When it comes to working in harmony with our dogs, we shooters tend to think we have it taped. Granted, there are one or two unruly exceptions, but what we ask of our gundogs on a shoot day is demanding. Whether flushing game, retrieving birds or tracking deer, we rely…
Gundogs
Meet new England gundog team captain David Latham
As a professional handler, trainer, tutor, judge, selector and breeder, David Latham doesn’t have time for those who say the gundog world is a closed shop. The three-time IGL Retriever Championship winner, who will take over the England gundog team captaincy from “hero” John Halstead next year, came up the…
How to prepare your home for a puppy
The arrival of a puppy isn’t all that much different than expecting a new baby, reveals Lez Graham
Training dogs for deer stalking
By Sam Clarke The British Deer Society (BDS) is at the forefront when it comes to training stalkers and those involved with the deer industry, so when I heard that the society’s south-west England branch was putting on a course called Dogs for Deer, designed to train handlers and their…
Tips on breeding puppies from older dogs
When it comes to breeding puppies, an older dog should still be perfectly capable of producing a litter if she has always come into season regularly. Of course, older dogs mated for the first time can sometimes be a little more reluctant to accept a dog, but that very much…
Why doping to win gundog trials is never worth the risk
Doping has been proven in many animal sports. Greyhounds, horses and coursing dogs have all been (successfully) given performance-enhancing drugs at one time or another. Some of the drugs used are licensed products such as anabolic steroids, hormones, methylxanthines and amphetamines given in an illegal way. Others are illegal drugs,…
Why dry food is best for gundog nutrition
By Justin Clarke According to the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA), the UK pet food business is estimated to be worth £2bn each year. Given the amount of cash involved, it will come as no surprise that companies spend large amounts of money in an attempt to gain a higher…
Labrador retrieve point-of-view video
If you’ve ever wondered what your dog sees when going for a retrieve, the video above has the answer. Seth Morris mounted a GoPro camera to his yellow labrador and filmed the dog’s point of view when he was playing in the park. The video shows the pet labrador fetching…
Choosing a stud dog
Which are the most important qualities to look for when selecting your stud dog?
Birthing gundogs
In the concluding part of a two-part series, Tony Price guides breeders through the process of bringing their working bitch’s puppies into the world
The Great Debate: Kennel or kitchen?
Kennel or kitchen: Where should your gun dog be when not in the field?
Why the law on docking tails needs to change
Born in Scotland, springer spaniel Storm moved to England with an undocked tail. Vet Neil McIntosh describes how working in cover proved costly and why the law needs to change
How can I get my Lab to cross a ditch to retrieve?
Pushing too fast with training has meant this Lab has skipped the most important instruction: 'get back'
Gundog training: How to use the stop whistle
Gundog training: I am training my new dog and want to get her used to the stop whistle. Some people say you can make dogs hesitant if you get too hung up on it. What do you suggest?
Should I buy a puppy with a swelling in the middle of its tummy?
Vet Neil advises this is probably an umbilical hernia, which is generally an inherited defect, but it can be operated on
Is it irresponsible of me to work a springer without a docked tail?
A reader is looking for a show-type springer but has noticed they all have full tails. He wants to work the dog and needs to know if it's irresponsible to work a springer without a docked tail
Anthropomorphism and gundogs: Are we too personal with our gundogs?
Anthropomorphism: Gundog owners try to maintain hard rules with their gundogs but we all go a bit soft sometimes.
Stereotypes: not all dogs conform to types
We can't change the genes, but nurture can help to develop certain traits in our dogs
What is a five generation pedigree certificate?
We have purchased a springer spaniel that is Kennel Club registered but the five generation pedigree certificate is confusing because it contains a lot of abbreviations. Can you help us make sense of it?
Buying a gundog puppy
Shooting UK helps you buy the right gundog with this guide to finding the best adverts, selecting a healthy litter and choosing the best puppy