A good gundog is the difference between a frustrating day and a memorable one. Whether you’re starting a puppy from scratch, working through handling problems or trying to close the gap between the training ground and the real thing, the answers matter — and they need to come from people who actually work dogs.
ShootingUK’s gundog pages cover the full range: breed guides, puppy training, obedience and whistle commands, advanced handling, working tests and field trials. Labrador, spaniel, retriever, HPR — whatever you run, the content is written by handlers who train and work their own dogs.
Gear is reviewed practically. Health advice comes from experience in the field as well as the consulting room. And when the hard days come — the ones that have nothing to do with training — we cover those too.
I have been told by a breeder that some of her boxers are trained as gundogs, something I find hard to believe.
Losing weight: My four-year-old spaniel bitch has had six lovely puppies but is now having problems losing weight.
In gundog tests, I have called my cocker in after the shot to send for blind retrieves. Can I do this in a gundog trial?
Gundog: If you're buying a new pup or part-trained gundog the costs are almost too low.
I have been using a choke chain to try to stop my gundog pulling on the lead. He was fine as a puppy, but now pulls like mad when I take him to the park.
My dad bought me a gundog, which I'm training, and I would like to take him beating this season.
Gundog training: It's possible to conduct gundog training at home even with no prior experience.
Woodcock shooting: I went woodcock shooting in January and my spaniel really struggled.
Gundog: While picking-up last season my gentle labrador was attacked by another gundog.
Headwind: My spaniels go into hunt and quartering mode in the headwind.
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