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 an interview I did 15 years ago with holistic vet Dr Nick Thompson. I feed a raw chicken wing for…
Gundogs
Leptospirosis in dogs – what you need to know
One of the most important reasons to control rats is the danger of leptospirosis. Also called Weil’s disease, leptospirosis is caused by bacteria spread via the urine of infected animals — usually rats. It is a zoonotic disease, which means it can be spread to humans, as well as dogs,…
Tips on keeping your dog’s teeth free from tartar
Dog tartar removal and prevention Dental disease in dogs is primarily caused by food particles and bacteria building up at the base of the teeth near the gum line, causing the formation of plaque. If this plaque is not removed, minerals in the dog’s saliva combine with the plaque to…
Dog or bitch? Which is easiest to train?
Q: I have been looking for a yellow Labrador bitch puppy for some time but I always seem to miss out on the bitches and there are only dogs left. This will be my first gundog and I was advised to get a bitch as they are easier to train.…
How to teach a spaniel puppy to retrieve
Spaniels have been bred for generations to hunt out game from stick piles, patches of bramble and thick bracken banks, and a well-bred puppy should be pre-programmed to get its nose down. However, if you do too much early hunt training with a young spaniel this can become the most…
Why is my dog so thirsty? Is she ill?
Excessive thirst (referred to as polydipsia or PD on veterinary case notes) is not in itself a diagnosis, but it may be indicative of disease. There are, of course, some “innocent causes”, such as hot weather, prolonged exercise, change to a dry diet or increased salt in diet. Sometimes, all…
Buying your first gundog – what you need to know
Q: “I’m about to embark on acquiring my first gundog and I would like some advice as to what breed to buy and whether to get a puppy or a part or even fully-trained dog. Also, I’m not sure whether to keep it indoors or outside in a kennel and…
Will the Welsh springer spaniel survive?
A chance encounter with a Welsh springer spaniel (WSS) on a shoot earlier this month reminded me what a handsome breed this is and what a shame it is that we do not see more out working. Welsh springer spaniel – a curious breed It is the most numerous of…
My Hungarian vizsla won’t hold a point. What can I do?
“I have a two-year-old Hungarian vizsla that I have been training for rough shooting and although she hunts really well she will not hold a point and will run in on the birds, which makes it difficult for me to take a safe shot. She is also sometimes reluctant to…
How to choose a puppy
Choosing a gundog puppy that’s right for you Once you have decided on the breed of gundog puppy you want, the colour and the sex, you should try to see both parents; perhaps you will have been lucky enough to see them in action in the shooting field or in field…
How to stop your gundog from being hard-mouthed
Hard-mouthed: My English springer spaniel was retrieving what I thought was a dead squirrel and was bitten by it. She reacted by shaking it and when it was dead she then retrieved it back to hand.
Her Majesty The Queen attends Cocker Championship at Sandringham
An £800 pair of dummy launchers proved key in the training of young bitch Abiann Flawless, which landed the ultimate accolade at the 88th Cocker Spaniel Championship, held on the 6,400-acre Sandringham estate on 8 and 9 January 2018 by gracious permission of Her Majesty The Queen. After two days…
Are dogs good for your health?
You might have seen a rather pleasing story that appeared in the papers last November. According to a study of 3.4million Swedes, dog owners have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease than those who don’t have a canine companion. Even more significant, ownership of a hunting breed gave the greatest…
Can a working gundog also be a family pet?
Am I taking a risk having my working labrador as a house dog?
Giving your gundog a comfortable retirement
One of the most frustrating things about good gundogs is that their working lives are so short. A dog is typically three or four years old when it matures into the best you have ever had, but five or six years later you realise that his working life is approaching…
Can dogs get colds?
Q: My dog has suddenly started sneezing. Can dogs get colds and flu like humans? Over the past few days there have been persistent bouts of sneezing, runny nose and she snores when asleep as if her nose is blocked. So can dogs get colds? A: Dogs don’t get colds…
Can you solve bad breath in gun dogs?
I have noticed that my three-year-old spaniel’s breath has started to smell.
Dogs at work in the beating line
After an enjoyable season in the beating line with his spaniel, David Tomlinson asks what traits a dog needs to have to be an asset to this essential team
All-round gundogs – do they exist?
Most of my friends have more than one dog, they may have a spaniel or two for beating, a retriever for shooting at a peg or picking-up and a few of them even have a “terrorist” (terrier) to keep the rodent population in check. But, just imagine that you could…