Bilbo and I have thoroughly enjoyed this course. It has been fun with engaging games and lessons which Bilbo has responded to very well. His recall has really improved and when we are off lead the elastic walking activity has meant that he does not stray too far. I love the instructional videos plus the write ups below them which help me to get the most out of the course. I also find that Mark responds personally to you regarding the training with helpful tips and advice to keep you on track - that can take the form of a message or a video. It is reassuring to know he is there to help and guide if you have any issues. I paid for the beginner gun dog training and got that plus the improver course. I consider it very good value for money for the content plus Mark’s personal involvement and guidance. I wouldn’t hesitate to use acer dogs for training.

I have really enjoyed doing the Acer dog training. I am a trainer myself in NZ and I have become interested in Gun Dog training. Mark explains the steps and with short videos, the course is very informative. The course is well-priced with so much helpful information. My dog Jet, who is a Lurcher have benefitted so much from Marks Gun Dog training.

I feel both my cocker spaniel and I are benefiting from Acer training ……we are slowly improving her focus on me which helps with everything! I love the structure of the training. It’s great to be able to go at your own pace and revisit aspects of training until you’re confident it’s going in the right direction. Its so beneficial to be able to access the course on my phone and have a quick reminder by looking at one of Marks videos before getting out of my car to train.The Help and Support page is brilliant……. we all have similar problems and Marks replies are always helpful and informative. Although this is my fourth dog I’m a first time cocker owner and wish I’d discovered this training when she was a few months old but it’s never too late to learn and improve!

Before signing up to Acer Gundogs with Mark, Remi - WCS, was a well behaved puppy and knew how to do basic retrieves but I felt we lacked a fun connection during our training and heading into adolescence she was developing a real attitude which was starting to affect pretty much all aspects of training and ultimately my confidence with her and I wasn’t really sure how to improve it. Now with Mark’s online lessons that connection is more than I could have asked for and all areas of her training and behaviour are improving thanks to his programme. Today I really realised how much the training with Acer has benefitted us both. Her loose lead walking had really improved, she was listening to all of my commands whilst still having the time of her life and nothing about our walk felt stressful and we both went home very satisfied. It’s easy to feel bad about training when it’s not always going right and before signing up with Acer Gundogs I was always expecting too much too quickly from her but Mark’s online training and modules are broken down into small steps with short videos and descriptions. I love that I can take the course at my own pace and revisit sections if and when I need to. It also means I don’t rush and only move on to the next lesson when I’m happy with the results from the previous one. I’m so grateful I signed up with Mark, not only are the training videos great but the online forum is so supportive, both when you’re having a good day or a bad day. Mark always gets back to you when you’re facing any problems, with any aspects of training, and very quickly! I only signed up 3 months ago but the improvements I’ve seen in that short time have been so much more than I expected. I have one very happy pup and I am one very happy and proud owner!

This time last year Desmond Lab was 8 weeks old. He is intelligent , quick to learn & desperate to please. The structure of junior gundog course helped us to learn, practise succeed and bond in a fabulous way. He knew he did good on Thursday as he proudly posed with his distinction rosette.its such a lovely way to spend time training and bonding with my dog. Thanks ACER

If you've found Acer Gundog Training because you would like to do something special for your dog then you're in the right place. I found Mark because I was struggling with my black lab bitch puppy, Grace. I hadn't had a pup in 20 years and I felt I was failing her. I lacked the confidence and knowledge to be able to train her in a way that would give her the very best life and us the perfect companion. 

The Acer Gundog course has been life-changing for both us and Grace. I have grown in confidence and Grace is living her best life. The skills that we've learnt together are relevant to every area of our time with Grace, from walks, car travel, meeting people and other dogs, quiet evenings in front of the TV and a visit to the local pub. I very quickly realised that training happens all the time, not just when completing a module, but in pretty much everything we do with her. Consistency is key and remember, it's a marathon not a sprint. 

The support given to us by both Mark and the Acer community is excellent. I was dubious about doing this online, but I needn't have been because it's actually pretty perfect. You can work through the modules at your own speed, revisit things if you think a bit of a reset or reminder might be useful and watch the module videos as many times as you need to. Help is just a message away and the Chat Forum has an excellent search option so you can see if an issue has been raised before. It's also very reassuring to look back at what other people have struggled with if you're feeling a bit discouraged and in need of reassurance. The community is lovely and very encouraging. 

The course has deepened our bond with Grace and really made dog ownership fun and enjoyable. I can't recommend Mark and Acer Gundog Training enough. It's absolutely the gift that keeps on giving; for today, tomorrow and all the other tomorrows.

Taylor made training: Mark and his team provide clear, consistent advice to help owners gain the confidence to build strong relationships with their dogs. The result is happy people and happy hounds. Even though trading is in (small) classes the advice is one to one customised for your dog. The help is not only in class but available on line too. My puppy's training has come on leaps and bounds. The programme is logical and easy to follow. Predicated on sound scientific principles we are set up for success.

when l got my high energy working cocker Harley l searched the internet looking for a gundog trainer who could help me train him. I came across the Acer site and was very impressed by what l read on the site. I enrolled Harley into the Saturday puppy class with Tori & occasionally Russ teaching us. The training was I a field which was much better for training than being in a hall, reward based and most of all fun for both the puppies & owners. The team were very helpful & knowledgeable with any questions or problems l had. After a few months Harley passed his puppy test and we moved up to Beginners gundog class on a Sunday with Gemma. We look forward to our Sunday morning lessons with her which again are varied, informative & fun for both dog & owner. Everyone is so friendly & approachable at Acer, so if your looking for a first class training establishment whether for pet or gundog which gets results l ca highly recommend Acer.

