What’s a braque du Bourbonnais? It’s a question that braque owners are frequently asked and most will tell you that it’s a type of French gundog, one of a group…
David Tomlinson
Which breed would suit you better – a springer or a cocker spaniel?
So you’re looking for a spaniel, rather than a Labrador. But that’s just where the decision starts. What sort of spaniel would suit you best? What are you considering in…
Can a show-bred dog really be a working dog too?
There’s one piece of advice for the would-be gundog owner in every book I have: if you want a puppy to bring on as a gundog, make sure you buy…
Just how much time does the average dog spend sleeping and why?
Sleep dog times Dogs spend as much as half of their day asleep, while for around 30% of the time they will be awake but merely keeping an eye on…
Why the bracco Italiano has real flair and all-round working ability
Though the bracco Italiano is one of the most visually striking of gundogs, it is also one of the most rare. I was delighted to receive an email from Michelle…
What’s ahead for field trials in 2021?
All being well as we come out of the paralysis of lockdown, field trials for dogs will return once again. Pointer and setter handlers will have missed the early spring…
How to protect dogs from poisonous slug pellets
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.…
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…