I was recently asked what is essential gundog handling kit. I thought about the question for 30 seconds before replying: a slip lead and a whistle. If you have these two vital pieces of equipment, then there’s not much more you really need. (Read more on gundog whistles here.) Essential…
Scurries at country fairs are a highlight of the summer, but as many handlers discover, they can be a quick lesson in humility. If you want to avoid the “leg-lifting” embarrassment and actually clock a competitive time, you need more than just a willing dog; you need a strategy. (You…
Working your gundog successfully is a matter of straightforward common sense. Keep it simple, avoid these common errors and you will have a wonderful shooting season ahead. 10 basic blunders when retrieving Not using a proper whistle For precise commands in all weathers and situations, without disturbing game, use a…
Does your gundog puppy match up...find out below
Three key field skills to work on with your puppy 1. Retrieving: Play with an old tea towel with a knot, a tennis ball, anything puppy will run after, grab hold of and bring back. The reward for bringing it back and giving it up is that they get another…
Do you practise with your all-rounder all summer but find yourself with a tearaway during the season? If so, says Janet Menzies, you've probably exposed your dog to too much beating and too many birds.
It is possible to teach your old retriever or peg dog something new, as long as you are able to change your ways too.
More than one gundog is a pack, it is essential that you keep the upper hand with labradors, spaniels, and everything else
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 kick, so enforcing the rules will take some authority. Read: Be pack leader in your own home for Janet Menzies’…
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 off the lead, retrieve on command and recall instantly on the first pip of the whistle. We have all seen…
