Last month, a friend tried to take his dog to the vet as he was concerned about a fast-growing cyst. The dog is a German shorthaired pointer that has worked all its life, but is now retired. It was not a happy experience for either dog or owner. No appointments…
Gundogs
Is chewing gum poisonous to dogs? What happens if my dog eats some?
I’m often asked whether chewing gum is poisonous to dogs. Well, chewing gum is often sweetened with xylitol and the most common source of xylitol poisoning is chewing gum. It is important to note that, on packaging, xylitol may not be mentioned by name but by its food additive code,…
How to find the right gundog trainer
Ever since I was old enough to walk by myself, I have been going shooting with my family. I’ve always been attracted to the working gundogs side and, since I was eight years old, my father would give me his own trained dog to work on a shoot day. How…
How to make a dog vomit in an emergency
Most wild mushrooms aren't poisonous to dogs, but there are some symptoms of poisoning that you should watch out for
Worming working dogs – here’s what you need to know
Responsible gundog owners know that worming working dogs regularly is part of the routine. But what about puppies? I recently received this query from a gundog puppy owner. (Read our tips here on choosing a gundog puppy from a litter.) Q: I have heard of young puppies dying after they…
Spaying an older dog. Should you?
Q: What is your advice on spaying an older dog? I am unsure of what to do. I have an eight-year-old bitch I was a bit concerned about because she started being a bit slow with her food. This was unlike her so I took her to the vet, who…
Setting rules for working dogs starts from day one
Dogs, like humans, need rules and boundaries, so they know what to expect, what is acceptable and what is not. In the early months, this is vital. For example, if your puppy is not allowed on the sofa, then it is important to not allow it on the sofa. This…
What’s the healthiest diet for working dogs?
I’m often asked by owners of gundog breeds what they should be feeding their dogs. They want to know all about the healthiest diet for working dogs. Here are some of the questions I’m asked and here’s what I say. Are all brown kibble diets bad? You simply cannot lump…
Do dogs have to wear collars?
Gundogs are controlled with slip leads but it’s rare that you’ll see one with any sort of collar. So do all dogs have to wear collars? Is it required by law? Out in the field you’ll see teams of working dogs under immaculate control and not a collar in sight.…
How to train a spaniel puppy that lacks confidence
Gundog training: Tread carefully when training a spaniel puppy with a gentle temperament.
Paddling pools for working dogs: a useful way to introduce youngsters to water work
Like many, my dogs have small paddling pools for working dogs that I encourage puppies to explore and play in as much as possible. I use toys and even treats to help lure them in, then allow them to play with other puppies and dogs. While I love the sun…
Sleeping dogs, their positions and what they may be dreaming about
Q: Our dog has started to sleep on his back. Is there any obvious reason for him to do so and should we be concerned? A: Dogs are likely to sleep on their backs for a variety of reasons and it is not necessarily anything to be concerned about. Indeed,…
Terrier breeds: are they born anarchists?
Most, if not all of the terrier breeds bring a smile to our faces, whether the smug condescension of the handler of well-trained gundogs or the rictus of embarrassment that comes from having thought your dog’s behaviour could not get any worse before you discover that it just has. Quite a few owners of…
Kennel Club registrations in 2020 – which dogs were most popular?
There was a great surge in dog ownership last year, but this didn’t benefit the Kennel Club registrations as much as you might expect. It seems that many of the puppies that found homes in 2020 were cross-breeds, such as cockapoos and labradoodles. As a result, there were not nearly…
Professional gundog training – when is it best to leave it to the experts?
There are many ways to train a dog. You can opt for professional gundog training but the most common is to train the dog yourself. This is a strongly supported and often preferred method, and it certainly has its merits. First, there is no greater feeling than taking your own…
The ‘leave it’ command – how to teach it to a young dog
There are some commands your gundog can be taught from an early age and will stay with him for the rest of his career. Sit, stay, heel, come are a few of the more common ones. But the ‘leave it’ command is the one that if you can condition your…
Spaniel ears – what a new owner needs to know
Q: I’ve acquired a spaniel, a breed I believe that is prone to ear infection. Should I clean his ears regularly or how else can I best prevent problems with his ears? A: The opening to a dog’s ear is unlike ours and the anatomy of the ear canal tends…
Sprocker or cocker spaniel? How can you tell them apart?
Should you get a sprocker or cocker spaniel? I admit to being a fan of sprockers as I like their hybrid vigour. They are not a designer cross-breed like a Labradoodle but simply spaniel x spaniel, and it should not be forgotten that both breeds share the same ancestry. However, since a cocker crossed…
Braque du bourbonnais – a dog with a genuine sporting pedigree
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 known in their native country as les chiens d’arrêt. Braque du Bourbonnais – the stopping dog The word arrêt translates…
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 the springer vs cocker debate? There’s plenty to say in defence of each breed – and each also has its…