ONE of the great attractions of fieldsports is that, generally speaking, they are not affected too much by the weather. Bad light never stops play, and rarely does bad weather.…
Gundogs
Gundog training class: overweight gundogs
Overweight gundogs are slow and plodding when, at four or five years old, they should be in their prime. Overweight gundogs are unlikely to be cooperative with their new health…
The pet gundog on the peg: how to train a part-time gundog
No doubt most people start with the best of intentions. The decision is made to get a proper gundog, one that will sit obediently at the peg, walk to heel…
The Irish terrier: a dog designed by a dog
The Irish terrier has been described many ways historically: the farmer’s friend, the poor man’s sentinel and the gentleman’s favourite. In Ireland he’s often known as the ‘red devil’, so…
Your gundog’s first shoot day
After months of training your young gun dog, it is understandable that you want to take it on its first shoot. But beware the pitfalls.
Not all sporting dogs enjoy swimming
We all know that you can take a horse to water but can’t make it drink; it’s equally true that you can take a dog to water but can’t make…
British trained gundogs: the envy of the world
The first time I catch up with Charlie Thorburn, the gundog trainer to the 1%, he has just joined the M6 Toll and has been awake for a long time.…
How to take an HPR shooting
Breaking into shooting is difficult in the best circumstances, and becomes even more so when you have an HPR. But old assumptions that they are noisy and hard mouthed are…
What to do with your working dog when you go on holiday?
Going on holiday should be relaxing, but planning what to do with the dog can be stressful. Janet Menzies packs up your troubles with various suggestions.
The truth about dog discipline
For those training their first gundog, the gap between theory and practice can seem almost impossible to reconcile.