About Us
Owner/Handler
Meet Cahir Lynch, the owner/handler of Tirbracken Kennels. He has a true passion for training and trialing Field Bred English Cocker Spaniels. Since 2004, he has grown the kennels producing two Field Champions and earning numerous Field Trial placements across the US. Most recently, he won the 2021 National Amateur Cocker Championships with Tirbracken's Windbush "Georgie". He is very thoughtful in his breeding and prides himself on keeping the breed true to its origin and purpose. A combination of strong genetics and superior training is his philosophy in producing top-notch dogs. He is thrilled to share his love of the breed with avid hunters alike and families who are looking for true, loyal companions.
Socializing
Socializing starts from the day a pup is born and continues throughout all phases of training. It is the process in which we train our pups so that they can be well-behaved around other animals and humans. Our dogs will epitomize the fact that manners do matter. This is both beneficial in the field and your home. At Tirbracken Kennels, socializing is a family affair. Our children and other family animals play an important role in socializing our pups.
To the right- Nico, the family German Shepard, doting on a young pup.
Foundational Training
Field Bred English Cocker Spaniels are known to be extremely biddable, that is, willing to be trained. The key to a well-mannered dog that is both pleasant to hunt over and live with starts with solid Foundational Training. We, at Tirbracken Kennels, take this particular step in training very seriously. From the moment our pups are fully whelped from their mother, we begin with 'play training' a combined learning and teaching experience. This encourages the pup to be just that- a pup while developing trust and introducing simple skills that will continue to be sharpened as they progress through the phases. From a simple 'hup' (sit) command to playing fetch with a rolled-up sock, this strengthens early instincts that with proper training will prove to be very useful while in the field.
Yard Work
Yard Work is where most of the dog's skills are developed. As the pup continues to expand its confidence in day-to-day foundational skills, the next natural progression is to begin advancing onto the ever so important communication skills which are vital to the process of training a dog. This is where the pup will be exposed to more complex skills that will be broken down into teachable parts; that will eventually be combined together out in the field. Yard Work will consist of the following:
- Basic whistle calls are eventually to be used in place of specific verbal commands.
- Directional training or sight cues are typically used in conjunction with the whistle to direct the pup at a distance.
- Sitting at a distance builds upon the foundational 'hup' skill but from a distance. Encourages the pup to stay until the next command.
- Delivery training is the ability to return the dummy after a retrieve. Starts with just a dummy and will progress to dummy with a feather, cold game, and then live game.
- Steadiness to a thrown dummy is a progression from sitting at a distance & delivery skills. Teaches the pup to stay until directed to retrieve and deliver the dummy.
- Walking at the heel is the art of you walking the pup- not the pup walking you. Have the pup walk to the left of your body without advancing in front of your heel.
- Introduction to shot familiarizing the pup with the sound of gunfire ensuring minimal to no reaction.
- Scent work exposes the pup to the scent of game and has it use its nose to find it.
- Memory retrieves where the pup sees you plant or drop a dummy, then walk away with the pup at a short distance and send the pup out to retrieve. Progressively get further out as long as the pup successfully retrieves and delivers. This will eventually lead to blind retrieves.
- Introduction to water getting the pup used to playing in the streams, which will eventually progress to swimming and retrieving in ponds.
Once the pup displays a solid sense of trust and confidence in the above, they will easily adapt to working these same skills out in the field.
*Note the skills outlined above are only highlights and not all-inclusive*
Field Training
Each level of training will be a continuation of the previous. This ensures that key foundational training is not forgotten and continues to be developed throughout the training lifecycle. Moving through these phases is tailored based on the pup's ability to grasp skills confidently. There is no set duration for each of these phases. One pup may progress much faster than another. What is most important is making sure that the pup is most efficient in the basics before progressing any further. Striking a balance between not moving too fast, resulting in confusion for the pup, or moving too slow, resulting in a lack of interest is key.
Building upon Foundational Training & Yard Work, Field Training is where one begins to see it all come together. It is introduced at an appropriate pace for the individual pup and would consist of the following:
- Quartering teaching the art of back and forth, 'zig-zag' training, having the pup work the ground to find game.
- Flushing the ability for the pup to flush or raise the bird out of cover.
- Steady to flush the ability for the pup to instantly sit after a bird is flushed from cover. It has the same significance as the 'hup' command or the whistle indicating for the pup to sit.
- Steady to shot the ability for the pup to instantly sit after the sound of gunfire.
Similar to previous phases of training, even after a pup has mastered all of these skills, the training does not stop. The Maintenance Phase is where all learned skills are further refined and consistently reinforced to maintain a well-trained, polished dog that is both hardworking in the field and loving in your home.
*Note the skills outlined above are highlights only and not all-inclusive*
Contact Us
Come visit us in beautiful Sussex County
