Do working dogs have to wear a collar? Yes, it is a legal requirement for dogs in public places to wear a collar, with details of their owner. In that…
David Tomlinson
Choosing a name for your dog
Choosing a name for your dog can be tricky. But here are some useful tips to give your dog a name they can be proud of. Some names simply suit…
The snipe: A fascinating bird
Bel Chapman’s summing up of the snipe is hard to better: ‘The most shifty and capricious of all gamebirds – here today, gone tomorrow,’ he noted in his book Bird-Life…
Bloat in dogs – and why you need to act quickly
Bloat in dogs is uncommon but often fatal, as the winner of The Field’s Best Family Gundog award discovered a few years ago. David Tomlinson describes the symptoms and stresses…
Flatcoated retriever: the flatcoat’s fatal flaw
Always the Edwardian country gentleman’s companion, these days the flatcoated retriever still has its fans, although its popularity has been eclipsed by the labrador. (Read: Flatcoated retrievers – the Edwardian…
How to introduce a puppy to an older dog
Ensuring a new recruit is welcomed by long-standing residents can be a tricky business. So how do you go about introducing a puppy to an older dog? (Read: When to…
Bringing dogs as guests. Should you?
Many years ago an old friend suggested that my wife and I might like to stay with him in his house in Devon during a brief visit to the West…
Is a raw diet healthy for a dog? Looking at the facts
Dogs are remarkable animals: they will live, and even thrive, on the most unlikely of diets. Vegetarian food for dogs has been around for years and now vegan food is…
How to create your own nature reserve
Rare plants, exotic trees, stunning sculptures – money can purchase all these things but it can’t buy wildlife. This is what makes creating your own private nature reserve so special.…
Gundog injuries: be prepared
Working your gundog in the beating line, or as a picking up dog, is seldom thought of as a high-risk job. Well, it’s not usually for the handler but it…