I neither condone nor condemn the use of electric collars (e-collars) being used for training. However, that said, I have found the whole debate about their use most interesting. I…
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Gundog insurance – issues to consider
I have kept gundogs for more than 30 years and in that time my vet’s bills have been mercifully small. Other than routine visits for inoculations and the occasional small cut,…
The German shorthaired pointer: an impressive hunting pattern
Facts about the German shorthaired pointer The German shorthaired pointer (GSP) is a medium to large sized breed of dog developed in the 19th century in Germany for hunting. GSPs are an all-purpose gundog,…
Can a gundog also be a family pet?
Believe it or not, a question I often get asked is: “Can a gundog still be a pet?” The simple answer is: of course it can be, but if you…
Basic gundog commands: these are the ones you need to know
Over the past four years I have been running gundog training classes and have been taken aback about how confused people get with their basic gundog commands. And if the…
What to expect on the beating line
Chatting to our new beaters bought back memories of my very first day in the beating line, when I was about 16. I didn’t live in a rural location –…
Get your gundog ready for the beating line
People often ask: “How old should my dog be before taking it into the beating line?” The truth is there is no straight answer — so much depends on the…
A guide to the different types of rough shooting
I recently discussed rough shooting (walked-up shooting) with Matt Clark, Sporting Gun editor and how to go about participating in this most enjoyable part of our sport. (You can listen…
All about the cocker spaniel
Look around the shooting field today and you’d be correct in thinking that the cocker spaniel and the springer spaniel are two of the most popular gundog breeds. But the…
The right kit for a succesful day’s rough shooting
It would be fair to say that I am pretty well addicted to my walked-up shooting. Years ago, walked-up or rough shooting was the mainstay of many a Gun and…
The kit you need for gundog training
In this informative video, you’ll discover what’s the best colour to choose for a dummy. The shade that a gundog will see best and which colours are best avoided. Nick…
All-round gundogs – do they exist?
Most of my friends have more than one dog, they may have a spaniel or two for beating, a retriever for shooting at a peg or picking-up and a few…
Ratting with a Sealyham Terrier
The phone rang, “Hello Nick, it’s Harry Parsons, what you doing next Tuesday?” A quick check of the diary and it looked all clear. “Fancy coming out for a day’s…
What ground cover is the hardest for a gundog to work?
A multi-purpose gundog of any breed should be able to deal with anything that is put in front of it. But depending on what part of the country you live in, or whether you…
What’s a gundog worth?
Last week I started my 2016/17 picking-up season at my regular shoot, near Henley-On-Thames in Oxfordshire. During lunch there was the normal early season grumblings about how much people get paid and how such and…
A closer look at the terrier
There is no doubt that the terrier breeds are the “hard men” of the canine world, ready to take on their quarry above and below ground. Most terrier breeds were developed in Great Britain and…
Grouse counts with cocker and springer spaniels
There I was stretched out on a sun-kissed beach drinking cold rum and cokes when all of a sudden I could hear a high pitched shrieking – it was my alarm. As I slowly opened…
Why is the Labrador retriever such a favourite with shooters?
A versatile breed, this hunting companion is the eyes and ears of its owner, can be used to detect drugs, explosives, open doors and even post letters. It can guard, jump, swim, and is the epitome of…
Shooting memories I’d rather forget …
Following a conversation I had with someone at a game fair recently, I realised that despite there being many thousands of gundogs working in the field not many of their…
Hunt, point and retrieve – truly versatile dogs
Many years ago, when I started out photographing gundogs, I used to attend quite a few spring pointing tests and it was at these events where I not only saw…