Dogs and slug pellets don’t mix and are in fact a lethal combination. Losing a fit and healthy dog through poisoning is dreadful, as illustrated by this story I heard.…
David Tomlinson
Italian gundogs – what are their strengths in the field?
I’ve written recently about both French and German gundogs. On the same theme, this is a piece about Italian gundogs, but it wasn’t one I was planning to write. However,…
Is it time for super spaniels?
Breeds of spaniel There is a dangerously common misconception among many dog enthusiasts, assuming that a breed is similar to a species. It’s not. Species have evolved naturally over hundreds…
So why do gundogs have floppy ears?
See a dog with floppy ears and it’s going to be a gundog. One feature common to every breed of gundog is floppy ears. Spaniel ears flop considerably more than…
Just why are German HPRs are so popular here?
History notes that the first of the German HPR breeds, the German shorthaired pointer, was shown in England in 1887, but it wasn’t until after World War II that these…
Which gundog breeds originated in Germany?
Weimaraner, German shorthaired pointer, German longhaired pointer, German wirehaired pointer, large Munsterlander. The list of German dog breeds that have become established in Britain is a long one, but it…
BARF diet for dogs – the risks and benefits
Bones and raw food for dogs I’ve long been an advocate of feeding dogs as natural a diet as possible, which means raw food and vegetables. I was convinced by…
French gundogs – why don’t we see more of them here?
Some French gundogs L’épagneul Breton, the Brittany L’épagneul Français (French spaniel) Barbet Braque d’Auvergne L’épagneul de Pont-Audemer Braque de Bourbonnais Braque Français Why French shooting is different The French are…
What size is the perfect gundog?
OK, I admit it. I have always been a fan of big, old-fashioned springers, chunky cockers and Labradors with substance, but I’m beginning to think that gundog size doesn’t really…
How important is the colour of a gundog’s coat?
As we all know, sound working-bred spaniel puppies are in high demand at the moment, so I was delighted to be able to tip off a friend about a litter…
It’s time to change the law on working gundog theft
Dog thefts, especially those of working gundogs, are on the rise. One of the great mysteries about stolen gundogs is what happens to them as almost all disappear without trace.…
Why can some gundogs be averse to retrieving woodcock?
Have you ever stuffed your nose into the breast of a freshly killed woodcock? I doubt if you have, but if you did so you would almost certainly find the…
Estates should act to limit the number of dead poults
Too much pheasant roadkill In the early years of my shooting career, pheasants were far too valuable to use for retrieving practice. I didn’t shoot many and those that I…
Why the Labrador is an endangered breed
Spot the odd one out: grey wolf, Labrador, golden jackal, coyote. All four are members of the genus Caninae, and have scientific names prefixed with the word Canis. However, a…
Which is the best hunt, point and retrieve gundog?
Rory Major of Bryantscroft Gundogs has probably trained and competed with more breeds of gundog than anyone else in the business. He has trialled everything from retrievers and spaniels to…
Now sprockers, springadors and even cockerpoos can try for a Working Gundog Certificate
For many years the Kennel Club has operated a form of canine apartheid. Only dogs that are pure-bred and registered with the Club are allowed to enter field trials. Working…
Field trials for gundogs during the COVID pandemic – what you need to know
The Kennel Club has issued extensive guidance for staging field trials for dogs during the pandemic. Last month, the International Gundog League (IGL) cancelled this year’s Retriever Championship. It was…
Why gundogs shouldn’t eat pork pies
Pancreatitis in dogs can be serious. I received a salutary tale from reader and regular correspondent Arthur Moore, who had just returned from walking Hadrian’s Wall with his wife Ann…
The elusive ptarmigan – Britain’s wildest quarry
Of all the gamebirds on the quarry list, there’s none so little known nor seldom shot as the ptarmigan. It may have the same open season as its more familiar…
Is a gun-shy dog a lost cause?
There’s probably no greater disaster that can befall the gundog trainer than to discover that their talented new puppy is gun-shy. Is being gun-shy inherited? Many breeders maintain that gun-shyness…