Scared gundog: Loud noises make for a scared gundog.
Gundog training
How to stop a dog worrying sheep
According to the National Sheep Association, there are more than 33million sheep in the UK, which means that every working gundog is certain to encounter a flock sooner rather than later. From a dog’s point of view, there are few animals that are more inviting to chase. Thoughts of sheep…
Can I teach an English pointer to sit at the peg?
Q: I have been involved in shooting all my life, but have only begun shooting in a syndicate since retiring and have no experience of having a dog sitting at the peg. I have always fancied having a pointer primarily as a house dog, but also to take out a…
Crate training your puppy – how to do it right
I have decided on crate training for my new gundog puppy Briar. When she whines to go out I will hear her. I will also find it easier to teach her how to behave around my toddler in the house because she will have plenty of access to him. Crate…
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…
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 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.
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
Teaching a gundog to go left and right. Should you?
This is not an uncommon question and, in my humble view, gundog handling is an important aspect of a gundog’s training and should not be discounted as simply being a “trick” or clever. If you plan to shoot over your dog, in any form, you will find it an invaluable…
Gundog training – marking a dummy
The causes for problems marking a dummy Some young dogs can develop this quirk and, although it tends to disappear as time passes and they get experience of the real thing, it can be frustrating for the trainer. Eye contact is something that, as gundog trainers, we work hard to…
Gun-shy dogs – what you need to know
Amid all the afflictions a working gundog can suffer, there is arguably nothing worse than being gun-shy. Peter Moxon, Shooting Times’s kennel editor for many years, didn’t think that there was a cure for a gun-shy dog, though he did believe that there was a big difference between one that was…
Take it easy – training tips for young gundog puppies
So that’s it, you’ve finally got your new puppy. It’s fully vaccinated, raring to go and ready to start its exercise and training. You’ve got all your new equipment and are chomping at the bit to make a start.
How can I get my dog to go back on his lead after exercise?
Q: My one-year-old standard poodle-springer is a happy, energetic, intelligent pet at home. He has a few issues with chewing, but we put that down to boredom and it is slowly getting better. However, I have now encountered a more serious issue. I take him every day to the fields and…
The golden rules for picking-up on a shoot
If you have picking-up dogs, then it is always good to get them out working, especially if you haven’t been out on the grouse moors or on partridge days. Taking them on a small boundary day is ideal if you get the chance, as it will remind them what they…
What you need to know BEFORE taking your dog onto the shooting field
The picker-up enjoys the pleasure of working their own dogs in the knowledge that they are performing an essential role in the day’s sport. Collecting shot birds is vital; even more so is making sure that any wounded birds are immediately gathered and swiftly despatched. Mutual respect The relationship between…
Why is my gundog puppy so noisy in training?
Gundog puppy: My four-month-old gundog puppy has become very noisy.
How to teach a puppy to sit
Q: I cannot get my cocker spaniel puppy to sit properly to the “sit” command; she just keeps wagging her tail and lifting up her bottom. She is four months old now and this issue is preventing me from moving on with her training. She will not stay either when…
Retriever makes a noise
Q: My three-year-old flatcoated retriever has been a joy to train, is a really keen retriever and has been a good worker out on the shoot for the past two seasons, but she has just started making the faintest of noises in the back of her throat just before I…
How gundogs scent
A gundog's sense of smell is one of its most valuable tools, but to take full advantage of this capability, it is important to understand how scent works.
Gundog unreliable at the peg?
Q: I am getting my first Labrador puppy soon, which besides being a family pet, will be my shooting dog in the future hopefully. I say hopefully as this will be the first one I have trained myself. I used to borrow my father’s dog to take out driven shooting…