The best labrador colour is a debate that will never be settled. The shooting field favour black in the line, while in the show-ring judges like yellow. Current trends are…
Gundogs
Should your gundog live in or out?
Keeping a gundog in the kennel or the kitchen is the great debate between professional and amateur gundog handlers. Can a gundog that rules the house really be trained to…
Gundog grooming – top tips and techniques
The level of grooming required varies enormously between gundogs. While spaniels with their long coats require some time and effort, with a labrador you can get away with just a…
The best gundog: how to choose the ideal shooting companion
Choosing the best gundog for you is a tricky business, with thirty-eight recognised breeds by the Kennel Club from which to take your pick. Labrador or spaniel? Traditional or rare…
Terriers at the top: small dogs in stately homes
There’s much to love about terriers. They are loving, loyal and positively bounding with sporting instinct, making up what they lack in size with enormous character. It is no surprise…
Retired gundogs: when to beat the retreat
There is very little information and research about gundog retirement, which leading vet John Houlton is now attempting to change. If you have retired a working gundog, do take a…
Difficult retrieves: you’ve got to pick a…
Even a field-trial champion can be stumped by a difficult retrieve. Only one of the problems is that they are difficult to prepare for, as David Tomlinson explains. If you…
Dog beds: sleeping like a dog
From cheap and cheerful to uber luxurious, the choice of dog beds has never been larger. But which suit our working companions best, asks David Tomlinson. Should gundogs stay inside…
Can minority spaniels survive?
Today you are more likely to see minority spaniels on the showbench than the shooting field, but they are part of our sporting heritage. Radical desicions need to be taken,…
The Field Gundog Awards 2019
Now in its third year, The Field Gundog Awards 2019, in association with Skinner’s Pet Food, is for proper gundogs working in the field – however brilliant or naughty. Judge…