The vital role of gundogs in driven game shooting

The Irreplaceable Role of Gundogs

Gundogs play a vital and irreplaceable role in driven game shooting, whether as peg dogs, in the beating line or on the picking-up team. They are part of the very fabric of a shoot day.

The sight of a well-trained dog quartering a field, eyes bright and tail wagging, is as evocative as the sound of the horn starting a drive. It’s hard to imagine a shoot day without them.

Partnership in Action

A good gundog is versatile, obedient, biddable and intelligent – even if they don’t always appear so at first glance. Watching a dog work, guided by instinct, training and trust, brings a deep sense of partnership.

You can read a dog’s intent in the flick of an ear or a twitch of the tail. A good gundog can turn a decent day’s shooting into something truly exceptional, reminding us that this is a collaboration between people, animals and the countryside itself.

Building Trust Through Training

Training and working a dog builds a unique relationship based on mutual respect and understanding. Each dog has its own quirks and characteristics that shape its personality, making every partnership different and rewarding.

The patient repetition of training – the retrieves, the sits, the stays – becomes more than obedience; it creates a shared language between handler and dog. Over time, that language becomes instinctive.

On the Peg and in the Line

On the peg, a well-trained dog provides both company and assistance. There’s great satisfaction in watching your dog retrieve what you’ve shot, knowing the hours of effort behind that moment.

It’s not only about the retrieves; it’s about working together. That quiet understanding adds a deeper enjoyment to the day that’s hard to explain to anyone who hasn’t experienced it. Teamwork, after all, makes a shoot day flow, and that ethos extends beyond the relationship between handler and dog.

It runs through the entire operation: Guns, beaters and pickers-up working in harmony. When it all comes together, it’s a finely tuned machine, with every person and dog playing their part.

Picking-Up and Communication

In beating and picking-up, teamwork is everything. During a drive, the picking-up team is positioned to mark and collect wounded birds swiftly. After the drive, they work methodically to ensure birds are recovered and handled properly.

It’s often unseen work, but it’s essential – ensuring that all shot game is treated with respect and that game meat is maintained in the best possible condition, highlighting the importance of good game handling from the very first stage.

Communication between Guns and pickers-up is equally important. It can be frustrating, as a Gun, to see another dog sweep through before you’ve had the chance to send your own. A quick word beforehand solves that – agreeing who will cover which areas allows everyone a chance to work their dogs.

That understanding keeps the day running smoothly and ensures the Guns’ dogs get their fair share of work.

Loyalty and Companionship

One of the greatest joys of owning a gundog is their adaptability and loyalty. The same qualities that make them effective in the field – intelligence, steadiness and eagerness to please – make them wonderful companions at home.

Whether beside you on the peg, in the beating line, out picking-up, or resting at your feet after the day is done, their loyalty and willingness to work make them an integral part of shooting life.

The partnership between handler and gundog is built on respect, dedication and understanding – and for many of us, it’s the icing on the cake of a shoot day. To see a dog do what it was bred and trained to do, with enthusiasm and purpose, is a privilege that never fades.