I have completed the ACER Gundog Puppy Course and it is exactly what I wanted for my 14 week old puppy Jake. It's well-structured, bite size exercises, using positive methods and the videos are just super. I particularly like the explanations on Lowering Criteria and Raising Criteria at the end of each exercise. The experience of doing the Gundog Puppy Course has enthused me to carry on learning with Acer by doing further courses and I am looking forward to giving my puppy a solid foundation to build his gundog journey on. This course was exactly what I wanted and I will be recommending it to my gundog friends.

I was not sure if an online training program would be helpful, so I was thinking about it for a while and eventually I did it. There was lots of useful Information available to start with. Once I started I’ve noticed that my dog started to respond well to the training. After a couple of weeks there was some improvement that has continued, other tasks need more time and are work in progress. I wish I had found this course earlier when he was a puppy. The course is very interactive and you learn more from other people’s comments and questions. Also your questions are answered quickly. I feel supported, listened to and not judge if I am not doing it correctly. Highly recommended!

It's the small wins that matter. Sitting when asked (and now sometimes without!), waiting whilst I go over a stile, coming through when called. The training works for me and my dog because we work at our own pace, sometimes backwards, sometimes forwards. But whatever the direction, each time we have fun, learn, make progress and strengthen our bond. The online training is easy to understand, delivered in digestible chunks that explain and show you what to do. Because they're not too long I'll watch a video 3 or 4 times to be sure I understand before trying with my dog.

I can’t recommend Acer highly enough. After an initial 1 to 1 with Mark, I have been using the online beginner gundog course to train our 5 year old GSP Archie over the summer. He has already achieved so much more than I ever thought possible. The course has been brilliantly constructed, and is so easy to follow. Mark is so friendly and approachable, and always available to provide advice and support when you need it. I can’t wait for Archie to join the group classes now, and see just what he can go on to achieve

Started our puppy at 6 months old less a week or two. At 7 months we had a family reunion in Poulsbo, WA. and puppy had first experience in a tourist town with lots of people. She was well behaved, and would settle at my feet when i would sit at one of the benches and just relax while scores of people walked by. We even had lunch at an outdoor restaurant that allowed dogs. She was settled the whole time we sat and ate. That was a big win for only 4 weeks of training.

I have just completed the 6 week Gundog puppy training classes with my Hungarian vizsla puppy, Frankie. It has been absolutely brilliant for both of us, we have learnt so much in 6 weeks and have thoroughly enjoyed it too. Mark, our trainer, has been fantastic, he has been so helpful throughout the course, he is very approachable and always happy to answer any questions. All of the training is positive using rewards, and every week builds on the skills you have learnt the week before. Mark explains and demonstrates everything clearly and has also provided online videos and information as part of the course, which is an added bonus! Frankie even enjoyed the videos! I cannot recommend Mark’s course enough, it’s easy to follow, fun, and it is so rewarding to see how far Frankie has come.

I have a 9 month old Labrador x Cocker Spaniel (Ki) and TBH I was at a bit of a loss as to what to do with all his energy! Now, thanks to the Beginner Gundog course (foundation) that we are working through, Ki is beginning to show really good impulse control which is a HUGE skill moving forwards. All the training that we've been doing as we follow the course means that we are building a really solid foundation - AND because Ki's using his brain so much, he doesn't need a lot of 'exercise' to wear him out! We're using his natural instincts to have fun and 'do training' into the bargain. The thing I like most about the programme is that there is a realistic and easy to follow structure to it, we have certain things to work on and certain levels of 'attainment' to achieve before moving on - this takes the guesswork out of training, and that's a HUGE relief! I also like the fact that Mark is so incredibly 'hands -on'.....he's always there to reply to a question, you feel as if he's holding your hand throughout the process! So, if you are looking for a really clear pathway to train your dog and are prepared to put the work in (as Mark says, 20 minutes a few times a week, it doesn't need LOADS of time but it DOES need consistency) then I can vouch for the efficacy of the ACER programme. It's SO satisfying to see steady reliable progress in your dog's training and it makes you just want to do more! See photos for a before and after training comparison! 😂

I have really enjoyed Marks program, it’s split into many different disciplines and very easy to follow. I will continue to refer to it even though the course has been completed. Keep up the good work.

As a first time dog owner, I was keen to get it right with my lab puppy, Ruby. I asked around for recommendations and Acer came highly recommended by both my veterinarian and a friend of mine who is a veterinarian. I started training with Ruby as soon as she had all her jabs and it's been hugely beneficial to her and our family. She's not even eight months old, and everybody comments on what a well behaved dog she is. We've worked with Russ and Gemma and they have both given me so much knowledge about training my dog, as well as encouragement and tips on advancing her to the next level. I especially like how all the training is focused on positive reinforcement and rewards for good behaviour. The atmosphere in the training sessions is always fun and light, and Ruby and I look forward to our sessions every week. I feel supported both during and outside of lessons: the trainers answer questions via social media outside of class, which is great! I highly recommend Acer to any dog owner - you won't be disappointed!

I had a fantastic experience with the six week private gun dog training. Hellen was incredibly patient and explained everything clearly, making each session easy to understand and follow. My dog is older and can be quite stubborn at times, but Hellen always had multiple approaches to achieve the same result if one method wasn't working. Her knowledge, flexibility, and calm approach gave me confidence and made the training enjoyable for both me and my dog. I would highly recommend her and Acer to anyone looking for professional and effective gun dog training.