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.
Gundogs
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…
Teaching a dog to engage their scent detection
In my previous training article, we were looking at getting the dogs going nice and confidently in a straight line to an area to hunt for a retrieve. It is equally vital that a dog can hunt for itself and hold an area to do a thorough job. There’s nothing…
Electric training collars for dogs: is this the end?
Four years ago, Michael Gove introduced plans for legislation to ban the use of electric training collars for dogs in England. It was a proposal supported by not only animal-rights groups, but also the Kennel Club. I suspect that it was a calculated decision by the Conservative Party to show…
The lurcher – a designer cross-breed dog
The lurcher is not a breed but a variety of ‘types’ arrived at by accident. Mating a running dog such as a whippet, greyhound or deerhound to a non running dog such as collie, terrier or gundog is the best definition of a lurcher that you can get. The aim…
Crate training a puppy – how to do it right
Q: We are due to get a new cocker pup and it will be living indoors. We have been advised that crate training a puppy is the right way to proceed. What do you think? A: A crate is a good idea for any dog, but it should be introduced…
Do spaniels smell more than Labradors?
Q: I would like a springer or working cocker spaniel to train as a gundog, but my father is not keen. My grandparents had a show-strain cocker who was a lovely dog but she was one of those really smelly spaniels, no matter what my grandparents did to try to…
Removing anal glands from a dog: is it recommended?
Q: I am having to take my dog to the vet quite often to have his anal glands emptied. I have heard removing anal glands is possible in a dog. Is this something you would recommend? A: Each time a dog passes a firm stool, it voids an amount of…
Eye contact with dogs: it’s vital for good training
Why eye contact with dogs is key One of my training clients asked me recently what aspect of a gundog’s training I thought was the most important. My immediate answer was that unless the dog had a solid foundation of the basics, such as heel, sit, stay and recall, then…
The golden retriever: why it is a golden all-rounder
Exactly a century ago, a golden retriever called Balcombe Boy became the first dual champion in his breed, an impressive achievement then and an unlikely one now. Bred by Viscount Harcourt and handled and trained by his owner, Captain Dick Herman, Balcombe Boy became a show champion and a field…
How can I stop my cocker spaniel creeping?
Q: I have done everything I can to stop my cocker spaniel creeping. I have consistently put her back where she started, never allowing her to have a retrieve after she has crept forwards. I tried place boards and she shuffled off them to get closer to me. She is…