Q: I will be picking-up this season on a new shoot, where there is a fast-flowing river. On two drives it can be necessary to put dogs over the river. I know that dogs have drowned in this river in the past, and while my dogs are good swimmers I…
Gundog questions
How do I stop my gundog mouthing game?
I took my 18 month-old Labrador shooting for the first time this season, allowing him to pick no more than two birds on each of the three outings.
Should you ever smack a gundog?
Gun dog discipline: A light tap on the nose as a warning for one gun dog owner may seem tantamount to cruelty to another. Justin Clarke examines how to make the punishment fit the crime.
How can I stop my gundog from dropping the dummy? (And other dummy training problems.)
How do I stop my gun dog spitting her dummy out, I have tried placing it in her mouth while saying 'hold'?
How to prepare for your dog’s first shoot day
Getting your dog fit both mentally and physically will help prepare your dog for the field and the rigours of his first shoot day. It is also important for you, the handler, to have a plan of action as to what you want your dog to achieve on his first…
Why won’t my springer spaniel deliver game to me?
Q: I have a 10-month-old springer out of a rescue kennel. He is obviously working stock, good looking, full of life and hunts like a demon. He was completely wild when I got him but after a year of hard work we are now enjoying shooting rabbits over the moors.…
Is your gundog ready for its first shoot day?
Rather than ask how old your dog should be, ask yourself the following … Does the dog walk to heel on and off the lead? Is the dog steady to game, both fur and feathered? Is he on the stop whistle? Does he recall on the whistle? If the answer to any…
What happens when you try to train a spaniel as a peg dog?
My new cocker spaniel puppy is eventually going to replace my 10-year-old springer spaniel. I have spoken to several people and have received different views on training a cocker spaniels. I would appreciate some advice.
Teaching your gundog to work hedgerows
Q: I have a young spaniel, and when hunting along hedgerows he always pulls ahead and sometimes gets through to the other side — a couple of times he has run off. As I plan to do a lot of rough shooting with him, this is something that I really need…
10 things you should know when naming your gundog puppy (and why to avoid the name ‘Teal’)
We are soon to take delivery of a Cocker puppy which I hope to work when it’s older. Problem I’ve got at the moment is the kids and wife are already arguing over a name for it.
Whistles and working dogs – some frequently asked questions
Full-time gundog trainer and A-panel spaniel judge
Can you prevent arthritis in dogs?
Q: Is there anything that can be done to delay or prevent the onset of arthritis in older dogs? Controlling your dog’s weight by feeding a healthy diet and keeping your dog fit by providing regular exercise are probably the most significant things you can do to prevent or delay…
Which gundog puppy will be pick of the litter?
Gun dog puppy: I’m planning on breeding a litter of gun dog puppies from my bitch this spring.
What food is best for my gundog puppy?
I'm 15 years old and about to buy a ten week old cocker spaniel bitch. At the moment it is being fed on Beta puppy food as I'm planning to work her when she’s older.
Be careful of the water your dog drinks
Dogs need lots of water. There are records of dogs living for weeks without food, but if they are deprived of water their survival is limited to days. Quite how much an individual dog needs to drink every day depends on a number of factors, ranging from diet to the…
New regulations on breeding dogs
A reader writes: “I have a really good black Labrador that I would like to have a litter from and keep back a puppy. Any others from the litter I will sell and use the profit and have the puppy professionally trained. However, a friend has told me that there…
How do I stop my gundog from running-in?
I have a black labrador gun dog who is 22 months old. His training had gone well until he recently started running in to shot birds.
Bad habits in Labradors
I have a 14 month-old lab dog who will have to put him in kennels for two weeks while we are on holiday. I'm concerned he may pick up bad habits while in the boarding kennels?
What can I do to protect my dog against Alabama rot?
Q: Is it true that Alabama rot is most prevalent in the autumn and winter? If that is the case, is there anything I can do to protect my dog? A: We refer to this disease as CRGV (idiopathic cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy). It was first recognised in the…