposure on setup birds as well as wild birds. Through our various hunts conducted in the year, you will be exposed to numerous species of birds, building both yours and your dogs’ experience and confidence across a range of birds, habitats, and hunting scenarios.
To train a dog takes a consistent effort and repetition, repetition, and repetition. For many trainers setting the foundation is hard work, and that is where our packages come in. We make sure that the foundations are put in place, and give you the tools, classes, equipment, and training facility to build on those.
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What our Silver Package consists of
The Silver Package is a 12 month package that is aimed at getting you through the SAVHDA Junior Versatile Hunting Test. The Junior Versatile Hunting Test is for young dogs of up to 16 months old. It is SAVHDA’s Natural Ability Test, and measures seven hereditary characteristics which are fundamental to the makeup of a good, reliable versatile hunting dog: Use of Nose, Search, Pointing, Tracking, Water affinity, Desire to Work and Cooperation are tested and dogs are graded with a scoring system reflecting performance.
The Silver Package includes the following throughout the 12 months:
– Seminars and workshops at Boavida
– Mock hunts
– Weekend training offered at Boavida
– Use of all the Boavida facilities
– 4 in-board training session of 2 weeks each (a total of two months)
– Access to all Boavida Training Hunts (excl. costs of accommodation, meals, and farmers fees) – this is included even when your package ends.
The important difficult to train behaviours will be covered by the 2 months of Board and Train. The weekend training classes that are offered during the off season are open to all Silver Package members. You will have access and use of the Boavida facilities to run your dog on wild birds, train in the dams, and have general access to the fields.
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What our Gold Package consists of
The Gold Package is an 18 month package that is aimed at getting you through the SAVHDA Junior Versatile Hunting Test, as well as the Novice Hunting Test. The Novice Hunting Test is a practical test of functional hunting performance, and incorporates field work, drag work, as well as water work.
The Gold Package includes the following throughout the 18 months:
– Seminars and workshops at Boavida
– Mock hunts
– Weekend training offered at Boavida
– Use of all the Boavida facilities
– 6 in-board training session of 2 weeks each (a total of three months)
– Access to all Boavida Training Hunts (excl. costs of accommodation, meals, and farmers fees) – this is included even when your package ends.
The important difficult to train behaviours will be covered by the 3 months of Board and Train. The weekend training classes that are offered during the off season are open to all Gold Package members. You will have access and use of the Boavida facilities to run your dog on wild birds, train in the dams, and have general access to the fields.
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What our Platinum Package consists of
The Platinum Package is a 2 year package that is aimed at getting you through the SAVHDA Junior Versatile Hunting Test, Novice Hunting Test, and the more difficult Advanced Versatile Hunting Test.
The Advanced Test is based on the German Solms/HZP test. The test is divided into field work and water work. In the field phase, dogs are tested for nose, searching and pointing, and are required to do a land retrieve by drag of a gamebird, and a longer drag (300m) of a hare or rabbit. In the water phase, dogs are tested with a blind water retrieve of duck and a search for a simulated wounded duck. A rigorous gun sensitivity test is also administered. The manner of retrieving, or how the dog holds, carries and delivers game, is scored as a separate subject. Tested throughout are the dogs use of nose, cooperation, desire to work and obedience.
The Platinum Package includes the following throughout the 2 years:
– Seminars and workshops at Boavida
– Mock hunts
– Weekend training offered at Boavida
– Use of all the Boavida facilities
– 10 in-board training session of 2 weeks each (a total of 5 months)
– Access to all Boavida Training Hunts (excl. costs of accommodation, meals, and farmers fees) – this is included even when your package ends.
The important difficult to train behaviours will be covered by the 5 months of Board and Train. The weekend training classes that are offered during the off season are open to all Platinum Package members. You will have access and use of the Boavida facilities to run your dog on wild birds, train in the dams, and have general access to the fields.
