The Kennel Club recognises thirty-eight breeds as gundogs, making the choice of shoot day companion a wide ranging and difficult one. Would you prefer a labrador or a spaniel? A…
Gundogs
Gundog working tests: on test or trial?
Field trials have never been more popular, but they can be an expensive and frustrating process. David Tomlinson considers gundog working tests, both more affordable and fairer, and why it’s…
The Field Gundog Awards 2018: the best shoot day companions
The Field Gundog Awards 2018, kindly sponsored by Skinner’s Pet Foods, was hotly contested, with exemplary retrievers, fine family companions, surprising breeds and wicked gundogs. But after much back and…
Gundog collars: when tag is no game
It is a legal requirement for dogs in public places to wear a collar, with the name and address of their owner. David Tomlinson considers the best gundog collars. For…
Best gundog coat colour: colour coding
The best gundog coat colour is a complicated matter. Is your pup chocolate or liver? Yellow or golden? David Tomlinson weighs up showing and working preferences as he consults the…
The pet gundog on the peg: how to train a part-time gundog
Most gundogs are, in fact, part-time workers. The rest of their time is spent as a family companion and pet, but there is no reason that this will make them…
Training with treats: chewing over rewards
Though edible rewards are banned by many professional trainers, or viewed as bribes by others, some advocate the use of gundog training with treats. David Tomlinson decides whether reward-based training…
The best beating dog: in the beating line
Over the years, David Tomlinson has seen just about every sort of dog in the beating line. But what makes the best beating dog? He considers some of the best…
How to introduce a puppy: companion or competition?
Ensuring a new recruit is welcomed by long-standing residents can be a tricky business. David Tomlinson advises on how to introduce a puppy to an older dog, having successfully integrated…
Celebrating 150 years of golden retrievers
What are considered the first golden retriever pups were born 150 years ago, and enthusiasts marked the occassion with an anniversary trial. David Tomlinson joined the celebrations, while considering how…