Matthew Dennison charts some of the most famous sporting dogs through history, from spaniels to cockers, who have made a name for themselves in the field. Popular sires have had…
Gundogs
How the dog show ring has evolved over the past 160 years
It’s a curious thing, but there’s clearly something addictive about dog showing. For the majority of dog owners, showing is of little or no interest, but there’s a considerable number…
Could avoiding breeding from popular studs improve your dog’s life?
Over time the number of dogs are being put down before retirement has been increasing. Is this due to the gene pool from selected studs that perform well in the…
The dos and don’ts of training gundog puppies
Eve Jones talks to the experts to find out the secret to training gundog puppies – from choosing the right puppy, to settling them in at home and the patience…
Inbreeding and line-breeding in working dogs
There is danger in breeding working dogs too closely, so a pedigree full of FTCh is not necessarily a good thing
Best labrador colour: does coat make a difference?
The discussion over what is the best labrador colour will probably never end. BLACK IN THE FIELD, YELLOW IN THE SHOW RING Ask those in the shooting field what the…
Teckels: the wire-haired dachshund is a sporting sausage dog
Interested in working dogs? Check out similar features from The Field, including our guide to the best travel accessories for dogs, the best presents for dogs, the best dog beds…
The secret to a well-trained gundog
Many of us dream of owning a dog that will obey your every command and hang on your every movement however it often seems not to happen and all we…
When should a working dog retire?
It’s not often that you see pensioners in the shooting field – canine I mean, not human – as shooting is, for a dog, hard work. Many of us hope…
Breed standards – the problems
There has been a much-needed overhaul of breed standards, says David Tomlinson, although show and working animals are often still worlds apart. A Slumber spaniel, anyone?