I like my dogs to have an annual health check and realised that they hadn’t seen a vet for nearly two years. My previous vet was a delightful and helpful chap, but he retired early due to ill health, selling his independent vet care practice to one of the six…
Gundogs
Long hair, short hair or wire hair?
Most of us have a favourite gundog breed regardless of what sort of coat it has, but the length and nature of a dog’s hair does make quite a difference when it comes to living with the animal, especially if it’s one that lives indoors. It’s certainly something that anyone…
How to teach a spaniel puppy to retrieve
Spaniels are “pre-programmed” to hunt, it is their most basic instinct. So many new owners might think that starting to teach a spaniel puppy to retrieve would be straightforward and simple. After all spaniels have been bred for generations to hunt out game from stick piles, patches of bramble and…
Hypothyroidism in dogs. What owners need to know
Q: My lab bitch is only seven years old but is acting much older. She is a little heavy, there’s hair loss and thick, scabby skin below her neck and tummy and her coat is a bit thin on her sides. Is she just getting old before her time? A:…
How do I train a gundog to run straight?
When you think of a working gundog, the goals are relatively simple. We need to get the dog to an area and allow it to hunt. This might be hunting at our feet as a beating dog or being sent 180 yards to hunt a specific area. Either way, the…
Questions we’re often asked about Labradors: which one of these have you been wondering about?
Labradors have long been popular dogs both in the field and as companion dogs. But with this popularity comes a whole host of questions about labradors. Here are some of the ones we’re most commonly asked and the answers given by our gundog experts. Questions about labradors 1.What makes the…
Poisoned dogs: the symptoms and the dangers to look out for
Reports of poisoned dogs There was considerable panic in my local dog-owning community last month, when a three-year-old labrador reportedly died from poisoning. The initial Facebook post indicated that the dog had died as a result of eating poison picked up at a popular dog-walking site, a nature reserve where…
What diseases could my dog pick up from foxes?
Disease from foxes All dogs, including gundogs can get the following disease from foxes: Sarcoptic mange Lungworm Rabies Dogs and foxes do suffer from the same diseases, though, of which the most worrying is rabies. We have been rabies-free in Britain for 98 years — since quarantine for dogs was…
Terrier Types
There are many different terrier types. There’s the ever-popular Jack Russell and then there’s the little seen Sealyham terrier. What’s true about all terrier types is that on the whole they are opinionated dogs. Each breed of terrier has different characteristics so consider what you want carefully before committing yourself…
What’s wrong with my cocker spaniel’s eye?
Here’s a picture of my cocker spaniel’s eye. I have been to the vet who told me it’s only an infection and gave me some eye drops but I am not so sure.
Gundog training at home or away? What’s best?
If I had a pound for every time a client says, “I wish my dog would behave like that”, I’d buy my father a new pair of Purdeys. Though it is lovely to hear people admire my dogs’ behaviour, I also find it frustrating. There is a good reason why…
Breeding cocker spaniels: here’s what’s really involved
The reality of breeding cocker spaniels My phone buzzed in my pocket with an incoming WhatsApp from my wife, Clare. Her message simply read “Deed is done”. The short missive was accompanied by two photos. In both, the low mist-shrouded fields of a Lincolnshire landscape filled the background. In the…
How to keep an old springer going strong
There was uncorking of champagne in the Tomlinson household last month, celebrating spaniel Rowan’s 16th birthday. English springers are generally regarded as enjoying, on average, one of the longest lifespans of any of our sporting dogs, with a life expectancy from 12 to 14 years. Not many make it to…
Stalking with a Bavarian mountain hound
We have as good as finished our fallow cull and only plan to take a buck or two before the end of the month if we feel the need. Thankfully, after playing catch-up last year when our fallow cull was considerably higher than normal, we seem to be back to…
New injection for arthritic dogs: could it help?
Q: I have heard that there is a new injection for arthritic dogs available. Is this very different from other treatments and how effective is it? A: Arthritis is a condition that leads to pain and progressive degeneration of the joints. It affects many aspects of a dog’s outlook, causing…
In the heat, is it kind to give your dogs chilled water? Or could it be dangerous?
Should dogs drink ice cold water? The temperature is soaring and your faithful gundogs are lying in the shade, panting heavily. It’s tempting to think there would be nothing kinder than to put some ice cubes in your gundog’s water bowl – but is it safe or can it cause…
The Hungarian wirehaired vizsla – charming and hardworking
What happened when I became the owner of a Hungarian wire-haired vizsla
Just how serious a threat is lungworm to dogs?
In April and May, with the weather becoming warmer, slugs and snails become much more active which increases the risk of lungworm in dogs. Dogs that eat slugs, snails or frogs, even tiny ones eaten by accident, can catch lungworm from them. Your vet should be able to advise you…
What treatment can I give my constipated dog?
Helping a constipated dog Q: My labrador seems to get constipated; she gets into position to relieve herself but with no success, despite straining for several minutes. It’s distressing to see and I’d like to solve the issue.What can be done to relieve a constipated dog? A: Constipation in dogs…
Basic gundog commands: these are the ones you need to know
Over the past four years I have been running gundog training classes and have been taken aback about how confused people get with their basic gundog commands. And if the handler is confused and inconsistent, it is unsurprising that their dogs also become confused and are inconsistent in what they…