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
Gundog training
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…
Teaching a gundog to ignore distractions
Step 1: Start with the basics When moving on to a new exercise it is always worth going back a step or two and just reinforcing some earlier lessons. With Dolly, I took her back to some very basic steadiness lessons where I sat her up on a lawn and…
Help! My young springer ‘freezes’ on a shoot
Q: I have a problem which seems difficult to solve. My young springer has just turned two and started going shooting in January, which was fine, she hunted well. We just went out with a couple of friends to shoot the odd cock pheasant and rabbit. I took her to…
Are these the Eton and Harrow of gundog schools?
What could be more fun for a gundog puppy than to spend time with companions of the same age, with the same interests and energy? You have a few options. You can send your youngster off to canine boarding school for four to six months, where you’ll wave goodbye to…
How to teach spaniels to head in the right direction
Some people question whether you need to teach a gundog to go left and right; unless you just go beating it can be a useful skill to teach spaniels (and other gundogs). If you plan to shoot over your dog or want it to pick-up, there will be times when being able to re-direct it…
When your gundog won’t retrieve
“I recently got my first gundog puppy and I started training her straight away. To start with she would go and pick up a tennis ball, but now she just sits or lays down with it and refuses to bring it back to me. Is there anything I can do…
The 12 commandments of choosing gundog training lessons
First, you should be made to feel welcome. I would expect the trainer to be an experienced spaniel handler with evidence of success in competition, or perhaps a field trial judge. The fee should reflect the level of facilities and numbers in the class. One-to-one lessons cost more but with…
What to expect with a new spaniel puppy
With the gameshooting season over and spring now upon us, I am sure there are many newcomers to our sport thinking about buying and training their first spaniel through the close season. Rearing and training your own spaniel puppy, and then taking it shooting, can be a very enjoyable and…