Grooming a spaniel properly is essential, as their long hair will coat the carpet and attract and trap dirt on a shoot day. David Tomlinson has taken radical action and…
Gundogs
The Field Gundog Awards 2017 winners and highly commended
The Field Gundog Awards 2017, in association with Skinner’s Pet Foods, was met with the enthusiasm and variety we expected of Field readers. From the finest companion to smalls, to…
How to rescue a gundog
There are many good dogs out there looking for good homes, but some of them have gundog training. You may not get a field trial champion, as David Tomlinson explains,…
Flatcoated retriever: the flatcoat’s fatal flaw
Infamous as the Edwardian country gentleman’s companion, these days the flatcoated retriever is eclipsed by the upstart labrador. Its enthusiasts remain but the flatcoats tragic susceptibility to cancer must be…
How to get a gundog steady to game
Learning how to get a gundog steady to game is one of the greatest challenges for amateur dog handlers. David Tomlinson offers his advice on hares, deer, sheep and everything…
Difficult retrieves: you’ve got to pick a…
Difficult retrieves can fell even field-trial champions. And only one of the reasons is that they are difficult to prepare for, says David Tomlinson. If you are planning on spending…
7 things to do in the off season with your gundog
The shooting season may be over but a gundog trainer’s work is never done. Replace game with dummies to perfect your dog’s retrieving – or to avoid humiliation at the…
Gundog bereavement: goodbye, old friend
Losing an old friend and dealing with gundog bereavement is always sad and painful. But it is important to know when to let them go, says David Tomlinson. Read our…
The Field’s favourite terriers
Terriers may be small, but they make their presence known. Whether they are keeping the gundogs in line, chasing rats or generally making mischief, terriers are certainly Fielders’ favourite. This…
A day without the peg dog
The rise of commercial shooting and professional pickers-up has seen the decline of the peg dog. For David Tomlinson it is his spaniel, rather than his gun, that is essential…