A: This is an indication that he is being possessive and if this is allowed to continue with dummies it could have more serious outcomes when he is introduced to the real thing. He…
Paul Rawlings
Puppy vaccinations – what you need to know
A: I have always tried to pick up my new puppies at eight weeks or very soon after. This, I believe, is the optimum time to be able to become a replacement…
Will wins qualify my gun dogs for entering field trials later on?
GUN DOGS Tests and trials: I am entering my gun dogs in open working tests. Will any wins qualify my gun dogs for entering field trials later on?
How can I find out more about the rules of field trials?
Gundog training: Test & Trials: I am new to gundog competitions; how can I find out more about the rules of field trials?
Would a rescue spaniel be suitable for gundog training?
Gundog training: I recently went to a large rescue kennel and saw two spaniels in need of a home. Both are over a year old, and they were vocal and…
When should I begin gundog training for water work?
Gundog training: I have owned several breeds of gundogs over the years, but as they were mainly used for work on the moors, I never taught any of them water…
Can dogs without papers have their puppies registered?
Many years ago, I obtained a three-year-old Labrador through a rescue organisation. She was a small type and had no pedigree, but I was almost certain she was from working…
My puppy gets overly excited when around other people!
Gundog training: I try to socialise my 5 month-old Labrador puppy as much as possible, but while she is well behaved with me on our own - as soon as…
Do show-winning spaniels ever compete successfully in trials?
Gundog training test & trials: Do show-winning English springers ever compete successfully in trials?
Are all breeds expected to work at the same speed?
Gundog training: Will an Italian spinone or a munsterlander be expected to work with the same speed as a German shorthaired pointer in a field trial?
If 1st place gets disqualified, will 2nd place become winner?
Gundog training: Tests & trials: If a dog that wins a trial subsequently gets disqualified, will the dog in second place automatically become the winner?
Gundog training: How can I stop my puppy snatching?
Gundog training: How can I stop my puppy snatching? My cocker has just finished his first season in the field. I trained him from a puppy and had lots of…
Will rib width have any bearing on my game shooting?
I am looking to buy a used Sporter for game shooting, and have found three that I like – two have wide ribs while the other is quite narrow. Does…
Will .300 H&H Magnum be ok for home loading?
.300 Home loading: I am thinking of buying a nice, old British rifle in .300 Holland and Holland Magnum. But some of my local experts say the cartridge is unsuitable…
Why do guns have to go for proof testing for sale in the UK?
Proof testing: I often wonder why guns have to be proofed before sale in the UK, whereas they don’t in the USA. Also, surely nowadays there are much more sophisticated…
Should I decoy these trees for better pigeon shooting?
Pigeon shooting: There’s a belt of ivy-covered ash trees on the farm where I go pigeon shooting and they always draw a lot of birds during January, obviously for the…
Does a gunshot frighten rabbits more than a ferret?
Rabbit shooting: I’ve noticed that I tend to bolt fewer rabbits when using a gun than when I use only ferrets and purse nets. Does the sound of a shot…
Is it safe to use steel shot in my 10-bore shotguns?
Steel shot: I have two 10-bores. One is a Gunmark Kestrel with 3.5in chambers rated at 1,200kg/cm2. The right bore is machined to 0.751in and the left bore 0.729in. The…
Are the bright fore-sights on modern shotguns really necessary?
Are the multi-coloured fore-sights on modern shotguns really necessary, when most experts say you should not look at the bead anyway?
How many retrieves should I give my puppy each day?
When gundog training, how many retrieves (with a tennis ball) should I give my Springer puppy each day?