After training my gundog I worked it for the first time last season – and noticed he was less responsive to the whistle when working in sugar beet than at other times. Any idea why?
Gundog questions
Why doesn’t my gundog like picking up woodcock?
Why is my four year-old Labrador reluctant to pick up woodcock? She’s okay on all other game, so any advice would much appreciated.
How much would a gundog stud fee be?
How much would you expect to pay as a gundog stud fee for a well-bred working Labrador?
What size of dummy is best to start gundog training?
What size of dummy is best to start gundog training? I'm starting my spaniel pup on retrieving.
My gundog won’t focus on me when training!
I am training my first gundog, a nine-month-old Labrador, for wildfowling and pigeon shooting.
Can you train a gundog to find game in trees?
Is it possible to train a gundog to find shot game that falls into trees and bushes?
Should I cure rabbit skins before gundog training use?
Do I need to cure rabbit skins before wrapping them on a dummy or is it okay to put them on 'fresh off' the bunny? If I have to cure them, what’s the best thing to use?
My gundog has false pregnancies after her season!
Gundog vet: My bitch always seems to have false pregnancies after her season. What’s that all about?
Lurchers: the best dog for rabbiting
Lurchers are not a breed as such but a ‘variety of types’ arrived at either by accident or design for a given use.
Is my 10 year-old Labrador getting canine dementia?
My ten year-old Labrador is displaying some curious behaviour, he seems to be getting lost in the house and garden, and sometimes fails to respond to his name and commands.
How do I stop my gundog from swapping birds?
Gundog training: My spaniel bitch is doing well in her first season but last Saturday when sent for a retrieve she picked the bird then dropped it on the way back in favour of another. How can I stop her doing this?
Is my gundog puppy from good stock?
I have ordered a labrador puppy from one of our shoot's pickers-up. What health checks should I be aware of?
Should I allow my gundog be used at stud?
Will my gundog change in temperament if used at stud and what should I charge?
How do I teach my gun dog to follow a scent trail?
How do I go about teaching my dog to take a line on a scent? I am currently training a nine-month old Springer spaniel.
How do I breed gundog puppies responsibly?
I have never bred from my bitch before and will only have limited time with her.
What’s the law on dogs worrying sheep?
My sheep have recently been twice attacked by a dog and several injured. What is the legal position regarding shooting a dog under these circumstances?
Where do I stand if my gun dog has sired unwanted pups?
My neighbour’s chocolate labrador bitch is on heat and keeps trying to get into my garden to ‘meet’ my black lab dog – a BASC dog trial champion.
How useful is pigeon shooting when training a gun dog?
Peter Theobald in Sporting Gun says he doesn’t use a dog because they’re not needed for pigeon decoying. Is this true?
How should I build a rabbit pen for gun dog training?
I am thinking of building a hen run and wondered if it might also double as a rabbit pen for gun dog training?
Can you train a gun dog to dive after ducks?
I have heard of dogs 'upending' after ducks and geese that dive when pricked. Can you train a dog to do this and, if so, how?