Members of a community-owned company are to vote on a proposal to eradicate deer from their island. The island of South Uist was bought out in November 2006 by a…
David Tomlinson
Do field trials have a future?
What started as a series of wagers (stakes) between the dog handlers of major landowners in the early years of the 20th century has evolved into hundreds of regulated field…
Europe moves closer to a total ban on lead
In a move that looks likely to lead to a Europe-wide ban on lead ammunition, the EU has made the use of lead shot on wetlands illegal. This means that…
Which is the best hunt, point and retrieve gundog?
Rory Major of Bryantscroft Gundogs has probably trained and competed with more breeds of gundog than anyone else in the business and most breeds of hunt, point and retrieve gundog…
Avon Vale Hunt future in doubt after video emerges
Formerly known as Captain Spicer’s, the Avon Vale Hunt was formed in 1912, hunting a country in mid-Wiltshire that once formed part of the Beaufort’s country. However, the future of…
What is a sprocker?
Springer, cocker or sprocker? Fergus, a shooting friend, emailed me to say that he was “starting to think about a sprocker”. He added that though he lives in London during…
Could Dartmoor pheasant release threaten rare beetle?
Alexander Darwell, the Dartmoor landowner in the news recently for successfully restricting wild camping on his land, has, according to a report in The Guardian, been warned by Natural England…
Many of the UK’s favourite game species aren’t native
Familiarity, goes the old saying, breeds contempt. I’m not suggesting that any sportsman has contempt for the pheasant, but I’m sure that when we lift our gun to a rocketing…
Why aren’t golden retrievers more popular in the field?
You’ll see plenty of labradors in the field but not so many working golden retrievers. Which is illogical because a golden retriever that has been well-trained is definitely the equal…
Handling game – give it the respect it’s due
In Germany, as in most continental countries, handling game is done with great respect. Sadly, that’s rarely the case in this country. Here, it’s quite usual to see Guns, and…
Accredited Game Shot: why you should definitely consider becoming one
Call me old-fashioned, but I’ve long believed that anyone who works their dog on a shoot should have a thorough knowledge of shooting — such as being able to identify…
Crufts 2023: how to win with a working gundog
Want to be in with a good chance of winning a trophy with your spaniel at Crufts 2023? Simple, just enter the gamekeepers’ classes. Organised by BASC, these classes are…
English setter: a very traditional dog
It’s a curious fact that the English setter is almost certainly the number one shooting dog in Europe and popular, too, in North America, but not here in its native…
Kennel Club DNA testing – cracking the vital code
In recent years, health testing of pedigree dogs — and particularly those used for breeding — has become standard practice. We have long known that selective breeding for certain traits,…
Putting a dog to sleep – it’s the end of an era
Putting a dog to sleep is never an easy decision to have to make. When it comes to euthanasia, dogs have a much easier time than we humans. I’m sure…
Can dogs get stung by nettles? Yes they can and it hurts
Stinging nettles and dogs
What are the best dog snacks for your working dog and what should you avoid?
I was recently asked what dog snacks and rewards I give my dogs, a question that, perhaps surprisingly, I’ve never been asked before. Twenty-five years ago I would have replied…
Why do so few female dog handlers win championships?
When I was taught to ride as a child, all my instructors were female, so from an early age I had the impression that the best riders were women rather…
Which is the UK’s most popular dog breed? And which breeds are in decline?
According to the Kennel Club, the labrador is the most popular dog breed in Britain, having successfully fought off the trendy French bulldog for top spot. The American Kennel Club…
Why is the population of geese increasing so much?
There is nothing quite like a distinctive smell or scent to whisk us back in time, unlocking memories from years before. There are a number of smells I find particularly…